EVE General Discussion

http://community.eveonline.com/pnp/eula.asp Source, cited.

All I did was go there and used my browser to search for the string "harass" Then I backed up to the top and started reading.


You may encounter and converse with people who are rude, offensive, belligerent, and who may use indecent, obscene, and/or threatening or harassing language while playing the Game. You may report any instances of such behavior to CCP. CCP will investigate and take such measures as CCP, in its sole judgment, determines are reasonable under the circumstances. CCP does not guarantee that you will not encounter behavior of others that you may view as insulting, demeaning, offensive, threatening or harassing. You assume all risk associated with playing the Game, and CCP assumes no responsibility for the conduct of any other players, and shall not be liable to you or any other person for their conduct.

So the big thing that's here that may be valid is this bit:

You may report any instances of such behavior to CCP. CCP will investigate and take such measures as CCP, in its sole judgment, determines are reasonable under the circumstances. CCP does not guarantee that you will not encounter behavior of others that you may view as insulting, demeaning, offensive, threatening or harassing.


This gives them a lot of flexibility but the thing is. The scope of the EULA doesn't extend outside the game.

As you can see at the top. Where it clearly outlines what it covers.

This End User License Agreement ("EULA") describes the terms and conditions under which you may (i) install and use the Software; and (ii) subscribe to, access and use EVE online. CCP may amend this EULA from time to time by posting an amended version at http://www.eveonline.com/pnp/eula.asp. If you accept this EULA, the then-current version of this EULA shall apply each time you access the System or play EVE.

This is the section on ban/suspension.

B. By CCP for Breach or Misconduct

i. Suspension of Account
Without limiting CCP's rights or remedies, CCP may immediately, and without notice, discontinue or suspend access to the System through your Account, and any and all other Accounts that share the name, phone number, e-mail address, internet protocol address or credit card number with the discontinued or suspended Account, in the event of (i) a breach of the EULA (including the Rules of Conduct) by you or any user under your Account; or (ii) unauthorized access to the System or use of the Game by you or any user under your Account.

ii. Termination of EULA
CCP may terminate the EULA, close all your Accounts, and cancel all rights granted to you under the EULA if: (i) you fail to pay the subscription fee when due; (ii) CCP is unable to verify or authenticate any information you provide; (iii) you or anyone using any of your Accounts materially breaches the EULA, makes any unauthorized use of the System or Software, or infringes the rights of CCP or any third party; or (iv) CCP becomes aware of game play, chat or player activity under your Account that is, in CCP's discretion, inappropriate or in violation of the Rules of Conduct. Such termination shall be effective upon notice transmitted via electronic mail, or any other means reasonably calculated to reach you.
CCP reserves the right to terminate any and all other Accounts that share the name, phone number, e-mail address, internet protocol address or credit card number with the closed Account. Termination by CCP under this section shall be without prejudice to or waiver of any and all of CCP's other rights or remedies, all of which are expressly reserved, survive termination, and are cumulative. You will not receive a refund of prepaid subscription fees for a termination pursuant to this section.

After reading all this I find it really interesting CCP thinks they can ban people for stuff they do at fanfest. Unless there is some other agreement you sign when you goto fanfest or join the CSM it's kind of all here in black and white. Not really ok if their own EULA is conveniently extended as they see fit.

you have the biggest man crush on me ever

Hmmm, you're the one posting in my threads. I think perhaps you may have the crush?

******* EULAS how do they work??

while I think its sad to see Mittens go, take a read of the Terms of Service

Myself, cannot cite it as well, I looked it up at the start of the things. ToS, ToP, EULA. somewhere in there it talks about how the rules apply to eve and eveonline.com. But time to start looking.

Well for starters: http://community.eveonline.com/pnp/terms.asp

25. CCP reserves the right to close, temporarily or permanently, any user’s account without advance notice as we deem necessary. Furthermore, we reserve the right to delete all user accounts or inventory of characters as warranted.


26. We reserve the right to ban any user from the game without refund or compensation.

secondly: http://community.eveonline.com/pnp/termsofuse.asp

We agree to terms of use. Which would include EveTV being part of the website I think? As such, by agreeing to present and be part, it could be argued that you agree to join and follow said site rules which encompass the EULA and ToS

Of course it doesn't, but it does extend to these forums and to all CCP-owned media analogous to forums. An event concerning the game, hosted by them, broadcast via stream owned by them is clearly analogous to the forums.

Also the act was encouraging other players to use EVE mail to target a character in game.

tl,dr; You can't harass players on any CCP-provided platform, whether you have the client running or not.

Good link

2. You may not use any abusive, defamatory, ethnically or racially offensive, harassing, harmful, hateful, obscene, offensive, sexually explicit, threatening or vulgar language. (Alternate spelling or partial masking of such words will be reprimanded in the same manner as the actual use of such words.)

I'd say that could be applied.

But then there is this:

7. You may not violate any local, state, national or international laws or regulations.

Oh man we are all screwed. IF YOU VIOLATE ANY LAW IN THE WORLD. That's right lady eve players, wear that burka or CCP KSA is going to ban you.

That TOS is so broad and never really specifies the scope of its coverage I still question it's use in this case. Though section 2 is probably the strongest argument.

You are correct, however that is off topic to the point you were wrong about:


Because well.. it's true.

Edit: Oh and it's not theft

This.

It's CCP's game, they make the rules. If they don't like you, they can kick you, and it says so in the TOS. They don't even have to tell you why they do it. The best you could hope by suing over a ban, I think (I am not a lawyer) is getting back the money you already paid, and even that is iffy, given that when you sign up they explicitly tell you you are not gonna get it.

CCP (and other owners of games, websites, etc) provide the rules as a courtesy to you so that you have a guideline of what is expected, instead of indeed doing "go away, we dun liek you" type of decisions. The stated rules do not mean that anything explicitly not mentioned is going to be ok. Trying to lawyer them based on those rules is not going to work. Playing EVE is not a civil right, even after you have paid for it. Playing EVE is something you do because CCP is kind enough to let you continue doing it, and civil enough not to ban people without grounds and explaining.

Don't like the way they handle things? Post reasonable, reasoned counterarguments. Still don't like the way they handle it? Go make your own game. Once you run a succesful MMOG, you get to decide what the rules are there. CCP will still decide about EVE.