MS FrontPage Restricts Free Speech II (It's True!)

A mild controvery occured yesterday in a story claiming Microsoft prohibits anti-ms speech if you use Frontpage. Here is a followup submitted by Reyacta from the original author: "Several readers have told me their EULA for FrontPage 2002 does not contain the no-disparaging-MS term, or that the term only applies to the FrontPage logo or to the Web components like the MSNBC news headline component. Just to be sure, this afternoon I went down to the store and bought a copy of FrontPage 2002 myself. In the box was the "Microsoft Frontpage 2002" license on a four-page folded sheet, titled "End- User License Agreement For Microsoft Software." Under Section #1, Grant of License, the second paragraph headed "Restrictions" states in part: "You may not use the Software in connection with any site that disparages Microsoft, MSN, MSNBC, Expedia, or their products or services, infringe any intellectual property or other rights of these parties, violate any state, federal or international law, or promote racism, hatred or pornography." (Not only a stunning example of legal overreaching, in my opinion, but very poor grammar as well.) It appears to me to clearly apply to use of the program as a whole and not just the logo or Web components. I suspect that there are different versions of the EULA of FrontPage 2002. Perhaps the license was updated for the most recent SKU, or versions obtained through different channels don't yet have it. I'm going to try to get Microsoft to clarify where this EULA does and doesn't appear, but I'm not sure they will be very anxious to provide me with that information. Reply to Ed Foster."

Microsoft's new dictionary EULA

[Jonathunder]

Use of this Dictionary of the English Language, or any of the words contained herein, constitutes acceptance of the following terms: You shall not use this dictionary, or any of the words derived therefrom, to disparage Microsoft, Encarta, or any of the companies we swallow up.

Grammar

[bperkins]

Not only a stunning example of legal overreaching, in my opinion, but very poor grammar as well.

Where's the verb in this sentence?

Terrorists...

[TheNecromancer]

I hope bin Laden isn't using FrontPage, or he'll really be in trouble!!

That sucks

[skrowl]

What good is making a website if you can't promote pornography?? Isn't that what the web is for??

Seems pretty stupid...

[Uttles]

... to sell a web page building application and then say it can't be used for promoting pornography. Doesn't MS realize that 99% of web content is pictures of naked ladies?


(intended as humor)

Re:Or...

[ichimunki]

It's not even a bad law, it's a faulty contract which may well fail to persist under judicial scrutiny. Frankly, though, if you are using Frontpage, you have bigger problems than this EULA.

Fuss...

[ryanwright]

I don't know what the fuss is about. I'd love to see the bastards try to enforce this.

Microsoft Lawyer: "Your honor, I call CmdrTaco to the stand."
Taco: (takes stand)
MS: "Did you, on 9/20/2001, purchase a copy of Frontpage 2000?"
Taco: "Yes."
MS: "Did you, on 9/21/2001, use Frontpage 2000 to create a web site?"
Taco: "Yes."
MS: "And did that web site contain pictures of Mr. William H. Gates III engaging in copulation with half a dozen goats while simultaneously using the Microsoft logo to spank cash out of customers, bent over with their palms on the floor, pants around their ankles and stupid smiles on their faces?"

Re:How Unreasonable is This?

[Robber Baron]

If you are so anti-Microsoft that you feel the need to create a site against it, isn't it a touch hypocrtical to be using a Microsoft product to do that?

No, it's called poetic justice...

Re:Hatred?

[slashkitty]

So I can't use FrontPage on i-hate-racism-and-porn.org?

Re:Stupid lawsuits

[jandrese]

I have trouble seeing where people are going to get offended at an "M$ Sucks!" website and then sue Microsoft over it.

Re:Seems pretty stupid...

[rjamestaylor]

... to sell a web page building application and then say it can't be used for promoting pornography. Doesn't MS realize that 99% of web content is pictures of naked ladies?

Dude, the 'Net is bigger than your Favorites list...

Re:Grammar

[sharkey]

The verb is "is" but its implied by the context.

Yes, the verb in that sentence is the word "is", but it's implied by the context. The word "is" is not in possession of implied, so the possessive form of the pronoun "it" is out of place in your sentence.

On the other hand, poor grammer or spelling is a sure way to look stupid.

Well said. We should always strive for proper spelling and good grammar.

encarta:

[kilgore_47]

As sugested, I checked Microsoft's definition of Microsoft.

The Encarta Dictionary [msn.com] says "No matches found for: Microsoft"

The Encarta Encyclopedia [msn.com], however, has a much more fitting definition:
"Microsoft VBScript runtime error '800a0005', Invalid procedure call or argument, /shared/spot/xmlsearchcore.inc, line 572 "
I think that really sums it up!

Re:Grammar

[Lxy]

That sentence is a dangling modifier. I know someone who failed college english for using them.

Re:Here is the Windows XP EULA for review :

[rice_burners_suck]

The only thing missing from this EULA is a statement like, "Do not make illegal copies of this End User License Agreement."

I'm SOL!

[Anonymous Coward]

So much for my site with XXX paparazzi video of Bill Gates having sex while cursing the Afganistanians.

Re:Here is the Windows XP EULA for review :

[Whelk]

YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS OF THIS EULA BY INSTALLING, COPYING, OR OTHERWISE USING THE PRODUCT.

So using the CD as a coaster still binds you to the EULA?

Insert witticism here

Quiet enjoyment?

[goldfndr]

12. DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES.

...
ALSO, THERE IS NO WARRANTY OR CONDITION OF TITLE, QUIET ENJOYMENT, QUIET POSSESSION, CORRESPONDENCE TO DESCRIPTION OR NON-INFRINGEMENT WITH REGARD TO THE PRODUCT.

So, if you enjoy XP, you must let others know.

Furthermore, you can't have an XP machine running in a forest, as whether or not it makes a sound is indeterminable.

The most out of touch portion of this EULA

[SFNative]

You can't use FrontPage to promote pornography?

Has anyone at Microsoft checked out any porn pages? Near as I can tell, the propreitors of porn pages are the biggest users of FrontPage!

Of course, I only go to those pages for the articles.

All talk and no action

[dugsteen]

Alright, folks. Where is it? I'm looking for a single Web page, designed with FrontPage 2002, that describes this EULA and says it's stupid. A wonderfully self-referential violation.

Any takers?