Here’s a list of the many Web sites and products out there that serve to help the community better understand ToS, EULA and other agreement issues they may encounter.
Many of these come from readers’ suggestions — please add any I missed in the comments, I’ll eventually build this into a wiki of sorts…
| Site/Product |
Download/Reg? |
Why? |
| EULAlyzer |
(free download) |
EULAlyzer can analyze license agreements in seconds, and provide a detailed listing of potentially interesting words and phrases. Discover if the software you’re about to install displays pop-up ads, transmits personally identifiable information, uses unique identifiers to track you, or much much more. |
| Clearware |
Web site |
Helps consumers make sense of software and online services before deciding whether to purchase, use, or install. |
| EULAscan |
free site |
Growing database of user-written EULA reviews. |
| EFF |
free site |
A user’s guide to EULA and dangerous terms to look for. |
| Consumerist |
site/blog |
Gawker Media’s well-written consumer issues’ blog |
| Mouseprint |
Free site |
A new ad or product is featured weekly to help educate the public about the catches or “gotchas†in disclaimers, and to encourage advertisers to abandon the motto, “the big print giveth, and the little print taketh away.†|
Columnists/bloggers occasionally covering EULA / terms / consumer issues beat:
Ed Foster - Gripe2Ed, InfoWorld.
Dennis Rockstroh — Consumer Action Line, San Jose Mercury News
Consumer Law & Policy Blog
Bruce Schneier on Security
Boing Boing
Wendy Seltzer’s Blog
Ed Felten - Freedom to Tinker
