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EA: Possible All-Games Bans for Unreported SimCity Beta Bugs

[Jan 20, 2013, 4:25 pm ET] - Share - Viewing Comments

A post on SideQuesting takes issue with the Terms of Service for beta testers of SimCity, the upcoming continuation of Maxis' urban planning series (thanks Joao). It seems EA is taking a zero-tolerance policy towards those who knowingly abuse bugs to the extent that users who fail to report bugs are threatened with loss of access to "all EA products," not just this beta. It seems apparent this will only apply to those who actually exploit unreported bugs, as this would be their only way of knowing who is aware of them. Here is the clause in question:

“It is understood and agreed that, as part of your participation in the Beta Program, it is your responsibility to report all known bugs, abuse of ‘bugs’, ‘undocumented features’ or other defects and problems related to the Game and Beta Software to EA as soon as they are found (“Bugs”). If you know about a Bug or have heard about a Bug and fail to report the Bug to EA, we reserve the right to treat you no differently from someone who abuses the Bug. You acknowledge that EA reserve the right to lock anyone caught abusing a Bug out of all EA products.”

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71.

Re: EA: Possible All-Games Bans for Unreported SimCity Beta Bugs

Jan 21, 2013, 13:05

Satoru

Verno wrote on Jan 21, 2013, 10:19: Satoru wrote on Jan 21, 2013, 09:56: EULA are 100% legal in all countries it is a legal contract. Unless you can point to a specific provision and to what local law it violates they are legal. No matter what you think they are legal and enforceable. You can put whatever you want into an EULA, it doesn't mean it will hold up under scrutiny and judgment. Saying something is 100% legal in all countries is an over generalization too. My point was that people think EULA are illegal. They are not as they are contracts. Specific provisions may be unenforceable depending on the clause or local law, but even that in no way makes them "illegal". People need to get it into their brains that EULA are contracts an are enforceable world wide. Almost nothing on any properly written EULA is unenforceable no matter what county you are in. This is how Xbox is able to obliterate your entire account if you put "Tutorial for 1800 MSP" in your profile. If EA kills your account because they have proof that You withheld a bug during the beta, then you have no recourse. There is nothing illegal about it. Even if proving it would be quite difficult.

Subject

Comment [quote="Satoru"Jan 21, 2013, 13:05][quote="Verno"Jan 21, 2013, 10:19][quote="Satoru"Jan 21, 2013, 09:56]EULA are 100% legal in all countries it is a legal contract. Unless you can point to a specific provision and to what local law it violates they are legal. No matter what you think they are legal and enforceable. [/quote] You can put whatever you want into an EULA, it doesn't mean it will hold up under scrutiny and judgment. Saying something is 100% legal in all countries is an over generalization too. [/quote] My point was that people think EULA are illegal. They are not as they are contracts. Specific provisions may be unenforceable depending on the clause or local law, but even that in no way makes them "illegal". People need to get it into their brains that EULA are contracts an are enforceable world wide. Almost nothing on any properly written EULA is unenforceable no matter what county you are in. This is how Xbox is able to obliterate your entire account if you put "Tutorial for 1800 MSP" in your profile. If EA kills your account because they have proof that You withheld a bug during the beta, then you have no recourse. There is nothing illegal about it. Even if proving it would be quite difficult. [/quote]

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