Often times when you install a new piece of software on your Mac, you’re presented with a lengthy end user license agreement that you must agree to before you can use the application. You’re supposed to read it, but none of us ever do because they’re incredibly boring and long-winded.
But the iTunes end user license agreement gets particularly interesting towards the end, where it stipulates that you must agree not to design and develop nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons.
Seriously.
Here’s the snippet, which was spotted by The Loop:
You also agree that you will not use these products for any purposes prohibited by United States law, including, without limitation, the development, design, manufacture or production of nuclear, missiles, or chemical or biological weapons.
What I like most about this paragraph is that it specifically relates to iTunes; it’s not saying you shouldn’t develop these weapons at all — it’s saying you should not use “these products” (iTunes) to do it.
How on Earth would you ever be able to design, develop, and manufacture nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons using iTunes? Is there a feature I haven’t stumbled across?
Source: Apple
Via: The Loop
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.
10 responses to “When You Use iTunes, You Agree Not To Design & Develop Nuclear Weapons”
Well, in Eagle Eye the terrorists did use a musical cue to trigger the detonator.
What would weapons and weapon sales be like if Apple for into the arms business? I’m thinking Stark industries with Jony Ive melancholy and Apple Keynote flair.
I think it’s more like you’ll make an app or a book on the store which is related to terroristic activity. Apple would say “No. You cant publish ‘How to build a nuclear bomb’ on iBooks.”
Brilliant! Hadn’t thought of that.
Is this the EULA for iTunes, or Apple licensed software in general? If it’s a general EULA, it makes sense with OSX, etc…but iTunes? Maybe playing music while you work…?
Oh shit, it says design as well?
iTunes university has free courses in virology, molecular biology, quantum mechanics, nuclear engineering, etc. from some of the most prestigious universities in the world. I guess you could, theoretically, teach yourself enough to be dangerous. Like an esoteric version of watching YouTube videos to learn how to fix your car or lay tile.
This is part of US export restrictions and is found on all Apple EULAs.
That’s boilerplate and, yes, part of US export regs as far as I know. The Oracle terms of use had that same clause when I read them 15 years ago.
This reminds me of when I was going through the long and laborious process of getting my American citizenship a few years ago (I was born in Canada). I had an interview with an immigration officer who asked me a series of questions, including “Do you have any plans or intentions of overthrowing the U.S. government?”, which I found rather bizarre, but I guess the Immigration Department wants it on record that you don’t have any plans to do that (I didn’t). I wonder if anyone has ever answered yes to that question.