Actiance Security Labs has created the
EULA Analyzer to assist people in better understanding the contracts they enter into while using software on the Internet. Surfers frequently encounter online contracts also known as the End User License Agreement. This is commonly referred to as the "EULA". Please be aware that this software is in beta status and is used "as is". We welcome feedback on improvements and ideas for the EULA Analyzer as we continue to work on the project.
Who Can Benefit?
Anyone who downloads software from the Internet can benefit from the EULA Analyzer. We hope people make reading and understanding the EULA a daily practice before installing software. Awareness and education are critical in fighting the internet pollution problem that continues to plague the Internet today. Some people who can benefit from this tool include:
Parents who want to analyze the privacy impact of software their children might by downloading on P2P networks.
IT administrators who must rapidly evaluate whether a program is suitable to reside on their network or carries privacy risks that might violate corporate policies.
The tool might also be useful for educators teaching e-commerce classes to students about the implications of online contracts.
Government bodies that wish to perform further analysis on a EULA for legislative research
The EULA analyzer is a perfect tool for independent spyware researchers who frequently analyze the EULA as a regular part of their practice and volunteer efforts.
Attorneys or legal professionals who want to dissect EULAs for legal research.
Instructions for Use
To use the tool you need only to copy and paste the entire EULA into the interface and hit [Start Analyzer]. The tool will then return a quick analysis and flag particular phrases the you should pay special attention too. This should not replace reading the entire EULA and understanding but it is especially helpful in zeroing on the use of euphemistic language designed to confuse people.
Disclaimer
The EULA Analyzer is not and should not be considered legal advice. We advise all users to read the EULAs carefully and address concerns or questions directly to the software maker. If you have legal questions, you might also consider contacting your attorney. We cannot answer questions about a EULA for you. Please realize this is a Beta Release and may contain errors or omissions. We welcome suggestions on how to improve the EULA analyzer and welcome submissions for new rules. XBlock reserves the right to log EULAs as entered by users for analysis and to publish trends on the most popular EULAs analyzed. We collect only the Company Name, web address where the EULA was located if applicable, the body of the EULA and IP address from the individual sending in the EULA for analysis. We do not require or ask for any other information on the part of the person using the service.
Cost of Service
The service is free to use but may not be copied, framed or used on another site or any other media without the expression permission of XBlock.
Linking To EULA Analyzer
We appreciate your links to the EULA Analyzer.
We are preparing a section with links you can place on your website to help educate people to read contracts carefully before committing their machine to the control of an advertising software.
Feedback
Good or bad we appreciate feedback to help us improve the EULA Analyzer system. If you are a spyware analyst or have experience with online EULAs feel free to contact us by opening up a support ticket here. Please note that due to load of a free service it may take some time before we are able to respond to all suggestions.
