Have you ever attempted to read the whole iTunes Software License Agreement after installation? No, me neither. And there’s one good reason for that: it’s so dull it makes me want to gauge out my eyeballs and smash up my Mac. But one grab student has transformed the endlessly boring body of text into a pain-free masterpiece that even Apple itself would be proud of.
Gregg Bernstein, who really need to get a better hobby — only joking, Gregg! — has spent some time on making that iTunes License Agreement a whole lot more digestible. It’s a lot prettier, easier to read, easier to search, easier to print, and easier to navigate.
However, according to TUAW, this wasn’t just something Gregg did in his spare time:
For his master’s thesis he went through Apple’s license agreement (all 4,137 words of it) and designed something that looked a lot more clean and beautiful, and actually meant something. Things like how many copies you can make of each item, and what you’re actually agreeing to when you click “Agree” are spelled out much more clearly.
We’ve seen a countless number of iPhone 5 design concepts here at Cult of Mac, and even one for the iPad 3, but this is most definitely the first concept we’ve seen for the iTunes License Agreement. Well done, Gregg!
If you’re listening, Cupertino, please let Gregg redesign your iTunes terms of service.
Killian Bell is a freelance writer based in the U.K. He has an interest in all things tech and also covers Android over at CultofAndroid.com. You can follow him on Twitter via @killianbell.
40 responses to “Student Transforms Painfully Long iTunes License Agreement Into Something Apple Would Be Proud Of”
Why?
That’s “gouge,” not “gauge.”
And no thought of a link to his licensing agreement so we can look for ourselves?
Beautiful
All license agreements could be this short: You are lucky if the software works as expected, you can hear the music or watch the video and if not, it’s not our fault and anyway, if you even think about about copying anything, you might directly go to jail.
don’t you just love sensible shit like this? On the downside I’m sure there will be a lawyer somewhere that can explain why things like this have to be a mile long and in legalese all the time.
don’t you just love sensible shit like this? On the downside I’m sure there will be a lawyer somewhere that can explain why things like this have to be a mile long and in legalese all the time.
I’m assuming they were also a “grad” student.
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I have an even simpler (Total of 44 words.)
Apple user Terms & Conditions:
[1. Unless covered by valid hardware warranties, we will NOT be responsible for ANY problems that you may face through the use of our products and/or services.
2. Copy ANY of our registered patents, trademarks, intellectual properties and WE WILL SUE YOU DRY.
End of.]
[DECLINE] —————— [AGREE]
Finally, a license agreement I might actually read. I always feel guilty clicking agree blindly but I can only make it through 3 paragraphs before I pass out from boredom.
It would be interesting to have a lawyer examine his version to see if it is in fact complete and legally binding.
and if it is then I would put the initials thing as the end so one has to scroll all the way through and presumably read it before punching in the info.
It’s on the top right of the proposed design:
“View Full Terms of Use (PDF)”
Define a ‘valid hardware warranty’. If it is not in the document you agree to then you have an out for dropping your iPhone in a pool etc.
Also, in the case of iTunes and its stores they have to cover their butts with a statement that providing the materials doesn’t give you a license to do what you want with them in terms of hacking the DRM and posting them on torrent sites or hosting a film festival etc. And if you do it, Apple isn’t a party to it and you assume all responsibility.
Lawyers require these things. thus the 44 pages covering all bases.
hey, this user agreement is for users using’ Apple’s services, such as iTunes and Appstore.
A valid hardware warranty is another separate document (warranty duration, location, proof of purchase etc..], and i’m sure we all know dipping the iPhone in a pool of water is NOT covered under the hardware warranty.
Hacking DRM is already covered under some kind of Digital Millenium Copyright Act or something, and does not need to be repeated here.
Posting stolen intellectual properties , such as copyrighted musics, are also covered under well known IP laws. Not mentioning them in the user agreement does not mean these national/international laws are not in effect.
Of course the user would assume all responsibility if he/she breaks the law via using any of Apple’s product or services. READ point [1.] again.
Lastly, grow some sense of humor.
Nice, nobody will turn into a HumancetiPad.
I swear to Jesus, no one on this blog/site knows how to activate fucking spell check.
Cool idea and it looks good, but seriously, how long would it take to complete the whole agreement if we’re going through it a page at a time and we have to sign each page. in addition to that…is anyone ever gonna say ‘no’?
of course not. they wanna use their iphones and ipods and they want to listen to their music. if you say no you get none of that. that’s why we all blindly hit the agree button.
we can joke about it all we want, but seriously, who said no? and how did that turn out for you?
You assume that folks are smart enough to know that dropping your phone in the pool etc is not covered.
But spend an hour in any reasonable busy Apple store and you’ll find out how wrong you are.
Same with hacking DRM and how it is illegal. Spend a little time on the web and you’ll find folks screaming to their dying breath that they didn’t take anything from anyway and the studios make enough anyway blah blah so they aren’t doing anything wrong
I actually saw a message from a guy that said if it’s not okay to bit torrent stuff you bought off iTunes then why did they take off the DRM. If they aren’t going to bother protecting their stuff then they are basically saying it’s okay to share it was the gist of his claim.
And I do have a sense of humor. It’s just not the same as yours.
I also have a sense of reality which is why I get things like lawyers demand that ALL bases are covered (something you might have noticed in my first post if you had bothered to completely read it). You should try growing a bit of that for yourself
These agreements mean nothing to me.
Where I live, I can click yes all I want and still not having to adhere to them, if they undermines my rights as a consumer. Clicking yes on one is not legally binding here. :)
Y U Emo Bro?