Internet Explodes Over Origin's Invasion of Privacy

[Atmos Duality]

You agree that EA may collect, use, store and transmit technical and related information that identifies your computer (including the Internet Protocol Address), operating system, Application usage (including but not limited to successful installation and/or removal), software, software usage and peripheral hardware, that may be gathered periodically to...

As this is worded, EA is literally claiming access to ALL DATA ON YOUR COMPUTER.
It's far too vaguely worded: "Software" can refer to fucking ANYTHING on your computer (anything that isn't Hardware or Firmware). It's not defined as "This game/software" or "Our products/software", but just "Software".

That is crossing a BIG fucking legal line. Anyone who agrees to those terms as is, is a fool; this is a unilateral contract akin to an online scam.

So gamers, is this the future you want for gaming? From now on, every time you buy an EA product THIS IS WHAT YOU SUPPORT.

Because under this contract, the customer has ZERO rights. If you violate this condition by telling EA to fuck off via security, they can try to pull their license agreement and keep your money.

 

[Meander112]

Wow. I was on the verge of pre-ordering The Old Repulic. Thanks for the warning.

http://www.swtor.com/community/devtracker.php

Stephen Reid confirms that:

"You are not required to use the Origin desktop client to download, patch or play the game client for Star Wars: The Old Republic."

Thank you very much for that information!

 

[Ghostkai]

Wow. I was on the verge of pre-ordering The Old Repulic. Thanks for the warning.

http://www.swtor.com/community/devtracker.php

Stephen Reid confirms that:

"You are not required to use the Origin desktop client to download, patch or play the game client for Star Wars: The Old Republic."

Thank you very much for that information!

No worries ^_^

And great job on Stephen Reid for that awesome damage control.

 

[StANDY1338]

I know this hasn't been asked. But what if one were to install origin on a computer with sensitive information E.G credit card details. Or even better what if one goverment employee wanted to play bf3 between being a seceret spy or something.

EA WOULD SELL GOVERMENT SECERETS TO THE CHINESE they are just that evil.

but i ordered bf3 for 23 quid so im not cancelling. its 23 quid man.

 

[Worgen]

that explains why ea is pulling out of steam, it wants to be able to collect a fuck ton of data about users, so it can sell said data or just abuse it

 

[sinterklaas]

I don't see how this is legal? ToS'ses and EULA's don't hold up in court, do they?

 

[Nurb]

This is why digital distribution sucks and will always suck unless we get to keep our personal info personal and that we don't require a 3rd party program running to play a game.

Screw the big publishers. Why should people pay for games that require this sort of bullshit again?

 

[Kuroji]

Thanks EA for killing my interest in your future games. I can go spend that on worthier publishers now.

I was really looking forward to ME3 too.

 

[brainslurper]

We need to get some creative people together for this one.
Come on guys,

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.

Solution: use steam.

 

[scorptatious]

So if Origin allows EA to check out everything about my computer, would that include the websites I've been to? I'd imagine people who like to use certain websites to *ahem* release some stress *cough* every now and then wouldn't like this at all if that's the case.

 

[mjc0961]

Considering how EA has been acting lately, I expect any response to be along the lines of "Go buy MW3 on Steam then you n00bs! After you see how much it sucks dick (lol) you'll stop whining and buy our best game ever BF3." Then they'll cry to their mommies for a diaper change because they made poopies.

 

[Blank Kold]

Every electronic company ever does this. Not sure what the big deal is. Oh right, fanboys.

 

[RuralGamer]

Meh, why did I get the feeling EA intended to put some form of spyware into Origin? Oh that's right, because that's exactly what they'd do; last time I tried to uninstall an EA game (Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle Earth 2) I couldn't; my security software identified the uninstaller as a trojan.
I wasn't so sure about getting BF3 on PC to start with, but now I'm certain; ain't getting legal spyware on my PC EA.

Edit: actually I'm wondering whether this'll fly in the UK; we have the Data Protection Act; information gathered must be for specific purposes and they aren't; the terminology is kinda vague for what they will be using it for. Secondly they will need to tell us exactly what data they've gathered, which I doubt they will and they won't be allowed to send/take it out of the EU, which they want to.

 

[Kenjitsuka]

"And even though EA's data collection practices in all likelihood won't be any different than Valve's, the worrying point is that they could be."

Sorry, but that's exactly the naivite they hope prevents a more appropriate, big responce.
Such a wide range of data -which they admit they will sell to third parties- is worth *huge* money to marketing creeps.
Over time, even much more than the sale of a videogame.

 

[TimeLord]

Said it. Underlined it. Internet took notice at last.

Given Ubisoft as well, can't PEGI or someone bring in someone to check up on these damn things?

But if it's not actually against a law, they can do it if they want yes?

They may incur the wrath of the Internet and God himself but they can still technically do it until a very specific law is passed. And EAs response will be; "Read the ToS, if you don't agree, don't install Origin"

 

[Atheist.]

And this is why I don't buy games from EA, and haven't for years.

 

[INeedAName]

Huh. Not really surprised. Don't care much about BF3, but I hope Origin won't be a requirement for playing SWTOR, that would suck!

 

[scorptatious]

Thanks EA for killing my interest in your future games. I can go spend that on worthier publishers now.

I was really looking forward to ME3 too.

Couldn't you get a hard copy of ME3? Or is that only for the console versions?

 

[Sexual Harassment Panda]

I'm not usually reactionary when it comes to publisher decisions, I know I can opt out...though it is slightly annoying when good games are ruined.

In this case, I'm kinda peeved. I wanted this game alot, especially after all the promises that it would be a proper PC game and one that would stress my rig at that.

But:

1) No server browser.
2) Have to install origin.
3) Origin takes silly liberties with my system.

Even if this game is awesome, it's sounding like a frustrating and even slightly worrying experience to opt into.

I hope this is cleared up. If it's not, it's going to be hard for me to justify buying your shit.