16 Dec, 2011
A new wiki-based site has cropped up that promises to de-mystify the horrible legalese of the license agreements we all blast through when installing or using our software and games. As a wiki, it’s dependent on user-generated content, so if there is a EULA you think people should see, then you can add a page for it, and translate it for the masses.
As an example, it’s very easy to find that the Battlefield 3 EULA has this little nugget:
If you participate in online services, such as online play or the downloading and uploading of content, EA and its affiliates may also collect, use, store, transmit and publicly display statistical data regarding game play (including scores, rankings and achievements), or identify content that is created and shared by you with other players. Data that personally identifies you is collected, used, stored and transmitted in accordance with EA’s Privacy Policy located at www.ea.com.
Translation:
If you play online or update your game, EA and other companies may collect and use game data, as well as information that PERSONALLY IDENTIFIES you, according to EA’s privacy policy
That particular block isn’t too hard to understand, really. However, there’s jewels like this:
You may opt to install Punkbuster Anti-Cheat technology by Even Balance, Inc. during the installation of this Software. IF INSTALLED, DURING ITS OPERATION, THIS TECHNOLOGY WILL MONITOR YOUR COMPUTER’S RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY (RAM) FOR UNAUTHORIZED THIRD PARTY PROGRAMS RUNNING CONCURRENTLY WITH THE GAME. AN “UNAUTHORIZED THIRD PARTY PROGRAM” AS USED HEREIN SHALL BE DEFINED AS ANY THIRD PARTY SOFTWARE, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY “ADDON”, “MOD”, “HACK”, “TRAINER”, OR “CHEAT” THAT IN EA’S SOLE DETERMINATION: (I) ENABLES OR FACILITATES CHEATING OF ANY TYPE: (II) ALLOWS USERS TO MODIFY OR HACK THE GAME INTERFACE, ENVIRONMENT, AND /OR EXPERIENCE IN ANY WAY NOT EXPRESSLY AUTHORIZED BYEA: OR (III) INTERCEPTS, “MINES”, OR OTHERWISE COLLECTS INFORMATION FROM OR THROUGH THE GAME. IN THE EVENT THAT THE GAME DETECTS AN UNAUTHORIZED THIRD PARTY PROGRAM, THE GAME MAY (A) COMMUNICATE INFORMATION BACK TO EA, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION YOUR ACCOUNT NAME, DETAILS ABOUT THE UNAUTHORIZED THIRD PARTY PROGRAM DETECTED, AND THE TIME AND DATE THE UNAUTHORIZED THIRD PARTY PROGRAM WAS DETECTED; AND /OR (B) EA MAY EXERCISE ANY OR ALL OF ITS RIGHTS UNDER THIS AGREEMENT, WITH OR WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE TO THE USER. WHEN YOU UNINSTALL THE SOFTWARE, PUNKBUSTER MAY REMAIN ON YOUR MACHINE. To uninstall Punkbuster, you may run the executable available at http://www.evenbalance.com/downloads/pbsvc/pbsvc.exe and/or visit the Even Balance website for more details, available at www.evenbalance.com.
TL;DR
If you install Punkbuster on your system, it will monitor your computer/RAM to look for cheating stuff. If EA decides that what it sees is a cheat, it can send info back to EA, or they can revoke your License to the game. Also, if you uninstall BF3, Punkbuster will still be on your system unless you uninstall that as well.
Oh, okay, that’s actually much better. They also currently have the iTunes and Origin EULA’s, which are worth checking out. I’m actually surprised a site like this hasn’t already been put together. If we all took a minute to quickly browse what in the heck we’re all agreeing to by bringing these games and devices into our personal space, we might be very surprised at what we’ve signed away to EA, Microsft, Sony, Nintendo and others.
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