News

EA's Origin will share your personal info, monitor your activity
Posted: 23.08.2011 18:14 by JonahFalcon Comments: 38
A disturbing aspect of Electronic Arts' digital distributor, Origin, has been revealed by the service's EULA, which you can check out here.

Section 2 states that unless you tell it not to, it will share your personal information with "third party service providers". Note you have to tell it not to or it will do it automatically:

2. Consent to Collection and Use of Data.

You agree that EA may collect, use, store and transmit technical and related information that identifies your computer (including the Internet Protocol Address), operating system, Application usage (including but not limited to successful installation and/or removal), software, software usage and peripheral hardware, that may be gathered periodically to facilitate the provision of software updates, dynamically served content, product support and other services to you, including online services. EA may also use this information combined with personal information for marketing purposes and to improve our products and services. We may also share that data with our third party service providers in a form that does not personally identify you. IF YOU DO NOT WANT EA TO COLLECT, USE, STORE, TRANSMIT OR DISPLAY THE DATA DESCRIBED IN THIS SECTION, PLEASE DO NOT INSTALL OR USE THE APPLICATION.

This and all other data provided to EA and/or collected by EA in connection with your installation and use of this Application is collected, used, stored and transmitted in accordance with EA’s Privacy Policy located at www.ea.com. To the extent that anything in this section conflicts with the terms of EA’s Privacy Policy, the terms of the Privacy Policy shall control.


Section 3 states that using the software makes you give up your right to privacy, allowing them to monitor your activity: “EA reserves the right to monitor communications on the Application and disclose any information EA deems necessary to (i) ensure your compliance with this License; (ii) satisfy any applicable law, regulation or legal process; (iii) protect the rights, property and interests of EA, its employees or the public. EA also reserves the right to edit, refuse to transfer and/or to remove any information or materials, in whole or in part, in EA’s sole discretion.”

Will this make you think twice about buying Battlefield 3 and Star Wars: The Old Republic?

Comments

By nocutius (SI Elite) on Aug 23, 2011
nocutius
As long as you can say no and it actually listens to you it's still bearable. But i dislike the fact this is opt-out.
If it was impossible to disable this 'feature' i'd probably not give them any more money ever.
By K3Spice (SI Core) on Aug 23, 2011
K3Spice
It seems a little awkward that EA is requiring this....
By Xyfer117 (SI Core) on Aug 23, 2011
Xyfer117
The fact you can turn it off is ok... still dont like that you have to turn it off yourself and your not even given the option...
By K3Spice (SI Core) on Aug 23, 2011
K3Spice
Where does it say you can turn it off? This are the parameters you agree to when you use origin. So how would one turn it off?
By herodotus (SI Herodotus) on Aug 24, 2011
herodotus
You cannot "turn it off", at least nowhere in the above terms and conditions does it offer that option. If you agree to install ORIGIN (which you must, to play "BF3") you are automatically saying "Yes"..
Saying "No" means declining to install ORIGIN...ie. no "BF3".
By Chosen_One (SI Elite) on Aug 23, 2011
Chosen_One
can this summer be more worse on news??
By K3Spice (SI Core) on Aug 23, 2011
K3Spice
Yeah, that's exactly what I was thinking herodotus, but everyone seems to think otherwise...
By obiwanmccartney (SI Veteran Newbie) on Aug 24, 2011
obiwanmccartney
Yeah, as noted above, I believe what they mean by "telling it not to" is in fact "not installing/using the software"

So, its akin to curing aids with a mixture of arsenic, hemlock, nightshade and mustard gas. Sure, it might cure it, but the cure is worse than the disease.
By obiwanmccartney (SI Veteran Newbie) on Aug 24, 2011
obiwanmccartney
Which begs the question; Can one essentially put whatever they want in an EULA and get away with it? So, I can put a game out that the EULA says I get to screw every female above the age of 18 that installs the software, and if they refuse they get jailed? Hey, it was in the EULA :P

If I had to guess, I'd say that an EULA that says they can do whatever they want with whatever they want isn't going to pass muster.
By nocutius (SI Elite) on Aug 24, 2011
nocutius
Ok, i sure hope it's you guys that don't understand it correctly cause if you do this really sucks bad.
By herodotus (SI Herodotus) on Aug 24, 2011
herodotus
I'm glad this had been highlighted, as who here can honestly say they read each and every EULA before accepting and installing every game they get? Not me, that's for sure (though I have read through tis one).

How it will affect gamers is one pertinent point.
How EA can get away with this legally is another more pressing point.
By arten800 (SI Veteran Newbie) on Aug 24, 2011
arten800
YUP THIS SUCKS
By FoolWolf (SI Elite) on Aug 24, 2011
FoolWolf
EULA isn't legally binding in most countries so the question is if they are actually spying or not on their clients - that in itself can be a legal hassle since spying on users on their home computers can be the same as home violation, integrety crimes, making a legal contract with minors etc etc...
I think EA better come up with something quickly or I know one pre-order that pretty easily can be cancelled - heck - it's not like there are no options this autumn!
By herodotus (SI Herodotus) on Aug 24, 2011
herodotus
Check the legal terms in the EULA, Wolfy. They are pretty well stacked against the end user.
By nocutius (SI Elite) on Aug 24, 2011
nocutius
But EULA is not supposed to be above the law.
By herodotus (SI Herodotus) on Aug 25, 2011
herodotus
When enforced by vague Internet Laws, company lawyers have incredible loopholes to work with. Check out the section regarding liable and Torts.
By grenadier (SI Newbie) on Aug 24, 2011
grenadier
Didn't Blizzard get busted for this back in the day? Seems to me they ended up modifying their position, or at least explaining it better. They also offered an opt-out, I think.
By FoolWolf (SI Elite) on Aug 24, 2011
FoolWolf
EULA's never been tried in a court.
EULA's can't overide my legal rights in the country I live in.
Any company selling a service or product in a country must abide that countries legal system.

In Sweden you can't SAY NO to the basic rights, all rights changes from a company must be better or only fullfil the letter of the law minimum.
By FoolWolf (SI Elite) on Aug 24, 2011
FoolWolf
EULA's never been tried in a court.
EULA's can't overide my legal rights in the country I live in.
Any company selling a service or product in a country must abide that countries legal system.

In Sweden you can't SAY NO to the basic rights, all rights changes from a company must be better or only fullfil the letter of the law minimum.
By nocutius (SI Elite) on Aug 25, 2011
nocutius
After some thinking i really can't support something as invasive as this. I really hope they come to their senses (or somebody makes them come to their senses) cause otherwise i probably wont get any game that uses origin. There's tons of great games out there and i can manage without a few of them.
Good bye BF3, i was looking forward to playing you together with my buddies. But i really can't recommend them installing spyware on their PCs.
This is what we're dealing with, spyware. This stuff used to be illegal.

Stupid EA, sabotaging their own games.
By bosnian_dragon (SI Core) on Aug 25, 2011
bosnian_dragon
Looking from this angle, it looks like they'll have to sell the game via Steam if they want it to have some success.
:D
By K3Spice (SI Core) on Aug 25, 2011
K3Spice
BF will not be on steam...
By dalrint (SI Newbie) on Aug 25, 2011
dalrint
I wonder if they'll make people sign up for origin to use the DLC in ME3 even if you're playing it on xbox.
By Pearsoap (SI Newbie) on Aug 25, 2011
Pearsoap
Steam is the bomb
By unsilviu (SI Core) on Aug 25, 2011
unsilviu
Origin is a PC-only ditribution platforl, dalrint, it would be impossible to sell DLC through it, Microsoft would go bonkers, they sell it through XBox Live
By bosnian_dragon (SI Core) on Aug 25, 2011
bosnian_dragon
@K3Spice - I know it won't be on Steam, I was saying that they will have to allow sale on Steam if they want more profit. This way, they are using the BattleField franchise popularity to draw in many fans who want to buy BF3 into Origin. Who knows, maybe I just register to buy BF3, but that will be the first and the last buy on Origin from me in a long time. It's really stupid to hijack the popularity of some game like this, but it's EA, we've learned that they are the devil of gaming industry long time ago.
By barkat99 (SI Newbie) on Aug 25, 2011
barkat99
ea sucks
By rfourt (I just got here) on Aug 25, 2011
rfourt
You are all so wrong. or right couse its not nice that they keep track on us like this. BUT you are foolish if you only think its EA or origin that has this EULA. All software makers has this excact EULA in there agreements etc. Go on and read iTunes EULA and you will find these excact words, and Steam´s Eula are even worse then this.

One of the most terrifying companys are actually Apple with there iPhone (i own one myself and its a great phone) but there EULA is frightening. Just 10minutes agoo i downloaded a new update for Safari and to try and make an translation from swedish to english it says: You agree that Apple and its affiliates and representatives (third party) may collect, store, process and and use the diagnostic, technical and related information, and information on use, including but not limited to information about your computer, systems, software and accessories.

The sentence: "including but not limited to" is really frightening.. basicly means that they can gather personal data etc.

Although this is not that scary after all as they mostly have these EULA´s to mostly protect themself as a company etc etc.. and as i said.. This is really nothing new. its been going on since Macintosh 1.0 and Dos 2.2

So this article is actually really dumb and the author should really do some more research before writing stuff like this like its something new and terrible.

hey go and read the EULA of your latest skype, msn, yahoo, IRC, facebook, myspace etc etc. and see if you can find anything different.
By rfourt (I just got here) on Aug 25, 2011
rfourt
You are all so wrong. or right couse its not nice that they keep track on us like this. BUT you are foolish if you only think its EA or origin that has this EULA. All software makers has this excact EULA in there agreements etc. Go on and read iTunes EULA and you will find these excact words, and Steam´s Eula are even worse then this.

One of the most terrifying companys are actually Apple with there iPhone (i own one myself and its a great phone) but there EULA is frightening. Just 10minutes agoo i downloaded a new update for Safari and to try and make an translation from swedish to english it says: You agree that Apple and its affiliates and representatives (third party) may collect, store, process and and use the diagnostic, technical and related information, and information on use, including but not limited to information about your computer, systems, software and accessories.

The sentence: "including but not limited to" is really frightening.. basicly means that they can gather personal data etc.

Although this is not that scary after all as they mostly have these EULA´s to mostly protect themself as a company etc etc.. and as i said.. This is really nothing new. its been going on since Macintosh 1.0 and Dos 2.2

So this article is actually really dumb and the author should really do some more research before writing stuff like this like its something new and terrible.

hey go and read the EULA of your latest skype, msn, yahoo, IRC, facebook, myspace etc etc. and see if you can find anything different.
By herodotus (SI Herodotus) on Aug 25, 2011
herodotus
@rfourt
Opinons are one thing, flaming and ignorance of the facts are quite another. Don't simply disregard the opinions and legitimate concerns of other members with this sort of post. Apple, like Microsoft do have access, as they are manufacturers of the harware and software. Gaming companies should not.
I disagree with what you have summarised your post with. I HAVE read EULA's by several companies at this stage, and Origin truly is in a world of it's own here.
By K3Spice (SI Core) on Aug 25, 2011
K3Spice
I did the same herodotus. All companies that gathered any information from you made it anonymous. In other words they don't know who the information is from, and they don't use any information gathered to do this

“EA reserves the right to monitor communications on the Application and disclose any information EA deems necessary to (i) ensure your compliance with this License; (ii) satisfy any applicable law, regulation or legal process; (iii) protect the rights, property and interests of EA, its employees or the public. EA also reserves the right to edit, refuse to transfer and/or to remove any information or materials, in whole or in part, in EA’s sole discretion.”

EA is the first and only I have seen that uses the information for that, and the information is no longer anonymous...
By BlueKhorth (SI Newbie) on Aug 25, 2011
BlueKhorth
big brother sees all
By unsilviu (SI Core) on Aug 26, 2011
unsilviu
As herod said, rfourt, please don't insult others simply for having different opinions, even if they're wrong (which they're not). If the EULA weren't different, it wouldn't have blown up all over the internet the way it did. Don't imagine that people just read these EULA's once every 5 years, in cases of special astral alignment. There are those, especially legal experts, who take great care in these things, and EA's EULA stands out.
That said, we should all pay more attention. I for one never gave these attention before, and just clicked "I agree". Remember that EULA in which people agreed to sell their souls? :P
By xhanat (SI Newbie) on Aug 27, 2011
xhanat
If they make a "window" asking fot it in the first place i dont see the problem, if it is just a hidden option... well, that would be really bad
By arten800 (SI Veteran Newbie) on Aug 28, 2011
arten800
I dont read the eula lol but ill read it now days
By FoolWolf (SI Elite) on Aug 30, 2011
FoolWolf
Thankfully they changed it and not everyone has this EULA - read up rfourt before jumping on people.
Point is that they all want our money - so if we grumble high enough - they take a step back to secure that we are happy...
Simple as that.
By unsilviu (SI Core) on Aug 30, 2011
unsilviu
Something tells me rfourt was an EA employee, the only post he made was that one XD
By K3Spice (SI Core) on Aug 31, 2011
K3Spice
I got that same exact feeling...