Dell's Software License Policy

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

> Date: Thu, 28 Aug 2003 22:05:34 -0400
> From: Ian Goldberg and Kat Hanna <dell-eula () cypherpunks ca>
> Subject: Dell's Software License Policy
> Sender: ian () cypherpunks ca
> To: dave () farber net, declan () well com
>
> [For the list.]
>
> Dude, you're getting screwed.
>
> We just got the Dell Inspiron 5100 we ordered from Dell.  They've gone
> beyond click-wrap licensing now.  When you turn the computer on, you
> get a screen (from Dell, not Microsoft or any of the other vendors of
> the software that comes pre-installed) saying:
>
> - Before using your computer, read all of the software license
>   agreements that came with each program that you ordered.
>   There may be several agreements to examine.  To comply with
>   the terms and conditions of the software license agreements,
>   you must consider any CD or diskette set of Dell-installed software
>   as BACKUP copies of the software installed on your computer's
>   hard-disk drive.
>
> - If you did not order Dell-installed software for this computer,
>   or if you do not accept all the terms of the licenses, please call
>   the customer assistance telephone number listed in your system
>   documentation.
>
>   Press any key on the keyboard to indicate that you have
>   read all of the software licenses and agree to their terms.
>
>
> But they don't actually *give* you the agreements.  I called them up to
> ask what's up with this, and got nothing useful out of them (after 5 or
> 6 hours), except "send it back if you don't like it".
>
> This is the next level above "click-through" licenses. Now, they figure
> no one reads the EULAs anyway, so why bother even providing a copy?
>
> The whole story:
>
> http://www.cypherpunks.ca/dell.html
>
>    - Ian and Kat

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