Google forbids resale or loan of Google Glasses

Friday, 19 April 2013 17:35

Posted by Yusra Husain

KARACHI: Google’s terms of service for its highly-awaited technological eyewear prohibit prospective buyers from reselling or loaning the gadget.

The rulebook states: “you may not resell, loan, transfer, or give your device to any other person. If you resell, loan, transfer, or give your device to any other person without Google’s authorization, Google reserves the right to deactivate the device, and neither you nor the unauthorized person using the device will be entitled to any refund, product support, or product warranty.”

However; if you are one of the lucky few who have received confirmation for your order of Google Glass, then you “may give the device as a gift” although the same terms and conditions apply to recipients of Glass as a gift.

This means you cannot be completely in control of the product even once you own it. Anonymous for the sake of privacy, a person who had received a Twitter post from Google confirming his order for the eyewear felt that since Google Glass was so exclusive, he could resell it for a much higher price on eBay. But the man has now ended his bid and hopes he is still going to get the device.

This is not the first time a technology company has fiercely guarded its right to control its stream of commerce. In 2010, there was a similar case registered in the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals regarding Autodesk, the multinational software company that is among the leaders in 3D design. A California man reportedly wanted to resell his Autodesk software on eBay, but the lawsuit ended in favor of Autodesk. Sources explain that the company was backed by the Motion Picture Association of America and by The Software & Information Industry Association, which comprises of Google, Adobe, Oracle and McAfee among others.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2013