An Analysis of the Netscape 8 EULA

 

Its truly interesting to read the EULA agreement on many products of today. Netscape 8 might just have the worst one I have ever seen. Lets take a peak at this wonderful EULA shall we?

 

"WHEN YOU INSTALL NETSCAPE 8 YOU WILL BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO INSTALL ADDITIONAL SOFTWARE PRODUCTS FROM THIRD PARTY PROVIDERS. A LIST OF THE AVAILABLE THIRD PARTY SOFTWARE PRODUCTS WILL BE PROVIDED DURING INSTALLATION. USE OF EACH AVAILABLE THIRD PARTY SOFTWARE PRODUCT IS GOVERNED BY ITS OWN END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT. THOSE LICENSE AGREEMENTS WILL BE PRESENTED FOR YOUR REVIEW AND ACCEPTANCE DURING INSTALLATION OF EACH SUCH THIRD PARTY SOFTWARE PRODUCT."

Ok, cool you have the opportunity to install additional 3rd party products, meaning I can choose which components I want to install and what not.

 

"...AOL INSTANT MESSENGER ("AIM") AND AN AOL MEDIA PLAYER ENGINE ("MEDIA PLAYER") ARE INCLUDED WITHIN THE NETSCAPE 8 BROWSER. THE EXECUTABLE VERSIONS OF THE NETSCAPE 8 BROWSER, AIM, AND THE MEDIA PLAYER ARE REFERRED TO COLLECTIVELY HEREIN AS THE "BROWSER."
 

Oh now wait a minute, AIM and AOL Media Player are considered part of the browser. So AIM and AOL Media Player are not optional components. Yeah bite me.

 

"You may withdraw your consent for electronic notices; however, Netscape may then terminate your license."

So wait, if I wish to not recieve bullshit email from netscape ::cough AOL cough:: then I can have my rights revoked to use the browser. Talk about fairness here. Thank you Netscape.

 

 

"AUTOMATIC FEEDBACK. The Browser is configured to periodically check your computer system for, and report back without additional notice to you, anonymous information relating to your use of the Browser, such as the frequency of your use of the Browser and certain of its features, your Browser configuration settings, and information on computer errors occurring during your use of the Browser. Unless you opt out of this feedback program during installation, this anonymous usage data will be sent"

Ok so the software will monitor pretty much whatever I do online with it, unless I Opt out of it. Thank goodness there is a opt out for it. However, To me having this on by default is very invasive in terms of privacy. This is borderline spyware in my opinion. Since when does the use frequency of a feature in netscape have to do with improving the product? Errors, and browser configuration information is useful but why monitor the frequency of a feature used in the product? Come on now.

 

"Netscape may deliver to your computer or other device upon which the Browser is installed automated updates, modifications, and/or patches to address issues such as security, interoperability, and performance (collectively “Updates”). Certain Updates may be subject to additional terms and conditions. By using the Browser you consent to such automated updating. Your use of the Updates shall be governed by this Agreement (as modified from time to time) unless you are asked to agree to a new agreement at the time of download or installation."

Ok now you are getting ridiculous, now you have NO choice in terms of automatic updating? What the hell? Since when don't you have the option to tell the program not to automatically update. This means Netscape can pretty much install whatever the hell it wants to on your machine and you cannot do a thing about it because you agreed to this term. Yeah, good bye Netscape.

 

"Netscape may, at any time, change, modify, add to or discontinue or retire any aspect or feature of the Browser. Netscape has no obligation to provide you with notice of any such changes."

No you don't have to Netscape, but if you really gave two shits about your customers you'd inform users of product changes. Too bad it is asking too much of  you apparently.

 

Honestly, does this sound like a browser you really want to use? Get real. Netscape has been crap after the purchase from AOL. Actually, it started sucking before that, but I bet had AOL not ever bought out Netscape it might have become a decent browser. AOL ruined a potentially good company. Thank You AOL!

If you really need a Netscape-like browser, Mozilla would be a better choice:
www.mozilla.org

If you prefer a simple browser, then Firefox can be had. Same link as Mozilla. As a alternative you can also try K-Meleon, located at: http://kmeleon.sourceforge.net/ which is a simplified version of the Mozilla based browsers and is completely independent from the Mozilla Open Source Project.