Ever since I read about the taser tests on pigs, I've been hoping this company would receive its just desserts.

First of all, Aiwanei, until Tim clicks the "I accept" button, the license doesn't apply. In this case, it looks like he hasn't even opened the box yet.

Second, even if Tim did accept the license, there has to be a condition in it that Tim violated before Rockstar can, as you put it, "rescind" it. And I would be really surprised if the Rockstar lawyer was omniscient enough to put in a provision that said "if you accidentally buy this before the release date, you have to give it back."

Finally, your misguided opinion that a company can terminate a license at any time for any reason is exactly what newgalactic is talking about. This is incorrect. What do you think you are paying for when you buy software? In order for the software vendor to terminate, you have to breach a condition of the license. The vendor cannot just terminate on a whim.

Oh great. I just bought a MacBook on Friday at the Leopard launch.

Is there any value to getting 10.5 preinstalled vs. a drop-in? I know from experience that an upgraded windows never runs as well as a factory fresh install. Not sure if it's the same with macs.

Thanks, Nilay, very helpful. That clears up the biggest issue that was nagging me. But I have one additional (admittedly even more academic) issue -- what about moral rights for non-US jurisdications? That is, artists who allege that the particular portion of a song used as a ringtone, or the fact that it is used as a ringtone in the first place, is somehow a misuse of that artist's work...

Nilay, a quick question -- does the playing of ringtones in public constitute a public performance under the Copyright Act?

You said "I know that there are times when a person can't drink or can't drink that often, such as when they have certain diseases or diabetes or something, but I think a world without alcohol is a sad world." I assume by "something" you meant the world's second largest religion. (For the record, I'm not muslim, just pointing out a fact.)

Yeah, cat food may be healthier than a Whopper but have you tasted it recently? I can think of lots of things that are healthier than a Whopper but taste like ass. If only I could get someone to pay me to do a study to prove that...