Defiant members and visitors to defianttheatre.org know that we are an Amazon.com affiliate. You can use our links to purchase items at Amazon.com, and Defiant Theatre gets a percentage of the purchase. It doesn't cost you any more, and you still get what you want.

Well, not so fast. An article in the New York Times today is reporting that a number of file-sharing programs, like Kazaa and Limewire, contain software that will actually divert those commissions to themselves, in effect stealing commissions from organizations like Defiant.

I guess it seems appropriate for an application that facilitates stealing music and software to do a little stealing of its own. But it also points out how software companies are taking advantage of users who don't read the EULA.

"Arlo, what's an EULA?" End User License Agreement, that long document of legalese that appears when you install a piece of software. Usually, you just click "I agree" and get on with it. And software companies know that you don't read it.

For example, if you install the latest version of Windows Media Player, Windows 2000 Service Pack 3, or Windows XP Service Pack 1, you are giving Microsoft permission to hack your computer. No lie. Microsoft even included similar language in a security patch, which you have to install lest your machine remain vulnerable to attack. How ironic.

All I'm saying is be careful. Know what you are installing on your computer. When you install software that is, well, dubious, like Kazaa or Limewire, read the EULA and know what you are installing. And for God's sake, buy a Mac. What do you think my savings account is for? My student loans? HA!