Electronic Arts

2. Consent to Collection and Use of Data.

You agree that EA may collect, use, store and transmit technical and related information that identifies your computer (including the Internet Protocol Address), operating system, Application usage (including but not limited to successful installation and/or removal), software, software usage and peripheral hardware, that may be gathered periodically to facilitate the provision of software updates, dynamically served content, product support and other services to you, including online services. EA may also use this information combined with personal information for marketing purposes and to improve our products and services. We may also share that data with our third party service providers in a form that does not personally identify you. IF YOU DO NOT WANT EA TO COLLECT, USE, STORE, TRANSMIT OR DISPLAY THE DATA DESCRIBED IN THIS SECTION, PLEASE DO NOT INSTALL OR USE THE APPLICATION.

This and all other data provided to EA and/or collected by EA in connection with your installation and use of this Application is collected, used, stored and transmitted in accordance with EA’s Privacy Policy located at www.ea.com. To the extent that anything in this section conflicts with the terms of EA’s Privacy Policy, the terms of the Privacy Policy shall control.

Could you make this optional? Because it only gives me more reason not to use your Origin service for ANYTHING.

I'm not quite at the stage where I can say definitively that I'll not be buying EA games again, but dammit I'm getting close...

I'd ordered my box copy of BF3, unaware that I'd still need Origin squatting on my harddrive.
I'm now in two minds as to whether I should be cancelling that preorder or not.
I mean, I love DICE and the games they produce, but the current iteration of Origin?
No.
Not a fan of that in the slightest.

I'm a steam user.
I'm happy with it.
Yes, I'd prefer it if EA was still using steam.
I'm nice and settled there.
This doesn't mean I'm opposed to using other distribution methods.
Hell, I use impulse for some things when it makes a competative deal.

What I am opposed to is the current iteration of the Origin EULA.
What's that EULA?
Do I think it's fair you can stripmine my hardrive for data, even regarding the usage of competators software and distribution platforms?
Why no.
No I don't.

...and let me add, that doesn't mean I don't like the idea of choice in digital distribution.
I just dislike the idea of being over the barrel while Origin puts on the rubber gloves.


Sure, gather everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, that's connected to Origin games and usage.
Full disclosure.
Even the peripherals and hardware used with the game.
No problem there.
Just restrict it to this and everything will be sweet.
We can go back to being cool with each other again.
Just like old times, eh?

Or, if you prefer, explain to me why you need to have full, unrestricted access to my data.
Make it clear.
Why does Origin need to do this?
No, not just the "because it makes it easier to provide services." answer.
You've already opened the can on that tinned response.
I want to know in detail why non related software and peripheral usage is essential to the workings of Origin as a viable and competative alternative to Steam.

Could you make this optional? Because it only gives me more reason not to use your Origin service for ANYTHING.

I'm not asking.

Quite frankly I'm not convinced that the EULA states it's going to collect info outside of EA games. It seems like standard legal boilerplate whose only purpose is to leave everything as open to interpretation as possible. In other words, if EA decides sometime in the future to start scanning your harddrive to see what's on your computer, they'll be covered somewhere in the EULA.

That's not acceptable to me.

I've canceled my preorder of BF3 with Newegg already. I absolutely will not order any EA game now and in the future until the EULA is revised to specifically state you will NOT examine anything on my computer using Origin or any software on Origin unless I Opt-In. An email, forum response, and even a press release is not good enough. I want this in writing via the EULA and their privacy policy.

It's time we took back our rights, people. They work for us, not the other way around.

Uninstalling client as I speak, boycotting all future EA games until they update there EULA with a good reason for attempting to sell my personal information without permission.

Requesting a refund for BF3 shall stick to BF:BC2


Attest that's only harvesting data via punk buster and not constantly via Origin.

This is a very invasive EULA. Make it collect our data and have us be anonymous. The way you have things worded in EULA, you are tracking EVERYTHING. I dont think i'll be buying games from your service if this isn't changed.

I uninstalled today.

I just want to play games. I'm not about to let EA snoop around on my computer and share that info with others. There is no reason for that. I am a paying customer.

I don't need to play games so bad that I am willing to let someone snoop around in my life in areas that have nothing to do with them. There are plenty of good games out there.

So whatever. My EA boycott is in full effect. And I am telling every person I know that plays games.

The sad thing is that its the people who actually pirate these games that won't be effected by EA's intrusive EULA, but if you actually buy your game, you hand over your privacy to EA too. Ridiculous.

Consider Origin gone for good, Even if they change the EULA i wouldn't trust them to keep it that way.
I will not purchase any game that requires Origin in the future as i can see this type thing weeding its way back in future updates of the program.

EddieWoe wrote:Consider Origin gone for good, Even if they change the EULA i wouldn't trust them to keep it that way.
I will not purchase any game that requires Origin in the future as i can see this type of this weeding its way back in in future updates of the program.

Right even if they remove it, everytime they do an update you have to agree to the EULA. I'm not going to read that thing every couple of weeks. They have lost my trust.

If I catch someone snooping around my apartment, Im not going to let them back in--even if they say they wont do it in the future.

This is ridiculous. Thankfully, TOR doesn't require the Origin client for downloading, updating or playing. I almost cancelled my pre-order on this.

I will not purchase any future EA products for my PC or my consoles should this section of the EULA not be COMPLETELY OPTIONAL.

It is UNACCEPTABLE. When I lease a car the manufacturer of the vehicle does not install a device into it which tracks my every movement, reporting my locations, stores where I shop, speed I drive, coffee I drink, foods I eat, words I say, passengers I carry, etc for their own personal use and/or to sell to 3rd parties. That would IMMEDIATELY cause them to be sued for privacy issues.

How is this any different? You might as well hire someone to enter my house and look through all of my stuff; it would be just as bad.

Remove this ridiculous, draconic, unrealistic privacy violation from your EULA or you will face a media firestorm of negative publicity, lost sales, and potential lawsuits against you.

EDIT to add: You realize that this ridiculous move will only INCREASE piracy of your software, yes? Hackers will find a way to crack your games so that they don't need to actually use Origin, or otherwise neuter it so that it is not a privacy breach. You are only harming legitimate customers with this terrible idea.

I am very concerned about this as well. I'm not at the "torches and pitchforks" stage, because that never accomplishes anything - but I am going to vote with my wallet. This EULA is far too intrusive. There are times that I have my own intellectual property on my computer, and this clause allows EA to feel free to snoop in that. (This is not to say that they will, but just that they can.) Also, anything that I do on my computer that is not an EA game is my business, not theirs.

I hope that EA will have some official response to this, and preferably, a change to the wording. It's true that Steam and (now) Impulse have similar clauses, but they are not nearly as sweeping.


Also, I hope that Bioware takes the same tact with Mass Effect 3 in that Origin won't be required.

Aye if it wasent for Battlefield 3 most of us would already have hightailed out of here.

This EULA is really unacceptable. Please change it ASAP! Clarify what exactly you want to do and why. And this may better be good reasons. If, e.g., you have to scan for cheats, SAY SO!

I don't care if they change the wording I don't use any of this things. I only play games that I have a hard copy of. Why? because I don't have to use steam to play them. Now I've had steam for over 3 years..I have never used it. But i'm gonna have to cancel my order of bf3 and maybe TOR because I have to install origin and have it running to play.

Didnt google get sued over something similar to this?