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Cover all topics from shell scripts to monopolies and reviews to political comments.
Interesting Parts of the Windows 7 EULA
Posted 08-29-2010 at 01:54 AM by William (Dthdealer)
I like to read the Windows 7 EULA, it it hilariously bad for the user in nearly every way, and yet I remain unaffected. It is the same sort of feeling you get when you see signs offering antivirus subscription for only a set period of time and for hundreds of dollars, safe with the thought you will never need such software.
For accuracy reasons, I'm using the Windows 7 Ultimate N English PDF available through the Microsoft website. Also, EULA = End User Licence Agreement
Here are a few of my favourites.
Haphazard Wording
Microsoft claims throughout their licence they are outlining your rights.
... when in actual fact, every term below those lines is outlining what you cannot do. Eg:
Only one user?
That could have two possible meanings - either you can't have more than one person ever use that installation of Windows, or you can't have two people using the computer at the exact same time ( eg two player games on the same keyboard, or taking turns typing ). What the damned hell?
Connection limitations designed to make people buy the dearer server edition, even when they do not need it
Lets say you have a computer with a lot of usb expansions and a few ethernet ports. Unlikely, but if the total number of connections to other devices is greater than 20, you have broken the EULA.
Microsoft can send your personal information to anyone they want
This basically means Microsoft can collect any of the listed information ( including what you type into Google search, as your search terms are collected as 'search suggestions') and sell them to any company they want. Seeing as they have the right to change this rule to anything else they wish, they can have access to every byte on your computer if they wanted to.
Geographic Restrictions
This means that if you buy your copy of Windows in another country, it will not activate in your current country even though the software is identical. This makes MS the overlord of how much you pay for your copy of windows depending on where you live.
MPEG-LA IS ALSO NOW YOUR OVERLORD
THIS IS THE ONLY PART OF THE LICENCE THAT SHOUTS AT YOU
WHAT YOU SAY? I NO HEAR! ALL OUR BASE ARE BELONG TO YOU AND I CANNOT HEAR THE WORDS OVER THE LOUD NOISE MADE BY THE ZIGS!
If you break the law using the internet, your copy of Windows is void
There are many more gems to find, so these are only a few of the reasons you should never again buy Microsoft software.
Regards, William
For accuracy reasons, I'm using the Windows 7 Ultimate N English PDF available through the Microsoft website. Also, EULA = End User Licence Agreement
Here are a few of my favourites.
Haphazard Wording
Microsoft claims throughout their licence they are outlining your rights.
Quote:
If you comply with these license terms, you have the rights below for each license you
acquire.
acquire.
Quote:
b. Licensed Computer. You may use the software on up to two processors on the licensed
computer at one time. Unless otherwise provided in these license terms, you may not use the
software on any other computer.
computer at one time. Unless otherwise provided in these license terms, you may not use the
software on any other computer.
Quote:
2. INSTALLATION AND USE RIGHTS.
...
c. Number of Users. Unless otherwise provided in these license terms, only one user may use the
software at a time.
...
c. Number of Users. Unless otherwise provided in these license terms, only one user may use the
software at a time.
Connection limitations designed to make people buy the dearer server edition, even when they do not need it
Lets say you have a computer with a lot of usb expansions and a few ethernet ports. Unlikely, but if the total number of connections to other devices is greater than 20, you have broken the EULA.
Quote:
3. ADDITIONAL LICENSING REQUIREMENTS AND/OR USE RIGHTS.
...
f. Device Connections. You may allow up to 20 other devices to access software installed on the
licensed computer to use only File Services, Print Services, Internet Information Services and
Internet Connection Sharing and Telephony Services.
...
f. Device Connections. You may allow up to 20 other devices to access software installed on the
licensed computer to use only File Services, Print Services, Internet Information Services and
Internet Connection Sharing and Telephony Services.
Quote:
7. INTERNET-BASED SERVICES. Microsoft provides Internet-based services with the software. It
may change or cancel them at any time.
...
b. Use of Information. Microsoft may use the computer information, accelerator information,
search suggestions information, error reports, and Malware reports to improve our software and
services. We may also share it with others, such as hardware and software vendors. They may
use the information to improve how their products run with Microsoft software.
may change or cancel them at any time.
...
b. Use of Information. Microsoft may use the computer information, accelerator information,
search suggestions information, error reports, and Malware reports to improve our software and
services. We may also share it with others, such as hardware and software vendors. They may
use the information to improve how their products run with Microsoft software.
Geographic Restrictions
Quote:
15. GEOGRAPHIC RESTRICTIONS. If the software is marked as requiring activation in a specific
geographic region, then you are only permitted to activate this software in the geographic region
indicated on the software packaging. You may not be able to activate the software outside of that
region. For further information on geographic restrictions, visit go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=141397.
geographic region, then you are only permitted to activate this software in the geographic region
indicated on the software packaging. You may not be able to activate the software outside of that
region. For further information on geographic restrictions, visit go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=141397.
MPEG-LA IS ALSO NOW YOUR OVERLORD
THIS IS THE ONLY PART OF THE LICENCE THAT SHOUTS AT YOU
Quote:
20. NOTICE ABOUT THE H.264/AVC VISUAL STANDARD, THE VC-1 VIDEO STANDARD, THE
MPEG-4 VISUAL STANDARD AND THE MPEG-2 VIDEO STANDARD. This software includes
H.264/AVC, VC-1, MPEG-4 Part 2, and MPEG-2 visual compression technology. MPEG LA, L.L.C.
requires this notice:
THIS PRODUCT IS LICENSED UNDER THE AVC, THE VC-1, THE MPEG-4 PART 2 VISUAL, AND THE
MPEG-2 VIDEO PATENT PORTFOLIO LICENSES FOR THE PERSONAL AND NON-COMMERCIAL USE OF
A CONSUMER TO (i) ENCODE VIDEO IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE ABOVE STANDARDS (“VIDEO
STANDARDS”) AND/OR (ii) DECODE AVC, VC-1, MPEG-4 PART 2 AND MPEG-2 VIDEO THAT WAS
ENCODED BY A CONSUMER ENGAGED IN A PERSONAL AND NON-COMMERICAL ACTIVITY AND/OR
WAS OBTAINED FROM A VIDEO PROVIDER LICENSED TO PROVIDE SUCH VIDEO. NO LICENSE IS
GRANTED OR SHALL BE IMPLIED FOR ANY OTHER USE. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION MAY BE
OBTAINED FROM MPEG LA, L.L.C. SEE WWW.MPEGLA.COM.
MPEG-4 VISUAL STANDARD AND THE MPEG-2 VIDEO STANDARD. This software includes
H.264/AVC, VC-1, MPEG-4 Part 2, and MPEG-2 visual compression technology. MPEG LA, L.L.C.
requires this notice:
THIS PRODUCT IS LICENSED UNDER THE AVC, THE VC-1, THE MPEG-4 PART 2 VISUAL, AND THE
MPEG-2 VIDEO PATENT PORTFOLIO LICENSES FOR THE PERSONAL AND NON-COMMERCIAL USE OF
A CONSUMER TO (i) ENCODE VIDEO IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE ABOVE STANDARDS (“VIDEO
STANDARDS”) AND/OR (ii) DECODE AVC, VC-1, MPEG-4 PART 2 AND MPEG-2 VIDEO THAT WAS
ENCODED BY A CONSUMER ENGAGED IN A PERSONAL AND NON-COMMERICAL ACTIVITY AND/OR
WAS OBTAINED FROM A VIDEO PROVIDER LICENSED TO PROVIDE SUCH VIDEO. NO LICENSE IS
GRANTED OR SHALL BE IMPLIED FOR ANY OTHER USE. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION MAY BE
OBTAINED FROM MPEG LA, L.L.C. SEE WWW.MPEGLA.COM.
If you break the law using the internet, your copy of Windows is void
Quote:
7. INTERNET-BASED SERVICES. Microsoft provides Internet-based services with the software. It
may change or cancel them at any time.
...
c. Misuse of Internet-based Services. You may not use these services in any way that could
harm them or impair anyone else’s use of them. You may not use the services to try to gain
unauthorized access to any service, data, account or network by any means.
may change or cancel them at any time.
...
c. Misuse of Internet-based Services. You may not use these services in any way that could
harm them or impair anyone else’s use of them. You may not use the services to try to gain
unauthorized access to any service, data, account or network by any means.
Regards, William
Total Comments 3
Comments
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The Windows EULA is always a good source of material to get a 'WTF?' response! I like the bits that prohibit you from working round technical limitations. WTF does antivirus software do if it's not working round technical limitations???Posted 08-29-2010 at 02:10 AM by rich_c 
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ZOMG!11 ABS01U7E 0WN463!!1
I'm lucky I'm a free OS user!Posted 08-29-2010 at 07:54 AM by Web31337
Updated 08-29-2010 at 07:56 AM by Web31337 -
I forgot to write about that sectionQuote:Originally Posted by rich_c
The Windows EULA is always a good source of material to get a 'WTF?' response! I like the bits that prohibit you from working round technical limitations. WTF does antivirus software do if it's not working round technical limitations???
'Work around technical limitations' is such as general term that simply installing software that provides services not already provided by windows ( eg anti virus as you said, or even 3d games and music creation software ) might break the EULA.Posted 08-30-2010 at 05:35 AM by William (Dthdealer)
