xkcd Uses Clickthrough EULAs To Eternal Advantage

from the well,-there-we-go dept

Fri, Nov 7th 2008 5:25pm — Mike Masnick

And here's a little Friday afternoon fun for you. The latest xkcd comic takes on the issue of automatic end user license agreements that seem so common these days: Faust 2.0

If they're going to be allowed, you might as well use them to your advantage.

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Filed Under: eulas, xkcd

8 Comments

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anon, 7 Nov 2008 @ 5:44pm

first...

and XKCD is AWESOME
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Greevar, 7 Nov 2008 @ 7:15pm

This certainly highlights the absurdity of end user license agreements. You're already obligated to accept it as soon as you take the plastic wrap off. Once that happens, the retailer won't take it back. It's also absurd that this type of extortion holds muster in court being that the customer is coerced into agreeing. The inclusion of an EULA is just another admission that they want to control their product and squeeze every penny possible while restricting what you can do with your paid-for item even if that means violating on the consumer's rights.
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NET625, 7 Nov 2008 @ 8:51pm

XKCD
Is AWESOME
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Nobody, 7 Nov 2008 @ 9:17pm

Re:
I agree completely. Basically, you look at the comic and laugh, then burst into tears when you realize it's real.
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Anonymous Coward, 7 Nov 2008 @ 10:17pm

The funny part isn't even the sign, read a book you blundering, blogging baboon.
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Paul Brinker, 8 Nov 2008 @ 12:42am

What does the EULA have that isent already under copyright?
I personally have never aggreed to any EULA accecpt in the case of an online game (like World of Warcraft) and thats because I was given the thing before they would take my money.

That and it fails the test for a contract in that it doesnt allow for the "meeting of the minds" test in contract law.

Basicly you cant say, "you have to buy my product before I tell you how you can use it". Add in the fact that only world of warcraft has even taken its EULA into court and actully won a case with it and I honestly just ignore them and default to copyrights, rights of first sale, and sales laws governing my state.

None of those laws say I "you must give your first born to me at sunset on the last day of summer or I own you, your computer, your house and your my slave"

You can read up on it here: http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/r-article-a-1431-m-1-sc-11-legal_requirements_for_a_contract-i
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Anonymous Coward, 8 Nov 2008 @ 4:09am

mouseover
Right, with xkcd, the funny part is the mouseover text:

The only blood these contracts are signed in is from me cutting my hand trying to open the goddamn CD case.
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Miles Barnett, 8 Nov 2008 @ 6:07am

Cory Doctorow's EULA
Cory Doctorow of Boing Boing has had an EULA like this for a while now:
http://www.boingboing.net/2007/01/25/reasonableagreemento.html
It's not as funny, but more useful. If companies can force us into abusive terms, we should be able to do it right back to them.
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