EULA roofie: Difference between revisions - Consumer_Action

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"EULA roofie" describes the practice of hiding contentious terms within an [[End-~~User License Agreement~~]] (EULA). The term applies to situations where such terms, if made clear upfront, might cause a customer to second-guess their purchase. The term was coined by consumer rights advocate [[wikipedia:Louis_Rossmann|Louis Rossmann]]<sup>[source?]</sup>.

"EULA roofie" describes the practice of hiding contentious terms within an [[End-user license agreement]] (EULA). The term applies to situations where such terms, if made clear upfront, might cause a customer to second-guess their purchase. The term was coined by consumer rights advocate [[wikipedia:Louis_Rossmann|Louis Rossmann]]<sup>[source?]</sup>.

This term highlights the unethical business practice of "manufacturing consent" for terms which a reasonable and informed customer might reject. It also emphasizes the erosion of informed consent through shaming and conformity.

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<blockquote>"Use of the terms 'own,' 'ownership', 'purchase,' 'sale,' 'sold,' 'sell,' 'rent' or 'buy'… does not mean or imply any transfer of ownership…"</blockquote>

This became an issue in 2023 when Sony and Discovery removed previously "purchased" content from users' libraries, citing terms hidden in their service agreement.<ref>Playstation Video Content: Legal Update Notice https://web.archive.org/web/20231203150040/https://www.playstation.com/en-us/legal/psvideocontent/</ref>

This became an issue in 2023 when Sony and Discovery [[Sony's attempted removal of "purchased" content|removed previously "purchased" content]] from users' libraries, citing terms hidden in their service agreement.<ref>Playstation Video Content: Legal Update Notice https://web.archive.org/web/20231203150040/https://www.playstation.com/en-us/legal/psvideocontent/</ref>

Placing disclaimers such as "We may take away and remove television and movies you bought & paid for at any time, because purchase doesn't mean purchase anymore" next to the "Add to cart" button would understandably negatively affect sales. Therefore, Sony buries this information on page 21 of their Terms of Service.

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Valve does something identical to Sony in the it says you are "PURCHASING" a game but redefined what the word "purchase" means in Section 1 of their terms of service. [3]

# 1. LIMITED LICENSE; RESTRICTIONS AND OWNERSHIP - this Agreement does not give you any right to obtain reissues or replacements of the Game at any time and ZeniMax [valve] is not obliged to supply software updates, upgrades, or expansions for the Game, or even to operate or continue to support the Game for an indefinite period.

#1. LIMITED LICENSE; RESTRICTIONS AND OWNERSHIP - this Agreement does not give you any right to obtain reissues or replacements of the Game at any time and ZeniMax [valve] is not obliged to supply software updates, upgrades, or expansions for the Game, or even to operate or continue to support the Game for an indefinite period.

# Valve may change, modify, suspend, or discontinue any aspect of the Game at any time and Valve may also impose limits on certain features or restrict your access to parts or all of the Game without notice or liability.

#Valve may change, modify, suspend, or discontinue any aspect of the Game at any time and Valve may also impose limits on certain features or restrict your access to parts or all of the Game without notice or liability.

This is essentially saying your 'ownership' amounts to nothing, as they say in the EULA they can discontinue the game you purchased at at any time they wish. You are merely leasing a game when you 'purchase' a game from steam. There will be a lot of blow back on this because most people think they own their steam games but there is no argument to be made when it says right their in their EULA that you in face only own it for only they amount of time Valve decides to support it. At any time, and for no reason other than they want to, the game you purchased will no longer be playable.

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-"EULA roofie" describes the practice of hiding contentious terms within an [[End-User License Agreement]] (EULA). The term applies to situations where such terms, if made clear upfront, might cause a customer to second-guess their purchase. The term was coined by consumer rights advocate [[wikipedia:Louis_Rossmann|Louis Rossmann]]<sup>[source?]</sup>.
+"EULA roofie" describes the practice of hiding contentious terms within an [[End-user license agreement]] (EULA). The term applies to situations where such terms, if made clear upfront, might cause a customer to second-guess their purchase. The term was coined by consumer rights advocate [[wikipedia:Louis_Rossmann|Louis Rossmann]]<sup>[source?]</sup>.
 This term highlights the unethical business practice of "manufacturing consent" for terms which a reasonable and informed customer might reject. It also emphasizes the erosion of informed consent through shaming and conformity.
@@ Line 26: / Line 26: @@
 <blockquote>"Use of the terms 'own,' 'ownership', 'purchase,' 'sale,' 'sold,' 'sell,' 'rent' or 'buy'… does not mean or imply any transfer of ownership…"</blockquote>
-This became an issue in 2023 when Sony and Discovery removed previously "purchased" content from users' libraries, citing terms hidden in their service agreement.<ref>Playstation Video Content: Legal Update Notice https://web.archive.org/web/20231203150040/https://www.playstation.com/en-us/legal/psvideocontent/</ref>
+This became an issue in 2023 when Sony and Discovery [[Sony's attempted removal of "purchased" content|removed previously "purchased" content]] from users' libraries, citing terms hidden in their service agreement.<ref>Playstation Video Content: Legal Update Notice https://web.archive.org/web/20231203150040/https://www.playstation.com/en-us/legal/psvideocontent/</ref>
 Placing disclaimers such as "We may take away and remove television and movies you bought & paid for at any time, because purchase doesn't mean purchase anymore" next to the "Add to cart" button would understandably negatively affect sales. Therefore, Sony buries this information on page 21 of their Terms of Service.
@@ Line 35: / Line 35: @@
 Valve does something identical to Sony in the it says you are "PURCHASING" a game but redefined what the word "purchase" means in Section 1 of their terms of service. [3]
-# 1. LIMITED LICENSE; RESTRICTIONS AND OWNERSHIP - this Agreement does not give you any right to obtain reissues or replacements of the Game at any time and ZeniMax [valve]  is not obliged to supply software updates, upgrades, or expansions for the Game, or even to operate or continue to support the Game for an indefinite period.
+#1. LIMITED LICENSE; RESTRICTIONS AND OWNERSHIP - this Agreement does not give you any right to obtain reissues or replacements of the Game at any time and ZeniMax [valve]  is not obliged to supply software updates, upgrades, or expansions for the Game, or even to operate or continue to support the Game for an indefinite period.
-# Valve may change, modify, suspend, or discontinue any aspect of the Game at any time and Valve may also impose limits on certain features or restrict your access to parts or all of the Game without notice or liability.
+#Valve may change, modify, suspend, or discontinue any aspect of the Game at any time and Valve may also impose limits on certain features or restrict your access to parts or all of the Game without notice or liability.
 This is essentially saying your 'ownership' amounts to nothing, as they say in the EULA they can discontinue the game you purchased at at any time they wish. You are merely leasing a game when you 'purchase' a game from steam. There will be a lot of blow back on this because most people think they own their steam games but there is no argument to be made when it says right their in their EULA that you in face only own it for only they amount of time Valve decides to support it. At any time, and for no reason other than they want to, the game you purchased will no longer be playable.