Steam vs Origin (EULA, privacy and whatnot)

[survivor686]

Hello,

Is thee really much of a difference between Steam and Origin's EULA and privacy agreements. I was hoping that one could simple analyze their "Agreements" and see if there is much of difference between em.

 

[Aircross]

Steam asks for permission before looking through your system.
Merely installing Origin opens your computer up for EA to look through (spyware).

I myself personally trust Gaben more than EA.

 

[mad825]

Why does it matter? it's the same corporate bullshit with different styles of language.

Ffs, Mircosoft and Google probably knows what kind of shit I've got on my computer, does origin or Steam knowing make any difference? doubt it, the EULA/privacy policy does not stop them performing checks.Why don't I say that laws stop crimes completely.

Pro tip: if you want your local data to be secured,encrypt it.

 

[Palmerama]

When Steam first came about it was quite invasive and gradually changed! People are against Origin because Steam has had a monopoly over digital distribution for years(not to mention the main reason people don't like it is because its EA).
I remember how frustrating it was having Steam when it started! Half-Life 2 was a nightmare to play, you had to be connected to the internet to play it and had to have steam (I know cos its Vavle).

 

[evilneko]

Steam asks for permission before looking through your system.
Merely installing Origin opens your computer up for EA to look through (spyware).

I myself personally trust Gaben more than EA.

Got it in one. Steam's EULA, and Valve's privacy policy in general, does not have the broad privacy-killing clauses that Origin's does. As noted above, Steam also asks first. Origin doesn't. That's a huge difference.

Why does it matter? it's the same corporate bullshit with different styles of language.

Ffs, Mircosoft and Google probably knows what kind of shit I've got on my computer, does origin or Steam knowing make any difference? doubt it, the EULA/privacy policy does not stop them performing checks.Why don't I say that laws stop crimes completely.

Pro tip: if you want your local data to be secured,encrypt it.

Think their lawyers would let them do it without putting it in the EULA and forcing people to agree to it? Think again. Even spyware has this shit in its license agreement.

 

[mad825]

Think their lawyers would let them do it without putting it in the EULA and forcing people to agree to it? Think again. Even spyware has this shit in its license agreement.

Why don't you think again? It's sure as hell not the first time it has happened especially for EA. So many of us put so much trust into software that we presume to be safe which in fact could quite as well be malicious.

Unless you like the spying age of the modern WWW, then you might as well be paranoid. I'll say it again, Why don't I say that laws stops crime completely? It doesn't, and we don't know that a crime has been committed until someone opens the box [schrodinger's cat].

 

[survivor686]

Just to throw some material into the discussion Here's Valve's privacy policy

"Valve® respects the privacy of its online visitors and users of its products. Valve recognizes the importance of protecting any information collected from users and has adopted this privacy policy that guides how Valve gathers, stores, and uses information from the use of Valve products and online sites by users.

This policy is current as of its last revision date. However, please note that this policy may be amended from time to time to reflect changes and additions to the privacy policy. Please check back for the most current version before relying on any of the provisions in this privacy policy.

Collection and Use of Information
By using Valve's online sites and products, users agree that Valve may collect aggregate information, individual information, and personally identifiable information, as defined below. Valve may share aggregate information and individual information with other parties. Valve shall not share personally identifiable information with other parties, except as described in the policy below.

"Aggregate information" is information that describes the habits, usage patterns, and demographics of users as a group but does not describe or reveal the identity of any particular user.

"Individual information" is information about a user that is presented in a form distinguishable from information relating to other users but not in a form that personally identifies any user or enables the recipient to communicate directly with any user unless agreed to by the user in advance of such communication. This information may be used to improve Valve's products and online sites, for internal marketing studies, or simply to collect demographic information about Valve's users.

Valve may use customer contact information provided by users to send information about Valve, including news about product updates, contests, events, and other promotional materials, but only if the users agree to receive such communications. Except in the cases described below, Valve will not share personally identifiable information with any third party unless the user agrees to such disclosure in advance. "Personally identifiable information" consists of a user's name, email address, physical address, or other data about the user that enables the recipient to personally identify the user. While Valve collects personally identifiable information on a voluntary basis, for certain products and online sites, Valve's collection of personally identifiable information may be a requirement for access to the product or site. Personally identifiable information will be processed and stored by Valve in databases situated in the United States. Valve may allow third parties performing services under contract with Valve to access stored information but such access shall only be to the extent necessary to provide those services. In those instances, the third party will be bound by the terms of this privacy policy. In some situations, personally identifiable information you input in connection with Steam may be made available to other users of Steam. For example, during registration of Steam, Valve collects a user's email address and nickname, and at the user's option, first and last name. Some of this information is searchable and available to other users within Steam. Valve has no obligation to keep the privacy of personally identifiable information that a user makes available to other users via Steam or other Valve software, such as in multiplayer or other public functions.

Personally identifiable information protected under this privacy policy and collected from users may be done in conjunction with associates under agreement with Valve. If an associate of Valve is collecting such personally identifiable information within one of our products or online sites, Valve will make users aware of this at the time the information is gathered. For example, product registration data for Half-Life is collected by Sierra Entertainment. If a user does not want to provide this information, the user may choose to opt out of providing this information. Additionally, if providing the information is a requirement of usage, the user may decline to use that particular service or product. When possible, Valve will make a reasonable effort to direct users to the privacy polices of these associates. Valve's privacy policy does not extend to associates of Valve.

Furthermore, external websites and companies with links to and from Valve's online sites and products may collect personal information about users. Valve's privacy policy does not extend to these external websites and companies. Please refer directly to these companies and websites regarding their privacy policies.

Valve may release personally identifiable information to comply with court orders or laws that require us to disclose such information"

 

[survivor686]

And here's EA privacy policy

"2. Consent to Collection and Use of Data.
EA knows that you care how information about you is collected, used and
shared, and we appreciate your trust that we will do so carefully and sensibly.
Information about our customers is an important part of our business, and EA
would never sell your personally identifiable information to anyone, nor would it
ever use spyware or install spyware on users? machines. We and agents acting
37683v1
on our behalf do not share information that personally identifies you without your
consent, except in rare instances where disclosure is required by law or to
enforce EA?s legal rights.
In addition to information that you give EA directly, EA collects nonpersonally
identifiable (or anonymous) information for purposes of improving our
products and services, providing services to you, facilitating the provision of
software updates, dynamically served content and product support as well as
communicating with you. The non-personally identifiable information that EA
collects includes technical and related information that identifies your computer
(including the Internet Protocol Address) and operating system, as well as
information about your Application usage (including but not limited to successful
installation and/or removal), software, software usage and peripheral hardware.
As noted above, this information is gathered periodically for purposes such as
improving our products and services, troubleshooting bugs, and otherwise
enhancing your user experience.
This and all other data provided to EA and/or collected by EA in
connection with your installation and use of this Application is collected, used,
stored and transmitted in accordance with EA?s Privacy Policy located at
www.ea.com. To the extent that anything in this section conflicts or is
inconsistent with the terms of EA?s Privacy Policy, the terms of the Privacy Policy shall control."

 

[survivor686]

I have to admit, both look vague and non-threatening, of course that might be due to a good lawyer.

 

[Tony2077]

i don't mind either or think of origin as the devil incarnate some make it out to be

 

[Something Amyss]

I have to admit, both look vague and non-threatening, of course that might be due to a good lawyer.

Yes, but we like Steam, so it's good.

We hate EA, so Origin is bad.

 

[octafish]

I have to admit, both look vague and non-threatening, of course that might be due to a good lawyer.

No, no, look again. EA's is dripping with evil toxins and black magic.

Pfft.

I have no problem with the EA Privacy Policy, the original wording was vague, and did mention that EA could transmit non-identifying information to third parties, after the ensuing shit-storm they re-wrote the agreement to its current form.

Of course I always, ALWAYS check the EULA to see if it has changed before I agree to an update. You have a legal right to continue to use the service with your original agreement.

 

[Something Amyss]

I have no problem with the EA Privacy Policy, the original wording was vague, and did mention that EA could transmit non-identifying information to third parties, after the ensuing shit-storm they re-wrote the agreement to its current form.

A shame most people are insisting it as though the original wording still applies.

 

[VladG]

Well, I can't make an argument regarding the EULAs of either service since I didn't read 'em, nor would I actually understand any of it (understanding them means understanding the legal implications)

But in my opinion there are 2 major reasons people (me included) prefer Steam over Origin

1) People hate bloatware, and since people already have (in some cases quite massive) game libraries on Steam, if they have to choose, they will automatically choose Steam

2)EA has a history of being MAJOR dicks, Valve does not. In fact Valve's reputation is some of the best in the videogame industry. This trigger's the "siding with the lesser dick" instinct in people, since lesser dick means lesser chance of getting screwed over.(yeah, it's so late that it's early, so here come the bad jokes)

 

[Aircross]

Let's not forget that EA had the nerve to have a "can't sue us" policy.

I mean really, how much more defensive can you get? If you have nothing to fear, then you won't need a "can't sue us" policy.

 

[Something Amyss]

Let's not forget that EA had the nerve to have a "can't sue us" policy.

I mean really, how much more defensive can you get? If you have nothing to fear, then you won't need a "can't sue us" policy.

You're going to see more and more of that, because it's become permissable. Two of the three console producers have also done it.

But seriously, are you really going to go with "only guilty people have something to hide?"

 

[Absolutionis]

Let's not forget that EA had the nerve to have a "can't sue us" policy.

I mean really, how much more defensive can you get? If you have nothing to fear, then you won't need a "can't sue us" policy.

You can still sue EA. You just can't bandwagon onto a class-action lawsuit. The only person that benefits from a class-action is the lawyer.

That said, the general idea is that Valve makes an effort to make people like them. They're two years ahead of EA on their digital distribution platform and it works great.

EA's Origin is forced on us, they blame valve for their own greed, and their digital distribution platform is still buggy. Not only that, but EA permabans you from games arbitrarily, and you're at the mercy of a company with horrid reputation.

The worst Valve will ever do to you is ban you from their forums and prevent you from joining VAC-protected multiplayer servers. The worst EA has ever done is permaban people and lock them out of their games forever because their forum's mod-bot slipped up.

 

[lowkey_jotunn]

I have no problem with the EA Privacy Policy, the original wording was vague, and did mention that EA could transmit non-identifying information to third parties, after the ensuing shit-storm they re-wrote the agreement to its current form.

A shame most people are insisting it as though the original wording still applies.

The fact that they would even try to pull crap like that is what pisses me off. Sure they changed it, but that won't stop them from actually collecting all the data they want, until someone catches them and the whole legal process runs its course.

At that point, they'll easily be able to cover their legal fees with the personal info they've sold to 3rd parties.

 

[AndyFromMonday]

You can still sue EA. You just can't bandwagon onto a class-action lawsuit. The only person that benefits from a class-action is the lawyer

You can't exactly fight a multi billion dollar corporation by yourself. Unless you've got lots of money, something which the average consumer does not, it's impossible. Since corporations are notorious for abusing consumer rights, class action lawsuits are a necessity to keep them in line.

Digital distribution is a direct attack on consumer rights since it gives companies even more control over how you play your games. Origin is much more upfront with its policies and is just another attempt by a major company to exert more control over the product their selling.

 

[VladG]

Let's not forget that EA had the nerve to have a "can't sue us" policy.

I mean really, how much more defensive can you get? If you have nothing to fear, then you won't need a "can't sue us" policy.

You're going to see more and more of that, because it's become permissable. Two of the three console producers have also done it.

But seriously, are you really going to go with "only guilty people have something to hide?"

I agree, this is the U.S. we're talking about, where people sue people over really, really, really stupid things. They even win sometimes. A "can't sue us" policy just makes sense in such an environment, as abusive as it is for users.