Comments on: LOL-November 17

By: Matthew

Matthew — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 09:07:08 +0000

The “sun making a basket” cartoon is one of the funniest I have read in a long time. I shall save it & disseminate it to see which of my friends laugh & which don’t.

By: Powers

Powers — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:16:57 +0000

Most real EULAs stipulate that you can be released from their strictures by not installing the software. To be legal, the sign in the comic would have to posted outside the room, or provide for release from the implied contract by immediately leaving the room.

By: Vadon

Vadon — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 07:35:39 +0000

Another part of the joke with the EULA is that they are in a legal gray zone as it is. You have already purchased the product before you were able to read it. So the joke also includes that the guy couldn’t read the sign before entering, yet he somehow was bound by it. It’s a jab at the idea that EULAs could be enforceable.

By: This guy I know

This guy I know — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 14:19:45 +0000

“…nobody will ever read it…”

(if i spend too much time proofreading, somebody usually makes the same comment I was trying to make. too little time results in stupid mistakes like that)

By: This guy I know

This guy I know — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 14:16:58 +0000

Frank,

End User License Agreement (like Kit said).

You’ll find it on just about every piece of software you install on your computer.

However, nobody will not ever read it. Most likely it will be skipped over by the user clicking ‘Next’ as quickly as the installer will allow. At best the user will notice it as a bunch of legalese before clicking that ‘Next’ button.

Usually, it just says the user cannot copy and distribute the program, and that the author is not liable if the program breaks your computer or if the user decides to use the software for illegal purposes, etc.

Since nobody bothers to read these, you may very well find out that you have promised your home, your first-born child, or your very soul to the author of the program.

Sometimes such an agreement is included with a piece of malware which will notify you of the ‘helpful’ (harmful) programs it has already installed to ‘monitor’ (spy on) your computer habits, giving you a much more ‘enhanced’ (slower, bug-filled) experience.

Of course, even with reputable software purchased from a brick-and-mortar retailer, sometimes just opening the box is an implicit consent to the EULA, even before you put the disk in your drive in order to read the agreement.

Now, I’m not entirely up to date on my Internet Law, but we all may now owe our souls to the xkcd guy…

By: furrykef

furrykef — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 08:06:49 +0000

I guess it’s because it’s symbolic of failure. Bad omen. Or maybe he just somehow ruined the moment.

By: heather

heather — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 03:30:38 +0000

The basketball one is a bit of a CIDU for me… I get the sun bouncing off the rim gag, I guess, but why does that mean she wants a divorce? Because her hubby changed the nature of the solar system with his metaphor??

By: Kit

Kit — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 23:35:09 +0000

End User License Agreement, Frank

By: Frank

Frank — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 23:27:26 +0000

1)Web cam & digital display.
2) What the H. is E.U.L.A. - Employees Union Los Angeles?
3) The Celtics seem to be off to a better start thant the Patriots this year.
4)Eh?
5) Not bad.
6) Wiley is probably the best cartoonest since Chas Addam even though he gores my ox sometimes (actually often).