The Small Print Project                            

Thanks to Joey for this one:

URL of EULA: http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/legal/eula.html
Product: World of Warcraft http://www.worldofwarcraft.com

Lowpoints: A few months ago they introduced a launcher program that acts to snoop out any possible cheats or hacks that someone is using, and report back to the server. I’ve heard that it goes as far as to scan the names of any windows you have open – thus catching any WoW cheat sites you may be visiting. This information can be used to close your account. But it makes me nervous if I’m visiting a web site with some bad keywords in its title.

Terms of use located at http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/legal/termsofuse.html are useful but most users won’t read the game’s rules which are just a bunch of fine print.

Highpoints: It allows Blizzard to catch people who do harm to the game by cheating.

I play this game all the time and I’ve seen how “gold farmers” can ruin a server’s economy. Blizzard closes lots of accounts, but they can’t possibly catch everyone who breaks their rules.

And… thank BoingBoing for getting me to visit your site!

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Thanks, BoingBoing!. I’m soliciting more input on issues regarding MMORPG-related EULAs, etc. I obsessively study social networks and virtual worlds, etc, but thank God I haven’t let myself get addicted to playing (yet). form | e-mail.

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L.A.’s Griffith Park Observatory reopens this week after a four-year renovation project. They’re expecting an avalanche of sky-gazers and so, not only must you get your ticket in advance, your ticket better also have YOUR name on it, bring your ID to avert allegations of fraud. Of course, as the FAQ states, “As it has been since 1935, admission to Griffith Observatory continues to be free.” As in, free to charge an $8 admission fee “solely to cover the cost of” a new timed-entry and shuttle reservation system.

The details on the elusive ticket to the cosmos read as follows:

This ticket is a revocable license. Any violation of law or any other inappropriate behavior by the user of this ticket during the event may result in revocation of the license and the user being removed from the venue with no refund of the purchase price or any associated charges.
User of this ticket assumes all responsibility for all risk of bodily harm as well as damage to or loss of property while attending this event. WARNING: THIS TICKET IS FOR PURCHASE OR TRANSFER BY ELECTRONIC MEANS ONLY. PURCHASE OF THIS TICKET FROM OR SALE BY A THIRD PARTY IS NOT AUTHORIZED. TICKETS NOT PURCHASED ELECTRONICALLY CARRY A GREAT RISK OF BEING FRAUDULENT. VENUE OPERATOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REQUIRE PHOTO I.D. FOR ENTRY.

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Please contribute your own tales of EULA/waiver/consent woes and astonishment via email or submit via this form (open in browser). Thanks.

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