Safety Helmet wrote on Dec 10, 2010, 16:19:
A EULA is not a legally binding contract, just as me writing something and you agreeing to it by simply clicking an "Agree" button does not make it law.
Wrong.
It's a legally binding contract. While in the US you can't sign away certain rights within a contract, it is legally binding generally speaking. I imagine most countries are similar in nature.
Besides, he's apparently being prosecuted under an existing English law, not the EULA. It's a shaky accusation, because you have to legally prove that a CoD server qualifies as part of the infrastructure of the internet. I'd argue, strongly, that it isn't.
I imagine he won't go to prison, but that they're trying to scare the bejeebus out of him and make him an example.
Heck, the kid should sue Activision for criminal negligence and harassment since he's a minor and their EULA did not specifically say not do to this in terms a 17 year old would comprehend.
Ignorance generally is not a valid legal defense. Besides, that's a civil matter, he's in trouble for a criminal matter.