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CNN Uses P2P Video & Adds Terrible EULA

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the you-gotta-be-kidding-me dept.

Futurepower(R) writes "CNN's use of software called Octoshape presents an incredibly abusive EULA. If you agree to the EULA, you agree that CNN can use your bandwidth, and that you will pay any costs. Also, you lose the right to monitor your own network traffic. You can't even use information collected by your own firewall. Quoting the EULA: 'You may not collect any information about communication in the network of computers that are operating the Software or about the other users of the Software by monitoring, interdicting or intercepting any process of the Software. Octoshape recognizes that firewalls and anti-virus applications can collect such information, in which case you not are allowed to use or distribute such information.' "

4 of 254 comments (clear)

  1. OK, then... by serviscope_minor · · Score: 5, Interesting

    OK, then. Install it on your machine (and agree to the EULA, if you wish), and then plug your machine in to my network. I certainly didn't agree to the EULA, so I can and will make use of that information.

    --
    SJW n. One who posts facts.
  2. Re:good luck with that by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Person A accepts EULA.
    Person B owns network and watches packets through router.

    Person B did NOT accept the EULA and thus is not bound by it.

    That's like people saying 'You can't read out signs' as a parade or protest walks by your window.

  3. I noticed this during the inauguration of Obama by DrewBeavis · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I have Little Snitch on my mac and noticed all the OUTGOING bandwidth being used while watching their video stream. After I figured out what was going on, I went to MSNBC instead. The quality is great at CNN and the idea is decent, but unless I read the EULA (which I didn't beforehand), I wouldn't know my contribution to the cloud. My employer monitors outgoing bandwidth usage and I could have been in trouble for high flows if I would have watched the whole thing. Being at a university, we have a large pipe, but I think I needed to be asked first a little more explicitly if they could use it.

  4. Re:good luck with that by DoofusOfDeath · · Score: 4, Interesting

    With a clickthrough EULA there is no proof. When I install software on someone else's machine, and I click the EULA, how can they be held to it? If the EULA is on the box, how can they prove who opened the box?

    I think this issue recently arose with some user writing bots for an online game. The problem is, if you don't agree to the EULA, then (ostensibly) you haven't met the copyright owner's terms for using their work. And thus, using the service/software/whatever is a violation of copyright law at that point.