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Analyse License Agreements with EULAlyzer
Posted by Adam Pash at 3:00 AM on December 13, 2007
Windows only: Cut through the legalese to the meat of software End User License Agreements (EULA) with freeware application, EULAlyzer. To use it, just run the program whenever you're installing a new software, point it at the licence agreement, and EULAlyzer will analyse and flag the most questionable sections of the agreement. No one really wants (or honestly has the time) to read through every EULA they come across, but quickly popping a EULA into this app could save you the trouble of pop-up ads and other third-party spyware and malware you may not realise you're about to install. We've mentioned this freeware, Windows-only app once before, but having just set up a new Windows partition and installed lots of software, I figured it was worth another look.
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
edythemighty
Posted 11:58 AM 12/12/07
Yeah....most people will click through anyway :D
edythemighty
FLEB
Posted 1:34 PM 12/12/07
Now that just seems like a good place for a web-based service/site. Community feedback would be useful, and the information is nothing more sensitive than what you're installing.
FLEB
nayajhen
Posted 1:17 PM 12/12/07
What @Gonzie: said.
nayajhen
Gonzie
Posted 12:58 PM 12/12/07
wonder what it makes of the windows eula
Gonzie
conigs
Posted 2:06 PM 12/12/07
@FLEB:
Better yet, make it something similar to iusethis.com (though not necessarily saving which EULAs you've checked unless you want to). After you upload the EUAL, the site could ask for the particular software and version number, then save it for anyone else to peruse/tag/comment on.
conigs
TonyAgudo
Posted 3:05 PM 12/12/07
Any Linux/Mac equivalents? A good utility like this should be available on ALL platforms.
And as a flip side to Gonzie's question, what would it make of the GPL?
TonyAgudo
AndyFromTucson
Posted 6:00 PM 12/12/07
I don't see how this might really offer much added value. Every EULA I have ever read more or less says that the user is in big trouble if they do anything that hurts the software company in any way, but the software company is not liable for anything it or its software does, including but not limited to never working, giving you screwy results that cause you thousands in business losses, destroying all your data, infecting your system with whatever, destroying your hard drive, or causes a fire that burns your house/business down.
AndyFromTucson
ahoier
Posted 6:23 PM 12/12/07
Come on, with all the web-two-oh craze, someone's gotta port this functionality to a web2.0ish site :P
Seriously.......I only used the app a couple times, but as far as I recall, it seemed to only pick up big/key terms that equal "trouble" in eulas and other "privacy" policies...
Stuff like "cookies", track* (that would include track, tracking, tracker, etc.....wildcard), and other big words...
Of course, with the ability to upload the EULA if wanted..
ahoier
je ne sais quoi
Posted 4:06 AM 13/12/07
Anything like this for website's privacy policies?
je ne sais quoi
CheGordito
Posted 4:26 PM 13/12/07
I am not a lawyer, but I have been told that 'small print' contracts can often be thrown out in disputes - unless the 'user' takes the trouble to read through them. Companies aren't allowed to get away with putting major information in them and expecting the 'users' to notice. Of course, if you've read the contract with a fine-tooth comb, this doesn't apply to you.
CheGordito
justbrag
Posted 7:20 PM 13/12/07
@CheGordito: Unfortunately, that's a misnomer. Your failure to read the terms is not a valid contract defense. Which only makes sense, if you think about it.
You may try some kind of unconscionable defense or something similar, but good luck with that.
justbrag