[url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/18/tech/innovation/google-glass-resales/index.html?hpt=hp_t3]Google forbids users from reselling, loaning Glass eyewear[/url]
Now I can see (but not necessarily agree with) Google's position on this. The hardware is linked to a Google account, and so any information, location, visual data, etc. that it collects "needs" (at least from Google's perspective) to be associated with that particular account. So, they don't allow reselling, loaning, or sharing the specs.
But if that's the case, how can they say that they are selling, or that you are buying their glasses? To me, it sounds more like you are leasing, or are being loaned them for a fee. If they can tell a purchaser "you can't do ______" with this device, then whose device is it really?
I know there's precedent. For example, hacking a game console can void the warranty. But you can sell or trade it and it will still function. And if you do mod the console, and it voids the warranty, you still have the device and it works.
This sort of sounds like a car manufacturer saying that only the purchaser can drive the car.
Your thoughts?
IMO, they shouldn't say that they are selling them. They should say that they are a "hardware peripheral for a paid Google service" and that loaning, selling or violating the terms of the contract will result in the account/services being suspended. But they can't say that you are "purchasing" something and then somehow they retain ownership of it.
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Edited by Spawn: 4/19/2013 1:25:39 AMI'd imagine it wouldn't be long before someone figures out how to "jailbreak" through the software and you're able to install anything the way you want just like current smartphones are. Technically Google is claiming you're leasing them, but it's your property. But "jailbreaking" would void the warranty anyways. Has there been a limit said on how many you can purchase? Or I'm sure that they have to have some return policy if people don't enjoy them (like a trial period) and don't want them anymore.