As an end user, I like software that communicate well; we all love flawless communication. While installing a software package, we usually encounter a window with a terribly long and heavily jargoned ‘end-user license agreement’ (EULA). We tend to not bother reading the entire contents at all. A first time computer user might attempt to peek into the contents of the user license agreement out of curiosity or as a challenge, but that attempt doesn’t go far. We try and bail out of the setup wizard by abusing the “I agree”, “Next” or “Continue” button and arrive at a point where we can finally use the software. That’s a regularity for most end users; something we all are used to.
The contents of an EULA convey important messages which aren’t really delivered to the user, due to it’s redundancy and complexity. What’s worse is that plenty of software packages are nowadays equipped with silly mechanisms to force the users read the EULA. I say, why not rather simplify the terms and conditions to a point where the user can understand them?
If the software makers really want the users to read and grasp all the terms and conditions mentioned into the license agreements, they must have them simplified. And I really appreciate the fact that *some* vendors have taken notice of this and have already begun simplifying their agreements, but a major chunk of them are still on with the conventional ways. And ofcourse, with newer ways to simply render the license agreements pointless. Ways like swapping the next button with a cancel button, enforcing timers where the users cannot proceed until the timers runs out and all jazz.
This reminds me of a hilarious 3 minute stand up act by one of my favorite comic artists – Eddie Izzard, who describes his funny endurances while installing the apps and software updates on his Mac computer.
What is your opinion? Do you think the conventional ways of presenting the user license agreements a best way of communicating the legal messages? Do you read them?
