Don't Like EULAs? Get Your Cat To Agree To Them 874
An anonymous reader writes "Anne Loucks built a device which, when her cat steps on it, can click the 'I Agree' button of a EULA. Who knows what the lawyers will make of this sort of madness. Can a cat make a legal agreement? Does it need to be of legal age? She lures the cat onto the device, and the cat steps on it of its own free will. Anyway, folks who hate EULAs now have another tool to make the lawyers freak out."
The alternative case (Score:5, Funny)
Catbert.. (Score:2, Funny)
You don't want catbert, the evil HR cat from dilbert to agree anything for you on your behalf. NOT. EVER!
Seriously (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Retarded (Score:4, Funny)
Tell me about it. EULAs are retarded.
EULA is a silly name for a CAT (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Call me crazy (Score:5, Funny)
I've set up something even better. (Score:4, Funny)
I have a box in which I seal a cat along with my computer and a radioactive isotope. I connect an electronic monitor to the cat, and it is rigged up to click the "Agree" button if the cat dies.
Change the text (Score:1, Funny)
I tend to edit the EULA before I click "I agree". Usually, I just clear the box to which I'm ageeing.
Apologies in advance (Score:5, Funny)
That won't take you off the hook. By luring the beast onto the device and having it agree to the EULA, you're employing the it as your proxy or agent, your utensil or tool, your...um, what's the word...your cat's-paw.
put it in a box (Score:3, Funny)
Re:So what if it's a cat? (Score:5, Funny)
However, the cat here is just a tool for you to accept the agreement. If you set up a device to automatically agree to a license without you fully reading it, you've still manifested an intent to accept the terms
Yeah, well, what if you used Schrodinger's cat? Then you have both accepted and not accepted the terms.
Cat? (Score:5, Funny)
This is not news! I have a mouse that has been accepting EULAs for years!
Re:So what if it's a cat? (Score:2, Funny)
Well, your plan's got fifty percent chance to fuck up when the court observes your defence.
Re:Retarded (Score:5, Funny)
I CAN HAS LAWSUIT?
Re:Retarded (Score:5, Funny)
Sure, *this* will be the final straw (Score:5, Funny)
Do they have your signature, do they have a spoken contract, do they even have any communication of acceptance? No, but they don't seem think a judge will require any evidence of agreement before holding you to page after page of "boilerplate" mixed with "gotcha" legalese.
Did they already take your money and give you your product before even showing you a EULA? Yes, but they don't seem think a judge will care about "first sale" doctrine when deciding how valid that EULA is.
Does the EULA offer you any new rights beyond what copyright already allows you to do? Does it offer anything of value in exchange for what they claim you're voluntarily giving away? Usually no, but they don't think judges will bother worrying about "consideration" anyway.
Are they trying to disable the advertised features of their product until and unless you agree to additional terms made after the sale? Yes, but they seem confident that a judge won't invalidate terms agreed to under duress.
And up until now, legal challenges looked like they could go either way. But what if we used a cat? That's foolproof! Surely if a cat clicked the button, no judge would possibly enforce that EULA! That's been clear since Plessy v. Whiskers! Case dismissed!
Re:Call me crazy (Score:5, Funny)
FLAWLESS VICTORY
Better solution (Score:5, Funny)
Get a bottle of tequila. Drink at least a quarter of the bottle. Take pictures or a BAC test or get witnesses or something so you can later prove you were hammered. Click "I agree." You can't be bound by a contract you sign while inebriated, so you didn't really agree. Much cheaper than cats in the long run; no need to worry about feeding and cleaning litter boxes and cuddling and such. Plus getting drunk is fun!
Re:So what if it's a cat? (Score:5, Funny)
However, the cat here is just a tool for you to accept the agreement. If you set up a device to automatically agree to a license without you fully reading it, you've still manifested an intent to accept the terms
Yeah, well, what if you used Schrodinger's cat? Then you have both accepted and not accepted the terms.
The BSA would just sue you twice, using the "signed it" theory in one case and the "didn't sign it" theory in the other.
They're total quantum assholes!
Re:Call me crazy (Score:3, Funny)
And since one has to deliberately get their cat to click the button, they clearly show their intent to agree to the EULA.
As any cat owner knows, you don't have to "deliberately" do anything for them to have an excuse to walk across your keyboard.
Re:Apologies in advance (Score:5, Funny)
what you are referring to is power of catorney.
Re:Rules lawyer (Score:3, Funny)
is your argument that we pay to possess the software, but clicking 'Agree' on the EULA is what actually authorizes us to use that software legally.
that's good to know, because I have a ton of pirated software, and since I've clicked "agree" on that EULA during installation, i now have a valid license, and I am now authorized to use it. sweet!
Re:Retarded (Score:5, Funny)
Only slightly better legal advice than "Don't like your girlfriend? Tie the knife to a dachshund and call it an animal attack."
Re:So what if it's a cat? (Score:5, Funny)
Your decision will collapse to 'accepted' once it has been observed in a court of law.
Re:Call me crazy (Score:5, Funny)
I lured the cat into hitting cancel, but he missed! What now!!?
-Dan
Re:Better solution (Score:1, Funny)
1. you pass out on the keyboard, and your face happens to accidentally type up a death threat letter to someone 2. you pass out, fall on the floor, then your cat walks across the keyboard and accidentally types up a bomb threat to a school 3. you pass out after vomiting on the keyboard, which short circuits it and causes the computer to accidentally type up a remorseful love letter to your ex.
Only you can say no to drunk computer usage!
* Notice: the creator of this post does not in any way condone drunk computer usage, except when playing online shooters absolutely hammered.
Re:Retarded (Score:5, Funny)
Re:EULA is a silly name for a CAT (Score:1, Funny)
My cat solved the problem of the Seven Bridges of Konigsberg, you insensitive clod!
Re:Call me crazy (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Retarded (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Retarded (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Call me crazy (Score:3, Funny)
I lured the cat into hitting cancel, but he missed!
Note that this would require a cat since most other trained animals would just do what you told it to. Only a cat is obstinate enough to push the opposite button just to spite you.
And no, it's not because cats are smarter.
</cat_hater>
Re:usage constitutes acceptance (Score:2, Funny)
Mod as -1 Troll to indicate you agree to these terms.
Re:Retarded (Score:5, Funny)
my cat refused to sign it (Score:2, Funny)
she snarled, hissed, then peed on it
Re:Oral contract (Score:3, Funny)
Well, actually- it points out the absurdity of a contract without a signature.
Ever heard of an oral contract? [wikipedia.org]
Meow?
"I accept" === "Get Lost Slimy Creep" (Score:4, Funny)
The phrase "I Accept" has become the internationally recognized slang for "GET LOST YOU SLIMY CREEP".
Tell me honestly, have you _ever_ clicked on an "I Accept" button with the intent in your mind to be bound to every term (of which you are lucidly aware) of an EULA?
No. You didn't.
The thought uppermost in you mind at the time of going "Click" was one of...
So that's it. Somebody create an web site explaining what the phrase "I Accept" means. (You can reference several of my posts on slashdot and the like).
Then somebody else can create a Wikipedia entry referencing the other web site.
Wait a few months until it makes it's way into the latest dictionaries and the like.
And there you have it. In court you say, "But didn't you know, the commonly accepted meaning of "I Accept" is "GET LOST", see here in this dictionary of common usage, and I really really did mean that when I clicked on that button.
Confused (Score:5, Funny)
It might get me out of the EULA, but then PETA will be all over my ass.
Re:Retarded (Score:1, Funny)
House owner should have had an ETAA (End-Thief Access Agreement) inside the house.
"Anyone entering this household unlawfully agrees to indemnify the householder against any and all accidents and injuries that may befall the entering person. Entry of house signifies agreement."
drunk cat (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Call me crazy (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Apologies in advance (Score:3, Funny)
In this scenario however I believe both you and the cat will be guilty of purr-jury and cat-tempted fraud.
LOL (Score:1, Funny)