Re:Do you hear me now?? (Score 1)

BitZtream: errr, "bzzzt!" Nope.

As Wolfgang Pauli said: "That isn't right. It's not even wrong."

No, contracts can't override the law (we're talking U.S. law, here): a company generally can't have you waive implied warranties (merchantability, fitness for use, etc.), or do all kinds of other things (unconscionability, against public policy...)

But it is certainly legal (until a court says otherwise) to say "we have the right to [do stuff to your service], and by reading and signing this, you agree.

You mention "material" changes to the service - well, (a) if you can still go to the google website and search, well: pffft! - your materiality argument is pretty weak, at least in the Real World of Very Expensive and Prolonged Litigation, and (b) I bet dollars to donuts that the right to change, say, the default search engine, or your choices in that matter, are thoroughly covered in the agreement you signed.

Verizon has entire FLOORS of lawyers to write these things - you think they didn't think it through before implementing this?

I'm not saying it's fair, or right-or-wrong -- I'm just saying: I sincerely hope that, if you're a law student, that when you interview, your potential future employers never see this post.

If you're not a law student, let me just say (as someone who's been an expert witness, working (on another case) for the lead attorney in the RIM (Blackberry) case: you know not whatof you speak.