[pp.int.general] Microsoft DraftsConsumersInFightAgainstSoftware Piracy: Carrot And Stick

[Reinier Bakels]

> You didn't get an explicit contract?
> So, you dind't see the license screen during the setup? If you click
> accept, thats you accepting the license. If you click cancel, you then
> ask Asus for the refund.

Thankx, good to know for the next time. Frabkly, I am so used to push "yes" 
if I am asked whether I agree with the conditions that I don't even think of 
pushing "no".

That reminds me of the problems I once had with advertising malware on my 
computer. Surprisingly, I was not difficult to trace the origin. I called 
the office and complained. The response: you must have agreed with the 
installation of this piece of software when you pressed "yes" for the 
conditions of some free software package you once installed. And the 
gentleman added that "free" software developers also must make a living so 
they depend on this type of advertising.

The implication would be that you really have to read all of the text 
displayed on the screen in order to verify that you don't agree to the 
installation of malware together with the "free" package.

I would argue that such a contract is invalid (under continental European 
law), certainly in a business-to-consumer relationship.

reinier