Internet Explodes Over Origin's Invasion of Privacy

[Vrach]

Dramatic title is dramatic... So, anyone checked EA's Privacy Policy, considering it overrides this whole thing according to that last sentence? We've agreed to that policy some billion times by now, I'd imagine it has a clause that forbids things like these, if this concept is new.

Want to opt out? You can't, except by not installing it at all, which of course means you don't get to play anything that requires Origin, including the long-anticipated Battlefield 3 [http://www.amazon.com/Battlefield-3-Limited-Pc/dp/B002I0HJZO/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1314202742&sr=8-3].

Spoiler: Yeah, no.

 

[Bluntman1138]

This is why i buy my EA games on Xbox, or not at all.

 

[Owlslayer]

Well, this isn't exactly great news, in my opinion. Though i do wonder how much info Steam pulls out of my PC.

 

[Ragsnstitches]

It doesn't change much for me, though I have been interested in BF3 since it's announcement, I have no real ambition to buy it.

That said... what the fuck EA? I'm going to chalk this up to reading comprehension issues on the part of the proof reader. This has to be just badly worded and not a complete disregard of respect towards customers, as it currently appears to be.

 

[Rawne1980]

It's strange - they don't need all that data for what they claim they're going to do, but I'm pretty sure that using it for anything other than what they say they will is illegal in the UK under the Data Protection Act. So either they collect data and don't use it, or they break the law. Why would either of those things appeal to EA?

It's not illegal if you agree to it.

By installing Origin you are agreeing to them doing whatever the hell they want with the information they gather.

The Data Protection Act covers you in the way that you have to give consent for any information gathered about to be used. It clearly states that by installing Origin you are giving your consent.

Long story short, install Origin and EA can do whatever the hell they like with your information, you don't have a leg to stand on. They already covered themselves and you consented.

 

[ZombieGenesis]

How can we make a legal issue out of this? Surely there must be something we can claim against them for this, it's bound to stamp over all kinds of legal and ethical issues. We just need a good enough claim against it and we can destroy them.

The games industry has been spitting on customer rights for this long, it's finally getting to the point where they don't consider customers to have any rights at all they can't have a hand in. We know we can't let it go down this way.

Legally, EA is fine. You see ... You accept their terms when you install. And you can terminate same agreement by uninstalling Origin. Of course, they are COUNTING you will want your game more than justice.

To quote a hero of mine, Jerry Holkins in particular, "once lawyers get invovled all certainties cease". I can admit to that, law in my profession, I have enough experience to know that any argument no matter how empty can sway a decision.

EA's legal department would have no problem proving that customers have agreed in contract to the terms. However, there is bound to be a loophole. Sadly we live in a world where most people ar ignorant to these things, or just wouldn't care, and their massive revenue renders the voices of reason completely insignificant to big companies. Feeding to sheep and fencing off the wolves, if you will.

I just wish somebody on the forum knew enough to pick out something we could use against them. After all it was forum members here who identified the problem.

 

[The.Bard]

sigh

This is one of those times where I WANT to boycott EA. I really do.

But Bioware is my favorite developer of all time. I can't boycott them.

This is like one of those difficult moral dilemmas from Mass Effect! Where's the Renegade option to jab EA executives in the back with an electrically charged wrench!?

Also, I really really wish I read this particular EULA before installing Origin last month. Stupid stupid stupid stupid STUPID.

 

[akibawall95]

The article says the only was to opt out is to not install it but if someone already had it on their computer would they be opted out when they uninstall it?

 

[Xersues]

This is why I canceled my pre-order for PC at Gamestop when they forced origin on all installs.

I said fuck EA. I will cancel by SWTOR preorder too if they try to do the same thing.

Vote with your wallet, not with your lawyers. It hurts them way more.

 

[Treblaine]

" IF YOU DO NOT WANT EA TO COLLECT, USE, STORE, TRANSMIT OR DISPLAY THE DATA DESCRIBED IN THIS SECTION, PLEASE DO NOT INSTALL OR USE THE APPLICATION."

Very well EA, if you insist then I won't. And neither will most of your target market.

 

[Anjel]

I said fuck EA. I will cancel by SWTOR preorder too if they try to do the same thing.

I thought it was but your post made me second guess myself and I went and searched [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/110617-The-Old-Republic-Downloads-to-be-Exclusive-to-EAs-Origin-Service] and found that retail versions of the game do not require Origin. Interesting. I wouldn't hold my breath though, if they are forcing it on retail BF3 and using the multiplayer aspect as their logic... why not their own MMO?

 

[ZombieGenesis]

And neither will most of your target market.

I hate to be the depressing pessimistic voice you'll find in all nerd societies, but do you really think that's the case? EA targets all gamers, not just the ones who stop and consider what they're buying and installing. I would say of every one hundred people who buy the game, maybe only one or two will even be aware of the term.

 

[risenbone]

Well I guess you could try the same thing that guy did with the xbox TOS but go about it in a less dickish way. Like get a copy of Origins TOS change it to something more inline with what you would consider appropriate and mail it to their legal department and see what happens.

If nothing happens write another letter expressing your disapointment in not being able to do business with the company if enough people do that might get their attention quicker than a bunch of forum posts the higher ups will never see.

 

[Sartan0]

It still boggles the mind as to how this much of an invasion of privacy can be legal.

America has almost no general protections if you sign away your rights. In the EU as I understand it many of the countries have a minimum standard. No such thing in the states. You give up your right to privacy you are at their mercy.

That said if a company does something really wrong they will lose business. Over reach could spell their doom but only if people care.

I value my privacy which is why I never used facebook nor will use any service that takes that much in return for so little. (This includes the origin 'service') It comes down to what people value. Someone else might not care about their privacy as much as I do and that is their prerogative. That said, I will be over here playing other games.

 

[For.I.Am.Mad]

That's just wrong.

 

[Jegsimmons]

could be worse.....it could be ran by activision.... Also im sure theres an easy trick around this such as use a pc with nothing on it....or look up alot of porn to fuck with them.

 

[risenbone]

Or install it and play nothing but steam games

 

[Anjel]

or look up alot of porn to fuck with them.

LOL... yeah... because that NEVER happens!

 

[Xersues]

I wouldn't hold my breath though, if they are forcing it on retail BF3 and using the multiplayer aspect as their logic... why not their own MMO?

Yeah I triple checked too before I posted. I am not sure what the difference between DICE and BioWare may be, but my guess is Origin is NOT used to push patches and there is need for DRM for SWTOR.

The likelihood of them needing to force the software should be lower because its harder to justify adding another layer onto an MMO.

We all know there will be an [UPDATE] to this soon where EA backs down like Ubisoft did with From Dust or they'll find some way to attack steam.

I really wanted to play Battlefield 3 too. Too bad I don't put up with any crap.

 

[Denamic]

EA got jealous of Activision because they took their title as the evillest company, so no they're trying to get it back.