Online Agreements: Do You Read Them?

Internet users are familiar with the 'terms and conditions' clause that appears in the agreement contract prior to making online purchases.

An article carried today (4/15/10) on foxnews.com was entitled: 7,500 Online Shoppers Unknowingly Sold Their Souls.

It states that a British firm, GameStation, has revealed that earlier this month it added an 'immortal soul clause' to the contract signed by people making any online purchases with their firm on April 1, 2010.

The article revealed that this clause stated, in part: "By placing an order via this website the first day of the fourth month of the year 2010 Anno Domini, you agree to grant Us a non transferable option to claim, for now and for ever more, your immortal soul. Should We wish to exercise this option, you agree to surrender your immortal soul, and any claim you may have on it, within 5 (five) working days of receiving written notification from gamesation.co.uk or one of its duly authorised minions."

Further details in the article revealed that this was an April Fools' Day hoax, and also provided this information: 'The company noted that it would not be enforcing the ownership rights, and planned to e-mail customers nullifying any claim on their soul.'

Reading an agreement

In this instance apparently 7,500 shoppers did not read the agreement that they entered into on 4/01/10. But is this unusual?

The expectation that most internet users probably have is that terms and conditions in such online agreements are fairly standard. The idea that an 'immortal soul clause' would be inserted would most likely not even occur to people making agreements for purchases.

Questions arise from this hoax

Is it safe for purchasers to bypass reading online agreements before making purchases?

If this company inserted this language, couldn't other companies insert anything that they want to have in the wording of their agreements?

How legally enforceable are these agreements?

How will users of GameStation feel about making purchases with them in the future?

If someone has signed such an agreement, even if notice is received that it is nullified, will there be on-going concern on that person's part about having agreed to sell their immortal soul, whether because of a hoax or not?

In conclusion

GameStation took it upon itself to perpetrate a hoax by inserting into the agreement what Christians view as a force not to be toyed with. Although perhaps done in part to alert people about the need to read before providing agreement, the methodology applied may have many of those 7,500 individuals feeling not only betrayed but also possibly very queasy about the agreement to sell their immortal soul that they unknowingly made.

For more articles by this writer, click here.

Sources:
http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/04/15/online-shoppers-unknowingly-sold-souls/