Terms of Service Explained

October 15, 2012 · by Anna Rohleder

When you install an app, play a game, or sign up for a new account online, there's a set of conditions you agree to first known as "terms of service." These are rules that typically describe how your money or data is collected and what you can expect in return.

Because terms of service are essentially legal documents, they're not the easiest - or shortest - documents to read (but that doesn't mean you shouldn't!)

Now there's an extension in Opera that helps you understand the terms you're agreeing to. Called Terms of Service; Didn't Read, this add-on to our desktop browser provides a simple summary of any given website's terms and privacy policies, along with a rating from A to E. Here's what it looks like for the search engine DuckDuckGo:

Try it on some of the websites you use most often, and be a more informed browser.

Readers' comments 10

Left under the original article, as archived.

praetor87Monday, October 15, 2012 2:36:23 PM
So it's like WOT?
HurrMonday, October 15, 2012 4:16:52 PM
It almost goes without saying that a blogpost promoting best practice and goodwill towards consumers means Opera should create (and possibly maintain) a good TOS;DR of their own TOS
QuHnoMonday, October 15, 2012 6:09:55 PM
Originally posted by praetor87:

So it's like WOT?

No, it isn't.

I would never accept terms of service I haven't read completely or that I don't understand because they are too convoluted and leave too many holes for the service provider.

I would not trust the expertise of any person that is not my personal lawyer to say that it is harmless what I sign because in the end I sign the contract and it is between the service provider and me. Nobody can take the responsibility away from me.

I personally would use this extension just for cross checks if I have missed something or as a hint at what to look especially in the TOS. I would not rely on Class A or B ratings - but C to E ratings only (don't touch it if it gets a C-E)

TOS;DR can be expensive sometimes

PS: Legal advice (and this extension gives some kind of legal advice) by any unqualified person (i.e. not a registered lawyer, judge or an attorney) is forbidden in my country ...
KarenMonday, October 15, 2012 8:12:38 PM
NO BOOBS?!
pieta2Monday, October 15, 2012 10:33:23 PM
it says 404 not found!! fix these things ,were paying for a browser who`s mail is inactive.
Kr0pr0XTuesday, October 16, 2012 4:52:27 AM
why creating a whole extension for that, ppl can't read anymore???
Andrei Daniel TicleanTuesday, October 16, 2012 7:45:28 AM
Very happy to see good extensions made available for Opera users! Finally getting more recognition.
Quiz ContestFriday, October 19, 2012 5:56:22 AM
I am accept rule opera terms of service . Best luck my opera.
ErikSaturday, October 20, 2012 4:04:00 AM
amazed... great idea, fresh app, so useful, just new but hope it will improve, very needed tool for these days very intrusive corps... thank you

jeje

http://xkcd.com/501/
Paulo capeia baltazarSaturday, November 10, 2012 1:41:50 PM
yes