Brother Adam Posted April 15, 2010 Share Posted April 15, 2010 7,500 Online Shoppers Unknowingly Sold Their Souls FOXNews.com A computer game retailer revealed that it legally owns the souls of thousands of online shoppers, thanks to a clause in the terms and conditions agreed to by online shoppers. A computer game retailer revealed that it legally owns the souls of thousands of online shoppers, thanks to a clause in the terms and conditions agreed to by online shoppers. The retailer, British firm GameStation, added the "immortal soul clause" to the contract signed before making any online purchases earlier this month. It states that customers grant the company the right to claim their soul. "By placing an order via this Web site on the first day of the fourth month of the year 2010 Anno Domini, you agree to grant Us a non transferable option to claim, for now and for ever more, your immortal soul. Should We wish to exercise this option, you agree to surrender your immortal soul, and any claim you may have on it, within 5 (five) working days of receiving written notification from gamesation.co.uk or one of its duly authorised minions." GameStation's form also points out that "we reserve the right to serve such notice in 6 (six) foot high letters of fire, however we can accept no liability for any loss or damage caused by such an act. If you a) do not believe you have an immortal soul, b) have already given it to another party, or c) do not wish to grant Us such a license, please click the link below to nullify this sub-clause and proceed with your transaction." The terms of service were updated on April Fool's Day as a gag, but the retailer did so to make a very real point: No one reads the online terms and conditions of shopping, and companies are free to insert whatever language they want into the documents. While all shoppers during the test were given a simple tick box option to opt out, very few did this, which would have also rewarded them with a £5 voucher, according to news:lite. Due to the number of people who ticked the box, GameStation claims believes as many as 88 percent of people do not read the terms and conditions of a Web site before they make a purchase. The company noted that it would not be enforcing the ownership rights, and planned to e-mail customers nullifying any claim on their soul. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zunshynn Posted April 15, 2010 Share Posted April 15, 2010 It seems like this has been in the news before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IgnatiusofLoyola Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 [quote name='Brother Adam' date='15 April 2010 - 06:35 PM' timestamp='1271374515' post='2094318'] 7,500 Online Shoppers Unknowingly Sold Their Souls FOXNews.com A computer game retailer revealed that it legally owns the souls of thousands of online shoppers, thanks to a clause in the terms and conditions agreed to by online shoppers. A computer game retailer revealed that it legally owns the souls of thousands of online shoppers, thanks to a clause in the terms and conditions agreed to by online shoppers. The retailer, British firm GameStation, added the "immortal soul clause" to the contract signed before making any online purchases earlier this month. It states that customers grant the company the right to claim their soul. "By placing an order via this Web site on the first day of the fourth month of the year 2010 Anno Domini, you agree to grant Us a non transferable option to claim, for now and for ever more, your immortal soul. Should We wish to exercise this option, you agree to surrender your immortal soul, and any claim you may have on it, within 5 (five) working days of receiving written notification from gamesation.co.uk or one of its duly authorised minions." GameStation's form also points out that "we reserve the right to serve such notice in 6 (six) foot high letters of fire, however we can accept no liability for any loss or damage caused by such an act. If you a) do not believe you have an immortal soul, b) have already given it to another party, or c) do not wish to grant Us such a license, please click the link below to nullify this sub-clause and proceed with your transaction." The terms of service were updated on April Fool's Day as a gag, but the retailer did so to make a very real point: No one reads the online terms and conditions of shopping, and companies are free to insert whatever language they want into the documents. While all shoppers during the test were given a simple tick box option to opt out, very few did this, which would have also rewarded them with a £5 voucher, according to news:lite. Due to the number of people who ticked the box, GameStation claims believes as many as 88 percent of people do not read the terms and conditions of a Web site before they make a purchase. The company noted that it would not be enforcing the ownership rights, and planned to e-mail customers nullifying any claim on their soul. [/quote] Wow! That's a wake-up call to read the fine print--which I often don't do. [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/sad.gif[/img] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homeschoolmom Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 Didn't Bart Simpson give his soul to Milhouse? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nihil Obstat Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 It's funny in an abstract kind of way, but I'll be honest, I find that really disturbing as well. Like, a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiddkapps Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 Yeah it is disturbing that people don't read those online terms and conditions before clicking yes I agree or something like that. BUT that being said....I'd tell this company if they came to collect....I'm sorry someone already bought my soul so it wasn't mine to give Just sayin' is all.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thy Geekdom Come Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 Someone needs to go watch the Devil and Daniel Webster...or read the Devil and Tom Walker...or watch the episode of the Simpsons where Homer sells his soul for a donut... They're all the exact same plot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffpugh Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 [quote name='Kiddkapps' date='16 April 2010 - 12:14 AM' timestamp='1271391243' post='2094443'] Yeah it is disturbing that people don't read those online terms and conditions before clicking yes I agree or something like that. BUT that being said....I'd tell this company if they came to collect....I'm sorry someone already bought my soul so it wasn't mine to give Just sayin' is all.... [/quote] Then they'd take you to court. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Servus_Mariae Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 Something tells me our Lord is quite unconcerned with the legal status of gamestation's terms of agreement. I do think it's kind of creepy though...that the transaction actually did take place, you know? I mean maybe its just me, but if I signed off on this agreement and then found out later what I agreed to I would feel like I needed to go to confession; not because I would have done something sinful, but because I would just feel...dirty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bennn Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 I find jokes like this tasteless. Seriously, there are other ways to get a point across. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ardillacid Posted April 17, 2010 Share Posted April 17, 2010 This is a debate? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toledo_jesus Posted April 17, 2010 Share Posted April 17, 2010 [quote name='notardillacid' date='17 April 2010 - 03:10 PM' timestamp='1271527800' post='2095166'] This is a debate? [/quote] Hold on... [quote]I find jokes like this tasteless. Seriously, there are other ways to get a point across.[/quote] I disagree. There are no other ways to make a point. [quote] Someone needs to go watch the Devil and Daniel Webster...or read the Devil and Tom Walker...or watch the episode of the Simpsons where Homer sells his soul for a donut... They're all the exact same plot. [/quote] You have failed to demonstrate how the plots are similar, let alone exactly the same. I contest your assertion! Ok, it's a debate now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintOfVirtue Posted April 17, 2010 Share Posted April 17, 2010 Believe it or not, I always read the fine no matter how long it takes me. When I signed up for a new savings account I read the whole privacy policy, and all other fine print before signing anything. The banker nearly died watching me read the ten pages of fine print! Sears tried to sign me up for a "rewards card" but when I read the fine print I found out it was a "credit card". Then the clerk was upset that I made him undo the whole process, because I wasn't signing up for a credit card. I said, "You are a hardware store, not a credit union." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil Red Posted April 17, 2010 Share Posted April 17, 2010 [quote name='Sacred Music Man' date='16 April 2010 - 12:40 PM' timestamp='1271446818' post='2094874'] Then they'd take you to court. [/quote] +JMJ+ i'm pretty sure KK would win. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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