Poll: The EULA

[XT inc]

I was just wondering how many of you have ever actually read these dense tombs of legal text before agreeing to their terms of sevice. I personally don't think I have ever actually read the end user licensing agreement.

Have any of you?
What is the logic behind placing these things that most people don't read?
What would be a way for companies to get us to ready this stuff without treating it like a cover their ass ploy not caring if we understand or not?

 

[TheNamlessGuy]

DELETED

 

[reg42]

I tried once, I really did. Didn't work out so well.

 

[Lt. Dragunov]

I read maybe the first line, ie. Terms of Service, then i just skip the crap and accept.

 

[MetalGenocide]

The EULA is there, to technically free the "creators"/publishers, of certain or all legal liabilities, and to have you except all, intrusive and/or harmful after effects of the alleged software use, without the ability to raze charges or the like, if the product is harmful or damaging.
Or something like that.

 

[HSIAMetalKing]

Never-- not once. It's a legal formality, I guess, designed to ensure that all users are presented with the information so they can not deny that they were given "the rules" at a later time.

I can't think of any way for companies to motivate people to read EULAs, unless maybe you somehow give them an achievement for doing so.

 

[Kollega]

Yes i did a couple of times, but they all say very similar things. The gist of all this legalese bullshit is mostly "we are not responsible for anything".

 

[funksobeefy]

depends what Im signing, if its a game or sprot or something for school. I normally dont read. But if it has something to do with my money at a bank then Ill skim through them

 

[x0ny]

I tried reading the one which I got with my first piece of software for my new PC(Nickalodean 3D movie maker) I think I gave up after the first 2 paragraphs, cuz it had finished installing by then.

 

[Ack-ack]

i read the ones that come with programs i will use often, and sometimes skim over them if its for a really good game, but generaly no, they are all just pretty much the same

basicaly its always just verbose way of saying "you are now disregarding any consumer rights you have over this product, we may or may not help or compensate you if something happens"

 

[XT inc]

I understand that they are taking the legal measures to pretty much dump product on you and leave you with no end options if anything goes haywire so they can just say to bad not our problem. I think the practice itself is nonsense since there is no accountability.

 

[Binerexis]

I've read a few but most of the time it comes down to common sense. The only time I made really sure to read it was when I first played GuildWars as that was my first MMO and didn't know what was and wasn't allowed.

 

[Chebs]

Most tend to say the same thing, because given how popular gaming and news sites are, if anyone threw in something weird into the EULA/TOS, like every other Wednesday I owe them a chocolate milkshake or they'll delete my stuff, the gaming and news sites would be all over it in a heartbeat. I still read it anyway though. Just to be on the safe side.

 

[drizztmainsword]

The only one that I've read all the way through was the Google Chrome EULA. I wanted to make sure they didn't still own every word you typed into it.

They don't. Now I use Chrome .

 

[Indecizion]

Rofl never i cbf i just click agree and hope ive not just sold my soul

 

[Milney]

For the average single-player game, no, straight to the skip button/scroll down/hunt the button in the middle that they used to put you through.

I have read two EULAs in my time though - the first was for PlanetSide, the first (and only so far) MMOFPS, which as my first ever MMO I felt obliged to read through what I could and could not do whilst effectively "renting" some pixels. 1% Curiosity and 99% Paranoia really, didn't want the big bad people at SOE screwing me through some loophole.

The second was for WoW, which was my second MMO (and first MMORPG) so again Mr. Paranoia struck, and as I knew MMORPGs involved far mroe time investment than my beloved MMOFPS I felt obliged to give the EULA a read through to make sure I couldn't be screwed out of all my investment. It turns out I could, but then again there was no other way.

That and I then realised that both EULAs (despite being oh, 3 years apart) had almost identical wording, at which point I gave up on reading any future EULAs as once you've read one, you've pretty much read them all - and none of them are particularly user-friendly...

 

[Koganesaga]

Read it once, then noticed that each one is basically the same thing, like others said it's for liability, course you have to agree if you want to use the product. Course for those that didn't read it should read it at least once, because you'll probably be surpised to what you just agreed to.

 

[evilartist]

I voted 'no', and I don't count reading only 1-2 paragraphs, or skimming. How many people here who voted 'yes' did actually read most of the EULA?

 

[Lullabye]

I read anything emboldened, the title, and the "accept" option before clicking it.

 

[JaredXE]

I have read through a few, including the SOE EULA for Star Wars Galaxies that said they have the ability to teleport your character into space if you ever protest against them. Enlightening.