Poll: Do you read the license agreements that come with software?

[Xan Krieger]

The latest episode of South Park really pointed out something to me. In all the years in which I've installed things never once did I read the software agreement. I just assumed it said something to the effect of "You can install this but not make and sell copies of it or we will send ninjas to kill your family". Never do I bother to read the agreement because generally they're longer than the average novel.

I do recall one store including a bit in the agreement in which your soul belonged to the company. If you didn't agree I think you got money off your next purchase, if you did agree they eventually said they'd never collect your soul.

Anyway, do you read the agreements or do you just click "I agree"?

 

[AvsJoe]

Rarely. I read to the end maybe one out of 10 times.

 

[CM156_v1legacy]

I read them, but only for the funny bits.
Including the fact that Apple products are not to be used for Nucler weapons.
My uncle taught me how to skim for the good parts.

 

[Eldarion]

I never read those. For all I know, my soul belongs to an ex-girlfriend, Sony, Microsoft, Blizzard, Relic, ect all at the same time.

 

[DeadlyYellow]

I don't read them, I know the jist of them.

Though it always makes me laugh when people who just click through get surprised when something in it comes up.

 

[New Troll]

Once. Was a product I truly cared about and I was bored.

 

[Irridium]

Most of the time, the agreements are bullshit since they're not revealed until after you buy the product.

They're designed not to be read, or understood, by most people. They're designed that way so companies can put whatever they want in there, call it law, and do what they please. Not to mention its completely infeasible to expect everyone to read every EULA in every game they buy. "Oh, they should just read them" I hear some people say. Well the agreements should be shorter and easier to understand. Its bullshit, and it needs to change.

And I have read a couple. They're pretty identical.

Oh, and I'm referring to video game ones. Book ones just have about a couple paragraphs, and movies have that paragraph at the start. But other than those, most are stupidly long and hard to understand.

 

[Omega 380]

I never read them, they're all about never making copies of the software.

I read them, but only for the funny bits.
Including the fact that Apple products are not to be used for Nucler weapons.
My uncle taught me how to skim for the good parts.

They put that in the license agreement? What do they think their products are capable of?

 

[artanis_neravar]

One of the worst episodes of south park in a long time IMO. and no i never read them, how ever i do know that all they can do if i break or refuse to honor the EULA is to take away my excess to the product, unless something major has changed recently

 

[Xan Krieger]

I never read them, they're all about never making copies of the software.

I read them, but only for the funny bits.
Including the fact that Apple products are not to be used for Nucler weapons.
My uncle taught me how to skim for the good parts.

They put that in the license agreement? What do they think their products are capable of?

I disagree with those terms.

 

[CM156_v1legacy]

I never read them, they're all about never making copies of the software.

I read them, but only for the funny bits.
Including the fact that Apple products are not to be used for Nucler weapons.
My uncle taught me how to skim for the good parts.

They put that in the license agreement? What do they think their products are capable of?

Nuclear war: Theres an app for that.
Basically, it is a CYA tactic, which is odd in my opinion.

OT: If I recall correctly, the agreement on WoW states that they aren't responsible if they get nuked or a meteor strikes the earth.

 

[BX3]

I try to, but they usually just churn out the same drivel: "don't do this", "don't duplicate this", "if you use this inappropriately you could probably risk the possibility of perhaps getting in trouble with some authoritative force some day eventually". Plus if I don't agree to them there's no alternative, I just don't get to install/download, so it's obey or f--k you. I impulsively choose the former.

Oh, and dear lord, I made it one of my missions in life to avoid that effing movie like the plague and SP parodies it. People that saw it know what I'm talkin' 'bout.

 

[Xan Krieger]

I never read them, they're all about never making copies of the software.

I read them, but only for the funny bits.
Including the fact that Apple products are not to be used for Nucler weapons.
My uncle taught me how to skim for the good parts.

They put that in the license agreement? What do they think their products are capable of?

Nuclear war: Theres an app for that.
Basically, it is a CYA tactic, which is odd in my opinion.

OT: If I recall correctly, the agreement on WoW states that they aren't responsible if they get nuked or a meteor strikes the earth.

I'm looking for that but can't seem to find it, if you can will you please post it?

 

[ace_of_something]

No I sure don't because I know the gist is usually 'you're not gonna copy/crack this for pirates are ya?'
and them I'm all like "no, that'd be silly. I agree to your terms"

 

[CM156_v1legacy]

I never read them, they're all about never making copies of the software.

I read them, but only for the funny bits.
Including the fact that Apple products are not to be used for Nucler weapons.
My uncle taught me how to skim for the good parts.

They put that in the license agreement? What do they think their products are capable of?

Nuclear war: Theres an app for that.
Basically, it is a CYA tactic, which is odd in my opinion.

OT: If I recall correctly, the agreement on WoW states that they aren't responsible if they get nuked or a meteor strikes the earth.

I'm looking for that but can't seem to find it, if you can will you please post it?

Blizzard shall not be liable for any delay or failure to perform resulting from causes outside the reasonable control of Blizzard, including without limitation any failure to perform hereunder due to unforeseen circumstances or cause beyond Blizzard's control such as acts of God, war, terrorism, riots, embargoes, acts of civil or military authorities, fire, floods, accidents, strikes, or shortages of transportation facilities, fuel, energy, labor or materials

Hunh, guessed they removed the meteor part

 

[artanis_neravar]

Oh, and dear lord, I made it one of my missions in life to avoid that effing movie like the plague and SP parodies it. People that saw it know what I'm talkin' 'bout.

Never saw the movie, but i know the entire plot (my friend watched it and shared it with me) and the SP episode just wasn't funny up until the very end. Don't know if it's because it was a bad movie to parody or if it was just a forced episode but it kinda sucked

 

[Double A]

I have never read a software agreement in my life. I find lawyer speech incomprehensible.

I read them, but only for the funny bits.
Including the fact that Apple products are not to be used for Nucler weapons.
My uncle taught me how to skim for the good parts.

Please, teach us.

 

[jamesmax]

I have never read a software agreement in my life. I find lawyer speech incomprehensible.

I read them, but only for the funny bits.
Including the fact that Apple products are not to be used for Nucler weapons.
My uncle taught me how to skim for the good parts.

Please, teach us.

i 2nd this

 

[CM156_v1legacy]

I have never read a software agreement in my life. I find lawyer speech incomprehensible.

I read them, but only for the funny bits.
Including the fact that Apple products are not to be used for Nucler weapons.
My uncle taught me how to skim for the good parts.

Please, teach us.

\

Well, I can sure give you some good pointers

1) Avoid anything in all caps.

BLIZZARD MAY SUSPEND, TERMINATE, MODIFY, OR DELETE ANY BNET ACCOUNT OR WORLD OF WARCRAFT ACCOUNT AT ANY TIME FOR ANY REASON OR FOR NO REASON, WITH OR WITHOUT NOTICE TO YOU

Not funny, right?

2) When reading lists, stick to ones that are labled A-Z, rather than Roman numerals

3) Read slowly

4) Think to yourself "What is the most absurd thing that could be in here". Don't know why, but it does help.

5) If the ending is in all caps, I wouldn't bother with the rest.

6) Legal jargon can actually lead to some funny wording, so don't disregard it all

There, that'll be $140

EDIT: This works better if you were there in person to teach