Software company buried a $1K prize in its ToS

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5466115

by sw007 • 13 years ago

43 13 13 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

Came across this on Reddit today and thought it was incredibly interesting.

The link they've linked off to doesn't appear to be working (presumably down to traffic volume).

The Reddit discussion is here - http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1baw7v/til_a_software_company_buried_a_1000_prize_deep/.

The Original link is here - http://techtalk.pcpitstop.com/2012/06/12/it-pays-to-read-license-agreements-7-years-later/

kahseng• 13 years ago

Clickables

http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1baw7v/til_a_...

http://techtalk.pcpitstop.com/2012/06/12/it-pays-to-read-lic...

niggler• 13 years ago

Relevant but NSFW: http://www.southparkstudios.com/full-episodes/s15e01-humance...

(consequences of not reading the various agreements)

Samuel_Michon• 13 years ago

“A special consideration which may include financial compensation will be awarded to a limited number of authorize licensee to read this section of the license agreement and contact PC Pitstop at consideration@pcpitstop.com. This offer can be withdrawn at any time.”

To me, that doesn't scream “no strings attached $1000 prize”. Even if I read the TOS and came across this section, I wouldn't have emailed them. I would've assumed they wanted to send me spam.

Semaphor• 13 years ago

It was probably a no string attached prize until their lawyers looked over it.

markbernard• 13 years ago

If your reading the terms of service they already have your email.

spoiler• 13 years ago

I thought you had to read them before actually registering, not after.

yojo• 13 years ago

cache: http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:http://...

scotty79• 13 years ago

Somewhat releveant: http://www.mcmillan.ca/93388

'Purchasers granted to Gamestation a non-transferable, perpetual option "to claim, for now and forever more, your immortal soul". Such purchasers agreed to surrender said soul within 5 business days of written notification by Gamestation "or one of its authorised minions"; and while such notice could be delivered by way of notice through "6 (six) foot high letters of fire", purchasers agreed that Gamestation had no liability for damages caused by that act. At the end of the paragraph, purchasers were told that they could click on a link to nullify the provision (and, upon doing so, were rewarded for their vigilance with a voucher code that had a value of ₤5.00).'

chris_wot• 13 years ago

Nice way to void a contract.

erydo• 13 years ago

Most contracts include a severability clause, which basically says that if any part is found to be invalid, the rest of the contract continues to apply anyway.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Severability

vertis• 13 years ago

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the intent of PG making it EITHER comment or url to stop people from doing this.

Software company buried a $1K prize in its ToS

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