7,500 Online Shoppers Unknowingly Sold Their Souls

[PimpQ]

A computer game retailer revealed that it legally owns the souls of thousands of online shoppers, thanks to a clause in the terms and conditions agreed to by online shoppers.

The retailer, British firm GameStation, added the "immortal soul clause" to the contract signed before making any online purchases earlier this month. It states that customers grant the company the right to claim their soul.

"By placing an order via this Web site on the first day of the fourth month of the year 2010 Anno Domini, you agree to grant Us a non transferable option to claim, for now and for ever more, your immortal soul. Should We wish to exercise this option, you agree to surrender your immortal soul, and any claim you may have on it, within 5 (five) working days of receiving written notification from gamesation.co.uk or one of its duly authorised minions."

GameStation's form also points out that "we reserve the right to serve such notice in 6 (six) foot high letters of fire, however we can accept no liability for any loss or damage caused by such an act. If you a) do not believe you have an immortal soul, b) have already given it to another party, or c) do not wish to grant Us such a license, please click the link below to nullify this sub-clause and proceed with your transaction."

The terms of service were updated on April Fool's Day as a gag, but the retailer did so to make a very real point: No one reads the online terms and conditions of shopping, and companies are free to insert whatever language they want into the documents.


While all shoppers during the test were given a simple tick box option to opt out, very few did this, which would have also rewarded them with a £5 voucher, according to news:lite. Due to the number of people who ticked the box, GameStation claims believes as many as 88 percent of people do not read the terms and conditions of a Web site before they make a purchase.

The company noted that it would not be enforcing the ownership rights, and planned to e-mail customers nullifying any claim on their soul.

Source

[billy]

i like it lol

it does show how these places get away with murder (almost) by concocting the small print in their favour. maybe we should have a standard set of small print for retailers both off and on line.

[billy]

Standard software install programs work like this:

Either you click on "Agree" to accept all their legalese, or the install don't proceed.
They got you by the short and curlies.

i agree, the whole licensing thing need a re vamp. you should be able to accept with reservations.

[mrmod]

Clever way to make a point .

[Benny2guns]

Some of them even have a maximum re-install limit. They don't give you the details till you install it and agree to it. If you don't agree to it then good luck trying to return it for a refund after the package is open.
I know that Nero started doing this with Nero 8 as after 5 re-installs I had to call them and realliy put up a stink about it. They increased it to 10 re-installs and after Nero 9 came out I think they took the limit off of Nero 8.

[billy]

the license should be as simple as possible.

you bought it, save it to a disc and keep it safe, make a back up copy as well.
don't sell it or we'll sue you, now have fun and fuck off with it. if it doesn't work give us a bell and we'll change it for a download that does. don't tell us it doesn't work after 14 days, we'll tell you to fuck off.

or something similar.

[Benny2guns]

I bought all of Slysofts software back a while ago. I have to tell you this software works and works really good. I paid a fair bit for it, around 200 bucks. They have about the best agreement I have come across. It is basicly like this.
Pay us in full and we will give you our software to use for life. Life is 50 years. We will update the software for life. Now fuckoff and steal as many movies and games as you can.

[billy]

I bought all of Slysofts software back a while ago. I have to tell you this software works and works really good. I paid a fair bit for it, around 200 bucks. They have about the best agreement I have come across. It is basicly like this.
Pay us in full and we will give you our software to use for life. Life is 50 years. We will update the software for life. Now fuckoff and steal as many movies and games as you can.

straight forward is always the best.

i hate small print.