Internet Explodes Over Origin's Invasion of Privacy

[Jaime_Wolf]

My continuing response to all of this: "Oh look, someone finally decided to read a EULA."

Almost all EULA's have ridiculous bullshit like this in them. Maybe not this particular brand of bullshit, but this is not a new concept or a problem specific to Origin. The only difference is that people who were already unhappy with the idea of Origin (read: everyone) finally took the time to read one of the damn things and, without having read any others to compare it to, it seems really shady.

There are a lot of potentially ugly things involved in Origin, but this neverending parade of EULA discoveries really isn't a very big one.

 

[Imp_Emissary]

Another reason to stick to consoles, I guess.

Actually, you would still need an Origin account to play online.

How so? Origin has nothing to do with consoles.

I can't completely explain it, but I can think of one example to compare it to.

In Dragon Age Origins(...Hmmmm...origins, and now origin...) you made an account with Bioware and every time you went online the game connected to your account, and kept track of what you did in game and you got some extra stuff in Dragon Age 2 for having an account.

Also, in Metal Gear Solid 4 you had to set up an account with their website to play their online mode. So it would be similar to that. You try to go online to play, and it will ask you to sign in or make an account, and if you don't you can't play.

EA is really playing hard ball here.
Or in short, they're being real dicks.

 

[gyroscopeboy]

I don't get it...EA had a really good chance of equalling or bettering Modern Warfares popularity, then they go and fuck it up. Activision must be laughing all the way to the bank.

 

[RadioactiveMicrobe]

Ehh. That's what you get for hyping Battlefield 3 like the second coming.

 

[Alar]

ToS contracts are not necessarily legally binding documents. Even if the consumer uses a product, the company cannot force a consumer to agree to terms which violate laws just to use the product.

For example, as a gun salesmen, you cannot force your customers to sign a ToS contract which states that they must use the gun to assassinate at least one member of the federal government in order to obtain permission to own the gun. Car salesmen can't legally obligate their car buyers to use their car in a bank robbery or hit-and-run homicide. Dramatic examples? Absolutely, but the point remains: you can't make a ToS contract which violates laws and then force your customers to agree to it in order to use your products. Federal law completely and totally trumps ToS contracts.

In a battle of legal rights and the law versus ToS, the ToS will lose every single case, every single time. It's why most of these suits get settled long before they hit the courtroom floor. The problem here is that people assume that ToS contracts are flawless because they can't remember the last ToS court case....when that's precisely the point: no one will defend their ToS against civil charges if they openly admit to illegal activity that violates a consumer's rights.

All that EA customers, as a group, would have to do is prove that the Terms of Service violate the law, which is certainly not difficult to do. If enough people threw up a class-action suit against EA for this, they'd drop the clause from their ToS in a heartbeat just to avoid the civil suit, because they probably already know it's a load and they won't want to waste the money and embarrassment of a trial bringing this to the public eye.

Not to mention the resulting criminal charges for every country that has similar data protection laws....EA would never, ever try to defend this clause in court. I guarantee that if a class-action suit is filed, they will try to settle and will remove the clause.

Stop insisting that you have no control over a company's policies just because they throw some legalish-looking document in your face. If you can prove wrongdoing on their part, a company of this size will NOT try to defend themselves. Not after various court cases in which big companies lost to "little people". It's a new age in business. Backing off to avoid court is far cheaper than the risk of a suit.

Now, if only there would be a way for you to give this message to the entire gaming community and somehow rally people together to do this... of course, are we even certain that this does go against the law? That they haven't found some idiotic loophole that lawyers are good at doing?

You certainly seem to know more about this than I do. Obviously, I can't compel you to expound upon this topic, but if there's anything else you'd like to share about this subject, I'd be appreciative.

 

[badmunky64]

This doesn't bother me much as long as it doesn't mess with my computer. I don't really see the problem. It just wants to know what type of computer and programs we use. As long as it won't go snooping in my actual data (documents, pictures, songs) I'm fine with it. Not that I was going to use Origin in the first place.

 

[faefrost]

This may even be worse than just Battlefield. Am I wrong in thinking that Origin service will be required for the new Bioware Star Wars The Old Repulic? Wow! If that's tha case I think my preorder just got shitcanned.

 

[marblemadness]

This really doesn't seem like a big deal to me. I don't care if they know what software I'm using. I've never understood these 'privacy' advocates -- I know some things are absurd, but this doesn't seem bad at all to me

 

[ReiverCorrupter]

snip for brevity

I think the main issue is whether we should be expected to read and agree to a 10-30 page legal document every time we want to buy a product or download a program.

I get that the majority of consumers just need to become more aware of what they're singing. But giving people large legal documents for items as common and meaningless as games is a little ridiculous. It's not like it's a car or a house.

I also still think that giving the company the ability to demand things such as the handing over of rights in a document such as this is underhanded. I'm still of the thought that a ToS should be just that. It should only pertain to the regulations demanded of item or service your singing it for. That shouldn't include the signing over of rights.

A legal document such as this for such frivolous products and services is silly. We're being bogged down with litigation that a lot of people won't understand.

But to be honest, I can't think of a viable alternative to a ToS. Because the company does need to keep rights for it's product/service. But the expectation that we should read large documents for such inconsequential paraphernalia is obscene. And frankly, most of what is in there doesn't apply to your average customer. It's to stop people from abusing the service. Most people won't.

So we've essentially been burdened with this because a few jackasses will find a way to abuse the things.

It just doesn't seem right to me.

Yeah, but if they didn't have them then they couldn't sue those jackasses. What they could do is just add another clause to the initial agreement so that by signing it you continue to agree to the terms every time there is a new update unless the terms have changed, and then you need only read and agree to the changed sections.

 

[Xannieros]

Well this is good to know.

I hope EA knows they have lost sales. Bioware even said Origin won't hurt Star Wars: The Old Republic. I disagree, I was going to buy BF3 and SW:ToR. Now I am not. Sure I am a drop in the bucket, but they did indeed lose sales because of it. Both were sure fire purchases.

What is it with companies now? They seem to be ticking off the fans of their games more often.

 

[JohnnyDelRay]

I'm agreeing with the people who say there should be a board regulating practices of publishers like this. Boycott isn't going to do shit, they aren't even going to see anything happen, even if all the people who actually SAY they aren't going to buy it actually DON'T. I sure as hell won't be, but we all know what happened to MW2.

This year has been rather sad for me...almost all the games that I am really, really looking forward to have been scratched off the list. I wrote an email to EA, but I'm pretty sure it'll fall on deaf ears. This article didn't even spark an outrage, that was already burnt out at the origin 'always-on' requirements, and other similar news from Blizzard and id pulling similar shit. Now I'm just depressed, because gaming happens to be my favorite hobby, but I'm gonna have to stick to my principles before anything. Goddammit ignorance is bliss.

 

[I Max95]

well i just finished uninstalling Origin from my computer
i usually play console anyway

 

[Cheesezorz]

Well, now I'm definitely not interested in BF3 anymore.

I'm glad I have Red Orchestra 2 on Steam now. <3

 

[Jinx_Dragon]

At first I was going to have no problem with installing origin, but after reading about this it might not make me want to get Battlefield 3 at all now unless Valve some how pulls back EA to Steam.

Seconded, I was looking forward to Battlefield 3, now I probably will never buy it.

Hardware scans, sure I can understand collecting hardware related data for research but a list of my software and how I use them... noooo way.

 

[jprf]

Ok, I'm definitely buying the console version.
Origin will never find it's way onto my PC.

I hate to tell ya man, but I think you still need an Origin account to play the hardcopy of the game.
EA is really playing hard ball.

I said console version, not hardcopy.

 

[Vigormortis]

It's funny. I've stated my opinion on this matter on several threads within this forum to only be met with insults as I'm chastized by those who are defending EA over this. They tell me I'm being stupid and illogical for saying I don't want Battlefield 3 anymore. Yet, with each passing day EA pulls some new kind of BS. Making it harder and harder for people to even play the game, let along enjoy it.

Yeah. I'm the one being stupid. :|

I think Riley, of Boondocks fame, sums up my sentiments towards EA quite nicely. Granted, some of the "insults" don't quite fit, but it's the thought that counts.
*warning* Though censored, it does contain course language. Ergo, if that would offend, please don't open the spoiler.

Spoiler

Why steam is better then Origin, I opt in when I want gabe to go through my stuff.

Exactly. At least Valve is kind enough to ask you if they may "probe" you.

 

[Keepeas]

You know, that Terms of Service Agreement sounded fine....
until EA bent their Users over and F**KED them over...

What is wrong with that company....

 

[Jinx_Dragon]

Does anyone know a good news media outlet that might present a story related to end user agreements and how invasive they have become?

In the light of the 'Hacking incidents' public awareness of privacy is at a all time high. A clause written into the end user agreement that is basically authorizing the installation of spy-ware onto your systems should be addressed. The reason it isn't consider a concern, you click the agree without even thinking, is because most people don't know. Should we bring it to the attention of the masses they might be able make this sort of crap a thing of the past.

Hell, maybe we should start writing to our politicians to demand that invasive end user agreements that demand, with no way to opt out, full access to your system be made illegal.

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Emphoss Lemma

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