Microsoft offers $5 windfall for errant software
Afraid Microsoft's anti-spyware will muck up your hard drive, erasing your digital photos, music collection and work files?
Don't worry, you've got a $5 rebate coming your way in this worst-case scenario--enough to buy five songs on iTunes. That is, if you read and take advantage of Microsoft's legal promise.
According to the AntiSpyware Beta end-user license agreement (EULA), Microsoft will reimburse direct damages up to $5 for problems associated with the new downloadable tool that wards off spyware, adware and any other "potentially unwanted software."
"It also applies even if Microsoft knew or should have known about the possibility of the damages," states the agreement, in all capital letters.
Most people's eyes glaze over when it comes time to read a software license agreement and simply click "yes" to authorize a new program to install. There are undoubtedly necessary tidbits of knowledge contained in the lines of legalese, such as whether one's privacy will be sacrificed in the name of annoying advertising. Still, most people skip to the end.
