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[Various] Battlefield 3 outrage in Germany

213K views 411 replies 204 participants last post by  mega_option101 
#1 ·
Hello guys,
I just wanted to raise your attention about the rage that is going on in Germany
about the Terms of Service of EA and the Origin service itself.
People are really going on the barricades for their rights in Germany, what we
are known for (remember Google Street View and Germany?).
Who knows what this will result into but Battlefield 3 is literally burning over here!
Quote:
Unbenannt.jpg



"The Devil is in the contract details"

The first is a article of the German gaming magazine GameStar on their website. They hired a professional lawyer to analyze the ToS of EAs Origin and the result was devastating.
EA enables themselves to gather like all the information on the computer and process the data, possibly leading to massive privacy violation.
The forum thread for the article has around 2500 replies on 250 pages!

German Source // Translated Source

"Origin analyzed my tax program!"

On the Amazon forums the Origin program caused a massive outcry. People used Process Monitor to scan Origins behaviour and posted pictures of the program accessing files of their tax management program (Picture/Video) and their cell phone manager (Picture).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TAZ-HN9cOk&

"Battlefield 3 is the worst rated game on Amazon ever"
People give the game, or should I rather say the client 1 star in an enormous number. Unverified reports talk about 90,000€ loss on Amazon alone by now from returned games.
Unbenannt.png


German Reviews // Translated Source


"Retailers accept the return of opened copies of BF3!"

The German electronic retailers Media Markt/Saturn (like Best Buy or something like that for you Americans) accept returns of opened and used (key) copies of the game. Not that that would be common behaviour.
Sources would be too many to show them all but here is one:
German Source // Translated Source

"Attention rising with print media"

The first known print media article was released in the "Lübecker Zeitung", you can see a picture of it here, the article is in German.
The headline says: "Datatrap in new shootergame"
Unbenannt.png


"Fight for files / Spyware included"

The popular radio station 1Live for younger audiences presents an article about EA as well on the top of their website.
"Battlefield 3 was the most anticipated game of the year for many people.
But EA is belived to put Spyware (Origin) into their game what is a mood killer for the gamers."
Unbenannt.png


German Source // Translated Source

"Games giant wants to spy on customers"
...is the headline of another media company who picked the topic up as well and even as top article of their website.
"Der Spiegel" is the biggest German weekly newspaper and its online activity is one of the most important source for news in Germany.

German Source // Translated Source

"Online petition to take Battlefield 3 off the shelves in Germany!"
Some of the protesters started a petition to stop selling Battlefield 3 in Germany as an preventive move. "The publisher of the game,
EA, has got paragraphs in their ToS that clearly infringe the German laws. EA enables themselves to have complete access to sensitive data.
This selling stop is not permanent but until the company changes its ToS in such a way that it does not interfere with the law."
By now, almost 4 000 people signed this petition. If they get 50 000 in 90 days, the politicians will talk about this in the Federal Council of Germany.

German Source // Translation won't work, sorry

I hope this thread is okay this way, I wanted to give you as much information as I can and worked like 1,5h on this and I can.
Germans should take a look at http://theorigin.de/ where you can find information on the matter.
Quote:
UPDATE:

Many more news sources picked up the topic in Germany.
Here are some of the headlines and where to find them:

Zeit Online: "Gamers feel monitored by Electronic Arts"
"The Platform Origin spies out users of EA games. The company changed their ToS, but not their policy. Privacy groups investigate."

German Source
// Google-Translated Source
("Die Zeit" is a wellknown German liberal weekly newspaper)

Focus.de: "Data kraken Origin: Gamers are in arms about Battlefield 3"

The online gaming and distribution platform Origin of the action video game "Battlefield 3" makes gamers to on the barricades."

German Source
// Google-Translated Source
("Focus" is a weekly news magazine similar to "Der Spiegel" who also presented an article online)

n-tv: "EA infuriates gamers: Battlefield 3 in espionage mode"
"The highly anticipated video game "Battlefield 3" comes under tremendous attack.. PC gamers are forced to install software that doesn't only scan the computer for pirated games, but also spies out personal information. Additionally, publisher Electronic Arts shoots themselves in the foot with the termins of use."

German Source // Google-Translated Source
(n-tv is a German tv channel with focus on news and information)
A TV appearance is also believed to air soon

The petition to stop selling Battlefield 3
..in Germany (as long as the ToS of Origin won't change and interfere with the law) reached over 7000 supporters!
Unbenannt.png

German Source

Amazon ratings went down even more
By now, over 2500 people gave Battlefield 3 a rating on Amazon. 95% gave it a bad score! The average is now as low as possible, 1 star!
Amazon continues to accept returns of used and opened copies, even with taken keys, as well.
Unbenannt.png


German Reviews // Google-Translated Source

Privacy groups had an eye on EA for some time already
The protest website theorigin.de claims that privacy groups had EA on their sights for some time and the controlling authority prepares a questionary for EA.

EA responded but another new EULA doesn't change critical parts at all.

The new EULA is shorter than the old version but keeps its critical paragraphs and the Origin client didn't update to change it's behaviour as well.
EA Germanys statement can be found here:
German Source // Google-Translated Source

The TV reports about Origin at prime time news: 20pm!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiONqSbn0zw
It's in German but maybe your interested anyways and can guess the meaning
Please feel free to discuss but don't let it go out of hand.
 
#8 ·
After scanning through most of the article and what was posted on the main page, I still fail at understanding what is going on. Can someone please break it down for me?
 
#9 ·
It should not be legal for a company to force you to accept a TOS that lets them scan your system and other files. I can understand if they want to analyze my DXdiag file or want to see what my specs are but intruding on my files like they did with the tax program is crossing the line.
 
#11 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by james_ant;15501842
It should not be legal for a company to force you to accept a TOS that lets them scan your system and other files. I can understand if they want to analyze my DXdiag file or want to see what my specs are but intruding on my files like they did with the tax program is crossing the line.
Well if what has been reported by these German sites is correct, it may violate US privacy laws. Just because something is in a contract, doesnt mean its legally enforceable or valid.
 
#13 ·
Germany over reacts to privacy like no other country. I call it Blurmany from the whole google street view fiasco.
 
#18 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Antiwelfare;15501825
After scanning through most of the article and what was posted on the main page, I still fail at understanding what is going on. Can someone please break it down for me?
People in Germany are mad about the Terms of Service of Origin EA is forcing on them with Battlefield 3. EA enables themselves to gather like all the information on the computer and process the data, possibly leading to massive privacy violation. I don't think I have to mention that it's not conform with the law. And German citizens are very serious about their privacy as you may know. That is whats going on in a very shortened form.
 
#19 ·
I like how the first image is of some tool burning his copy of BF3.

I hate EA, i hate Origin, and BF3 was overhyped. but jesus, if you want to make a point, don't buy the game and THEN burn it -- thats just ******ed. By buying it you've given them what they want, you may as well burn money instead, because thats what you're doing.

While they're at their "protesting" i suggest they also complain about the stupid need to have to use both Origin and a web browser to launch this damn game, which possibly relates with the intrusive Terms and Conditions in some way.

I always felt there was something suspicious about this silliness. Another red card was how allot of antiviruses were reporting Origin as malicious.
Quote:
Originally Posted by canoners;15501960
I hope EA changes this, it's pretty much killing the game...
I think alot of us knew Origin/EA would do this. It's what they do best.
 
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#21 ·
Overboard a bit?

But I hope they get the message through to EA to change their ToS on Origin
thumb.gif


Origin doesn't impress me so far. I've had to go to a separate EA site to add my games as digital to it when there is a similar system already in Origin for it but doesn't work.

Worst thing I have had is that I was missing some Punkbuster Files for Battlefield 3 and I got it to repair the install. It downloads a few files about 15mb and the latest update.
I try to install it and it loops back to the "ready to install" icon

I have to delete the whole BF3 Folder, restart origin, and then download the whole thing.

It kept missing files for one part in the story as well and I had to keep re-downloading.

Sure, it's faster and a bit more responsive than steam but not by much and steam gets the job done properly
tongue.gif


I, unlike some people think battlelog is a good thing though, I just like it
tongue.gif
(Although that's not the thing they're going against
smile.gif
)
 
#25 ·
So do I stop making purchases on online websites now that I have Origin and nothing else on my computer besides some needed programs (browser, afterburner, etc.). I though I was care-free having barely anything on my computer, but now that I read this article... I truly believe Origin should be removed, I just want BF3.

Sigh, way to cause paranoia.
 
#26 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by homestyle;15502084
Your web browser has more "info" on you than anything that can scan your computer.

Programs and items in your computer pale in comparison to what you do online in a web browser.

Your internet service provider has more "info" on you than Origin.
Sort of what I posted a post or two before you. Internet providers/phone providers/car insurance agency/home insurance agency have a lot more personal information on you than some stinking software that analyzes what you have on your computer. It's hilarious to know people out there are so worried about one and not the other, the latter being what should be an even bigger concern.
 
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