EULA in Games

[64K]

I'm curious if people take the time to read a EULA in games. I never have. I think most people don't but I've never seen a poll on this for feedback so maybe I'm wrong. I do look at the warnings about special requirements on the Steam page though.

The vote will be anonymous.

 

[cvaldes]

I'm more inclined to read the EULA and TOS if the game has any online connectivity. Most of it is standard boilerplate that everyone's legal department provides so a lot of the differentiating lingo is in the sections about what data is being transmitted.

Not that I can stop it from happening, it's just interesting to see what they want to take. Hospitals and insurance companies have all our health data. Financial institutions, tax agencies, etc. have all of our money stuff. Phone numbers, places we lived, property we own, political contributions, criminal records, marriages, family members, etc. It's all already out there.

I don't stream but if I ever do I would pay even closer attention to the legalese since I would be monetizing my gameplay.

 

[Dristun]

Never. What they gonna do, ask me for consent to steal my data? It's all over the net already anyway. If someone tried to insert something even more nefarious into it, I'm sure at least in 2024 they wouldn't be able to properly enforce it anyway, we're not yet completely in a dystopian cyberpunk society. But we're getting there, so when I have kids I might insist they learn to read this stuff as carefully as when dealing with a bank or a business partner, haha.

 

[Onasi]

I do, sometimes, out of interest. There are some real nuggets inside some of them regarding data usage and collection or how the developer isn’t essentially even guaranteeing you a working product. It’s really a weird situation anyway since without accepting those you can’t actually access the game, but you don’t see them until you’ve bought the game, so… They are of dubious enforceability, legally speaking, though that would depend on the market.
Still, would I prefer a less convoluted, more straightforward licensing agreement for buying games? Sure, but the industry chose this stupid way and I guess most people are fine with it.

 

[64K]

I do, sometimes, out of interest. There are some real nuggets inside some of them regarding data usage and collection or how the developer isn’t essentially even guaranteeing you a working product. It’s really a weird situation anyway since without accepting those you can’t actually access the game, but you don’t see them until you’ve bought the game, so… They are of dubious enforceability, legally speaking, though that would depend on the market.
Still, would I prefer a less convoluted, more straightforward licensing agreement for buying games? Sure, but the industry chose this stupid way and I guess most people are fine with it.

I guess the Publisher could make the argument that games are returnable these days so a customer could return the game after purchase if they didn't agree to the EULA. I have no idea what the legal side of this would be.

 

[cvaldes]

EULAs have been around for decades. I'm sure there is already some sort of legal precedence that states that a software purchaser who does not agree to the EULA, TOS, whatever can get a refund.

Otherwise some weaselly developers would be writing outrageous EULAs and raking in the big bucks from unreturnable software.

But that's not happening.

Every (free) country has some basic consumer protection laws which would cover these types of situations.

 

[Vayra86]

They can stick their EULAs where the sun doesn't shine, for all I care. Its a whole bunch of nothing.

Laws matter. Everything else is bullshit in the end.

 

[lexluthermiester]

I'm curious if people take the time to read a EULA in games.

For me, it depends on the situation. For games on GOG, no. GOG's terms of game ownership are clearly defined and non-revokable. For other platforms, yes if situation calls for it. However, I generally disregard terms stated in EULAs because many are invalid or unenforceable.

While some would say contract terms supersede legal statues, this simply isn't true in all cases, especially were statutory rights are concerned. Then there is the mess of case law that muddles things even more. Generally speaking EULAs are a waste of time unless a serious problem arises.

 

[Dr. Dro]

EULAs and TOS, the modern day's leash. It's all about control, after all few will sue back.

 

[bug]

The only thing the EULA does for me is remind me I am not buying the game, I am merely licensing the right to use it.

 

[Ruru]

I've never read a single EULA, ToS or any other similar crap. If a game/software needs that you read the EULA, I just scroll it down and click next/ok.

They can stick their EULAs where the sun doesn't shine, for all I care. Its a whole bunch of nothing.

Laws matter. Everything else is bullshit in the end.

The few things I like in EU. Consumer law > EULAs.

 

[Wirko]

We're lucky to live in the era of AI. It will soon be able to crunch a eula, then make 300-word, 30-word and 3-word summaries of everything that matters to the average user. Right?

 

[Macro Device]

I write them.

 

[Klemc]

I write them.

You're verry unlucky, what a crappy job.

 

[Macro Device]

You're verry unlucky, what a crappy job.

That's not a job, that's sexual orientation.

 

[JIWIL]

Definitely need EULA's with superfluous, flowery adjectives on every third word. And every other paragraph beginning with Moreover! A special kind of hell.

 

[DaemonForce]

I usually skim through the EULAs for a good minute trying to find parts about data activity and privacy.
Outright rejected a few Steam games during a fire sale (-90%) for....Reasons.
Turns out I wasn't the only one doing this either. Keep your snifferers safe.

 

[Count von Schwalbe]

Mr. Munroe understands...

Actually, I just learned this interesting tidbit a couple of weeks ago:
On April Fools Day (2010), Gamestation inserted a clause into its terms and conditions of sale that ran as follows:
“By placing an order via this web site on the first day of the fourth month of the year 2010 Anno Domini, you agree to grant Us a non transferable option to claim, for now and for ever more, your immortal soul”.

“Should We wish to exercise this option, you agree to surrender your immortal soul, and any claim you may have on it, within 5 (five) working days of receiving written notification from gamesation.co.uk or one of its duly authorised minions. We reserve the right to serve such notice in 6 (six) foot high letters of fire, however we can accept no liability for any loss or damage caused by such an act…If you a) do not believe you have an immortal soul, b) have already given it to another party, or c) do not wish to grant Us such a license, please click the link below to nullify this sub-clause and proceed with your transaction.”

Nobody clicked the link. Gamestation now owns 7,500 souls.

 

[BSim500]

The only thing the EULA does for me is remind me I am not buying the game, I am merely licensing the right to use it.

I always buy the DRM-Free GOG version where possible. The only way they'll be able to prevent me playing in future is to physically break the door down and literally prise the offline installer filled NAS out of my hands. Unlike other platforms, remotely flipping a "we hereby revoke your permission..." switch won't do a damn thing.

 

[lexluthermiester]

I write them.

My sympathies.

 

[64K]

Thanks for all who participated in this poll. For me the results have been eye opening. Before this I was convinced that few gamers ever read a game EULA but 1/3 so far have responded that they do read them or at least sometimes do.

 

[R-T-B]

I don't get paid enough to read game EULA's. If it's software that matters to my work environment or professional life, I might bother.

I did read KSP's EULA though, for some odd reason. Fun fact! That EULA tells you you are forbidden from running the software without the (completely nonexistent, never did exist for ANY copy sold) CD-ROM disc.

Seems legit.

 

[Wirko]

Thanks for all who participated in this poll. For me the results have been eye opening. Before this I was convinced that few gamers ever read a game EULA but 1/3 so far have responded that they do read them or at least sometimes do.

After reading the comments, I think your question should have been more concise. "Reading" in many cases consists of searching for sentences that contain specific keywords. "Telemetry", "privacy" etc. Nobody reads the entire EULA, and very few read large sections of it.

 

[Vayra86]

I don't get paid enough to read game EULA's. If it's software that matters to my work environment or professional life, I might bother.

I did read KSP's EULA though, for some odd reason. Fun fact! That EULA tells you you are forbidden from running the software without the (completely nonexistent, never did exist for ANY copy sold) CD-ROM disc.

Seems legit.

Time to make a YT showing how you insert a DVD with the game on it in your PC

 

[64K]

After reading the comments, I think your question should have been more concise. "Reading" in many cases consists of searching for sentences that contain specific keywords. "Telemetry", "privacy" etc. Nobody reads the entire EULA, and very few read large sections of it.

I guess in retrospect I should have put in an option for skimming the EULA for certain things. Hindsight is 20/20