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posted by
mattie_p
on Saturday February 22 2014, @12:32PM
from the print-that-out-please-want-it-on-paper dept.
from the print-that-out-please-want-it-on-paper dept.
bob_super writes:
"After reading an article[fr] (English language version) presenting a new Google initiative to map deforestation, I encountered a surprise when globalforestwatch.org opened with a Terms Of Service page! Not a small two-line 'we're in beta' terms of service page, a full multi-page lawyer-dream EULA. And when clicked on agree, I got a pop-up asking me to agree again!
Since we all know that all information has to be proven 100% correct and safe before being published on the web, have you noticed EULAs in other no-login sites? Why are Google's lawyers getting in the way when it's about important scientific data?"
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Agree to the EULA to Learn About Deforestation
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For recreational use only.
(Score: 5, Informative) by gallondr00nk on Saturday February 22 2014, @12:56PM
Said terms are here. [globalforestwatch.org]
To my layman eyes, it's standard EULA drivel. If I was going to guess why they're doing it, I can imagine that certain parties will get extremely tetchy about their deforestation practices being exposed.
I remember in the 90's there were often documentaries about Amazon deforestation where the companies were so cagey about what they were doing they'd frequently threaten or even shoot at filmmakers. A full, easily accessible map of what's occuring worldwide might make some companies very uncomfortable.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Open4D on Saturday February 22 2014, @02:23PM
While it may be possible to defend a given specific decision to impose a EULA, as something beyond the control of the people imposing it, I think it's something we should generally be resistant to.
One place to start that resistance is simply documenting the problem. So I thank Soylent News and the poster and submitter for this story. I just did a quick search for any organized efforts to name & shame the worst EULAs, but without success. According to a 2009 post at yalelawtech.org [yalelawtech.org], domain eulahallofshame.com may have been used for that purpose at one time, but was "far from well done", and anyway it's now just being squatted. So does anyone know of any such operation that's still up & running?
I did come across 10 Ridiculous EULA Clauses That You May Have Already Agreed To [makeuseof.com] and a case where 7500 Gamestation.co.uk shoppers surrendered their immortal souls [boingboing.net]
.
As for mitigation, haven't there been efforts in the past to produce standardized EULAs? Again, I just did a search and came up with nothing.
I will close with something stolen from boingboing.net ...
READ CAREFULLY. By reading this News for Nerds site comment, you agree, on behalf of your employer, to release me from all obligations and waivers arising from any and all NON-NEGOTIATED agreements, licenses, terms-of-service, shrinkwrap, clickwrap, browsewrap, confidentiality, non-disclosure, non-compete and acceptable use policies ("BOGUS AGREEMENTS") that I have entered into with your employer, its partners, licensors, agents and assigns, in perpetuity, without prejudice to my ongoing rights and privileges. You further represent that you have the authority to release me from any BOGUS AGREEMENTS on behalf of your employer.
(Score: 1) by SMI on Sunday February 23 2014, @05:07AM
After following the link regarding 7500 gamestation.co.uk customers surrendering their immortal souls, :), I thought I'd seen everything. Then I read a few comments, and came upon this [boingboing.net]:
"By allowing me to comment on this blog post, you forfeit all control, profits, and subsidiary rights pertaining to BoingBoing or any future BoingBoing-related ventures to me. By disemvoweling, deleting, responding to, or ignoring this comment, you tacitly acknowledge my claim to be valid."
Simple, elegant, and very well thought out.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday February 23 2014, @11:49AM
How dare the Brazilians develop their own nation, create jobs and feed their own families as they see fit! We need to keep them poor, starving and dependent foreign aid so we can marvel at the intact rain forest on our 60" flatscreen TVs. Seeing them living in shanties and slums in National Geographic really looks cool because they are one with their poorness and happy unlike us decadent Westerners who would be in unhappy living in such filth and food insecurity sans internet and big screen tv. They really ought not the be able touch their rain forest without our permission.