They're called "shrink wrap licenses" because you usually can't
read them until you've paid for the product and opened the package.
And they usually say that by simply opening the package you've
already agreed to the license terms that you couldn't even read until
after you opened the package - and we'll just bet the store didn't
let you do that before you paid for it.
End user license agreements are designed to protect the
manufacturer and may take away a lot of your rights. They may
prohibit you from reviewing their product, give the manufacturer the
right to revoke your right to use a software package at any time, or
even state that files you create using the product belong to the
vendor, not to you.
In this age of growing software monopolies, draconian licensing
agreements, and oppressive legislation like UTICA and DMCA, we try to
turn the tables with the Lite Side's
End Vendor License Agreement
Please read the following and click on I AGREE before accepting my
payment for your product.
It is the policy of the LOW END MAC USER GROUP that purchases made
by members of the GROUP will only be made if the vendor of the
DESIRED PRODUCT agrees to sign and approve the END VENDOR LICENSE
AGREEMENT (EVLA), which you are now reading. This EVLA stipulates the
following:
You (THE VENDOR, heretofore referred to as YOU) cannot sell my
name, address, phone number, email address, social security
number, model number, serial number, hair color, eye color,
weight, height, or any other distinguishing characteristic without
specific written permission not obtained through the use of a USER
INTERFACE. Permission must be written, signed in ink, no facsimile
allowed.
You cannot call my home, mail my home, or send email to my
email address without my express permission. You must assume, by
default, that permission is NOT given at registration.
All registration questions for your product must be written in
the same format, so when choosing NO for one answer, NO is the
default response for all answers.
Anything I make with my own computer is my property, and you
cannot use it in any form.
Any software I install on my computer is my business, and you
cannot collect information about the internal contents of my hard
drive after I purchase your product.
You cannot require me to register a product more than
once.
All ongoing, recurring registration expenses must be clearly
explained at purchase, or I will not pay them. This includes fees
for services such as .mac and .NET. You must, however, continue to
provide the services.
If I tell you that I do not want to register once, once should
be enough. Do not ask me again. By clicking on AGREE, you agree
never to ask me anything more than once.
If I attempt to quit a piece of software, YOU must make sure
it does not ask me to verify that command more than once.
You must NEVER delete critical posts from your user bulletin
boards. You may, however, clump them together.
Violation of any of these conditions indicates your permission for
me to stop payment on your product without returning same product, no
questions asked.
iPods that never passed beta or focus groups, 09.13.
"What most Apple fans don't realize is that there were a few iPod variants that never made it out of beta testing and the focus group stage."
Mac of the Day: Clamshell iBook G3/300 MHz, Sep. 1999 - innovative, rugged, heavy, clamshell laptop introduced AirPort and was a huge hit.
Group of the Day: G-Books is for G3 PowerBooks and iBooks.
July 4 in LEM history: 00: When Randy met Mac - 08: Wouldn't life be great with an iSlate? - Mac Pro overclocking, Windependence with Darwine, Blu-ray for Macs, and more
Amazon.com v. Interstate Sales Tax: Everyone Loses, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 07.01.
Amazon.com is standing up to states that are trying to have it collect sales tax on interstate commerce, which most see as a violation of federal law.
Introduction to Autofs in Mac OS X, Keith Winston, Linux to Mac, 07.01.
"Autofs is often used in enterprise environments to set up network-based home directories and other network mounts for users at login."
Checking Out Safari 4 on an Old PowerBook, Charles W. Moore, 'Book Value, 06.30.
Safari 4 is the fastest it's ever been, but it's not without some frustrating drawbacks.
Best Mac Pro Deals, 07.02.
Used 3 GHz 4-core, $2,000; 3.2 8-core, $2,900; refurb 2.8 8-core, $2,399; new 2.66 4-core, $2,290 a/r; 2.26 8-core, $3,070 a/r; 2.66, $4,499; more.
Best 13" MacBook & MacBook Pro Deals, 07.01.
Used 1.83 GHz, $595; 2.0, $629; new 2.0, $889; 2.13, $925 after rebate; refurb 2.0 Unibody, $949; 2.4, $1,099; new 2.26 MBP, $1,119 a/r; more.
Best Mac OS X 10.0-10.3 Deals, 06.29.
Mac OS X 10.0, $30; 10.1, $20; 10.2, $60; 10.3, $50; 10.3 Server, unlimited users, $130.
Best Power Mac G3 and PCI Video Card Deals, 06.29.
Used beige 300 MHz, $25; G4/366, $39; blue & white 350, $80; 400, $90; 450, $105; PCI video cards from $15; shipping additional.
Best Time Capsule and AirPort Deals, 06.29.
Close-out 500 GB Time Capsule, $199; 1 TB, $350; AirPort Extreme Base Station, $130; refurb AirPort Express, $85.
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