FC: A critical response on how to hack Juno to avoid the ads

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

Previous message:

"How to hack Juno to use Ricochet modems without viewing the ads"
http://www.politechbot.com/p-02229.html

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Date: Fri, 06 Jul 2001 13:32:17 -0400
To: declan () well com, politech () politechbot com
From: Philo <philo () radix net>
Subject: Re: FC: How to hack Juno to use Ricochet modems without
  viewing the ads
In-Reply-To: <5.0.2.1.0.20010706112320.03719c10 () mail well com>

> Date: Fri, 06 Jul 2001 11:17:11 -0400
> From: Duncan Frissell <frissell () panix com>
> Subject: Defeating Juno's Ad Requirements
>
> I recently signed up to use Juno as my ISP for the Ricochet high-speed 
> wireless Internet service.  This means that I've had to spend some time 
> defeating their application which requires you to log on via their (ad 
> infested) software.  I don't mind the ads.  I dislike the fact that their 
> application slows down the login and logout process and renders the 
> connection less stable.
>
> This is not likely to be of interest to those not using Juno but it is an 
> example of my technical writing.

Declan,
This gentleman's actions *and* post to Politech are in clear violation of 
Juno's Terms of Service ( http://help.juno.com/privacy/agreement.html )

Specifically:
"4.3. You agree not to translate, reverse engineer, reverse compile, 
disassemble or make derivative works from the Software. You agree not to 
modify the Software in any manner or form, or to use modified versions of 
the Software including, without limitation, for the purpose of obtaining 
unauthorized access to the Service or disabling features of the Software or 
Service. Except as may be permitted by Juno, you agree not to access the 
Service by any means other than through the interface that is provided by 
Juno or its partners for use in accessing the Service."

I would suggest that if a subscriber has issues with the operation of the 
software, either contact Juno's technical support, or else find a new provider.

Just a head's up.

Philo

philo () radix net AOLIM: philo589         ICQ: 9802707
Get legal advice or find a local attorney: http://www.lawguru.com/

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Date: Fri, 06 Jul 2001 17:32:24 -0400
To: Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>, philo () radix net
From: Duncan Frissell <frissell () panix com>
Subject: Re: Fwd: Re: FC: How to hack Juno to use Ricochet modems
  without viewing the ads


> > Declan,
> > This gentleman's actions *and* post to Politech are in clear violation of 
> > Juno's Terms of Service ( http://help.juno.com/privacy/agreement.html )

Philo.  I appreciate the work you've done over the years to keep us honest 
(though I'm not sure swapping Shoppers Discount Cards is a problem: 
http://epistolary.org/rob/bonuscard/covertbad.txt)

And I don't precisely disagree with what you have to say about Juno but I 
do resent paying $79 a month (Ricochet access) for a service that requires 
an interface that reduces functionality.  I put up with Eudora's ads until 
my wife got tired of them and as a libertarian I certainly don't have a 
problem with the concept of advertising.  In fact I would promise to look 
at Juno's ads if they didn't force me to use lame log in software (Windows 
DUN is bad enough).

> > "4.3. You agree not to translate,

Didn't.

> >  reverse engineer,

Didn't.

> > reverse compile,

Didn't.

> > disassemble

Didn't.

> > or make derivative works

Didn't.

> > from the Software. You agree not to modify the Software in any manner or 
> > form,

Didn't.

> > or to use modified versions of the Software including, without 
> > limitation, for the purpose of obtaining unauthorized access to the Service or

Didn't.

> > disabling features of the Software or Service.

Didn't

> > Except as may be permitted by Juno, you agree not to access the Service 
> > by any means other than through the interface that is provided by Juno or 
> > its partners for use in accessing the Service."

Peccavi!

I did ask the excellent Juno techs if I could dodge this feature (since I 
was a paying customer).  They said no.  I didn't push things.  I 
contemplated negotiating with them and saying that if they let me defeat 
the system I wouldn't publicize the hack but if they made me figure it out 
I would.  In the end I was tempted to see if I could do it.  Only a venial 
sin I believe.

Just another example of the sorts of informal negotiation-by action that is 
characteristic of modern life.  Computer use at work; Napster; Nazi  web 
sites; the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; etc.

Note that the TOS just forbids doing it.  It doesn't forbid posting 
instructions on how to do it.

> > I would suggest that if a subscriber has issues with the operation of the 
> > software, either contact Juno's technical support, or else find a new provider.
> >
> > Just a head's up.
> >
> > Philo

I never have "issues".

DCF

----
"This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will 
take your sons, ... he will take your daughters, ... he will take your 
fields, ... he will take the tenth of your seed, ... he will take your 
menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your 
asses, ... He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his 
servants."  -- First Book of Samuel, Chapter 8, Verses 11 to 17.

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