[aldo_14]

http://linuxadvocate.org/articles.php?p=1

[Mefustae]

Coming from a site called 'Linux Advocate', i'd expect this to be about as unbiased as FOX News.

[karajorma]

Bias isn't as important when it comes to reading a legal document. In fact you should probably get the most biased person you can to read it because it's worth remembering that whatever he can do to twist those words could also be done in court by a lawyer.

If MS are unhappy in any way about what that site says then they need to change their license to something less ambiguous.


That said the reading is fairly reasonable. What conclusions he's drawn are basically the same as the original version.

[Mefustae]

It's more the tone with which he 'translates'.

All said and done, I really don't see too much wrong with what they've got in there. Frankly, they're covering their arses as any good capitalist company does. Wouldn't you?

[aldo_14]

It's more the tone with which he 'translates'.

All said and done, I really don't see too much wrong with what they've got in there. Frankly, they're covering their arses as any good capitalist company does. Wouldn't you?

My main point was actually more to do with the amount of guff compared to the actual content.  But let's not be daft and assume capitalist interests are anything but converse to the 'public good', anyways.  Even if it's perfectly expected and understandable from a business point of view, it doesn't mean we shouldn't push for the consumer to have greater rights and control.

[Taristin]

The right(s) granted to you above replace any that you may think you have because they were stated in advertising, documentation, or product packaging.

[karajorma]

Yeah. I love that one. Surely the ASA would have something to say about that one!

[SadisticSid]

There are some fallacies in there. Specifically:

Software developers cannot attempt to figure out how Windows XP Home works for any reason.

If you look at any commercial software product reverse engineering and disassembly is always prohibited. However that does not mean the above is true. Of course you can try to figure out things - just not by disassembly. Yes, Microsoft have made things deliberately obscure to thwart this, but the legalese does not even infer the above.

You agree that at any time, and at the request of “content providers” Microsoft may disable certain features on your computer, such as the ability to play your music or movie files.

That's an oversimplification too. If these DRM features were disabled, you would only be prevented from playing music or movie files protected by DRM, and then you have to agree to these conditions when you use the DRM-protected content anyway. Yes, it's anti-choice, but again, the above is incorrect.

You may not rent, lease, or lend your computer with Windows XP Home on it or otherwise make commercial use of it.

It doesn't say that at all. It only states that for "commercial hosting purposes". Of course you can rent or lease your PC, providing you're not leasing or renting web or file space from it. A ridiculous clause, nevertheless - why the hell shouldn't I be able to sell web hosting services using my own PC and software?

[Kazan]

because only retards buy hosting on windows machines   

[Cyker]

Ahh! I remember when they did one of these for 2k as well

I espescially like clause 16, which essentially says they don't guarantee that the program is Fit For Purpose... so if they sold you WinXP and it blew your computer up, you would have no comeback...

In fact, with a sufficiently high Lawyer rating, they could probably sell you a large steaming turd in the WinXP box and they would be safe because of that clause
(Some people argue that this is already taking place...)

[Turey]

The Software may not be used by more than one processor at any one time...

so no dual processor machines? (not like they'd enforce it anyways.)

7. LINKS TO THIRD PARTY SITES. You may link to third party sites through the use of the Software. The third party sites are not under the control of Microsoft, and Microsoft is not responsible for the contents of any third party sites, any links contained in third party sites, or any changes or updates to third party sites. Microsoft is not responsible for webcasting or any other form of transmission received from any third party sites. Microsoft is providing these links to third party sites to you only as a convenience, and the inclusion of any link does not imply an endorsement by Microsoft of the third party site.

"we're not responsible for the internet"
it's a good clause, but i love the way it's worded.

Microsoft is not responsible for anything that happens to your computer, lost time, lost documents, etc. that happens as a result of using Windows XP Home.

Microsoft will not be liable for any damages caused by viruses, even if those viruses are the result of security problems in Windows XP Home.

Windows XP Home is provided “AS IS AND WITH ALL FAULTS.” This means they make no claims as to how well Windows XP Home will work.

Microsoft is not responsible for any damages. This includes loss of profit, the release of confidential information, or the loss of your privacy.

Microsoft is further not liable for failing to use “good faith,” “reasonable care” or for negligence.

Microsoft is not liable even if they break the terms of this agreement.

they needed those six. a lot.

[achtung]

The translation that I always use:

"As long as you use windows, Microsoft owns your computer, and possibly you."

[Kosh]

If you look at any commercial software product reverse engineering and disassembly is always prohibited. However that does not mean the above is true. Of course you can try to figure out things - just not by disassembly. Yes, Microsoft have made things deliberately obscure to thwart this, but the legalese does not even infer the above.

I can imagine them prohibiting reverse-engineering to copy it. But what about security professionals who might need to do that to discover critical Windows security flaws?

The translation that I always use:

"As long as you use windows, Microsoft owns your computer, and possibly you."

[brozozo]

You know, I really wish they would write license argreements in a way that a normal person could understand them, but that would completely expose many companies as the pieces of **** that they are.

Sorry to take this one a bit off topic, but is there any way Microsoft can tell you what your Windows XP CD key is? I've seemed to misplace mine, and I need to reinstall Windows after I format my drive.

[Mars]

There's probably a way, but there's probably a service fee. I'm sure there's some sort of (moderately illegal) linux tool you could use.

[Scuddie]

http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml

[karajorma]

The thing is that many of those provisions probably wouldn't stand up in a court of law anyway. Certainly not in the EU where the general feeling is that EULAs are basically worthless as no one reads them. You certainly can't get people to sign away legal rights just cause they clicked an okay button or opened an evelope.

I very much doubt that the provisions on reverse engineering would last long. Nor would several of the liability ones (for instance if you got XP home and found it wasn't actually an OS they would be liable dispite that they claimed otherwise)

[vyper]

http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml

Useful.

[Sandwich]

*ahem*

[brozozo]

http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml

Thanks for the link. Too bad the site keeps timing out on my computer.