OK, we all have issues reading legalese, even my sister does sometimes and she's got a post-grad law degree. Lawyers, as we all know, cost a lot of money, and apparently it's not money well spent if most folks don't have their brains trying to escape through their ears while trying to get through it.
So, I'm going to pop corks in my ears to stop my brain escaping and do a task akin to trying to write an essay on a Chaucer book... I'm going to try and give a plain English version of the Terms of Service bits that are currently causing issues.
PLEASE NOTE: I am not a lawyer, I've never said I was... Well, maybe once in a bar to impress a curvy brunette but she pointed out Lawyers don't tend to drive a Suzuki Swift.
This is going from a mix of common sense, information told to me by Zynga and a couple years of soaking up what we should and shouldn't be doing in the game, often by people doing it and then getting told off.
This may be subject to change if Zynga see it and go "well, actually, that means..."
-Andy-
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Last updated September 30, 2011
1.1. Governing Agreement
This is a contract between you and Zynga/Facebook (They're the bit about "related services"). By Zynga they mean any company owned by Zynga including some at addresses you've never heard of and various subsidiaries like the Support Callcentres.You know... Zynga.
1.4. Grant of a Limited License to Use the Service
If you agree with the ToS, Zynga let you play the game.
If you buy any Facebook Credits or Horseshoes you don't actually own them, you just own the chance to use them for game items. Those items can't be traded for real money etc.
1.5. Accessing the Service
By playing the game you're agreeing to the ToS and the Security Policy. You have to have a valid Facebook account, be allowed to play a US based game and, if you're between 13 and 17 then your legal guardian has to have reviewed and agreed these terms.
It's up to you to own a computer to play the game on and a broadband connection to play the game over. That's your lookout and Zynga don't have to buy you one or pay for it.
1.6. Use of the Service
You're not allowed to do any of the following:
a. Play the game if you're under 13.
b. Allow the game to be played by under 13s. It's your fault if they play it and suddenly feel a desire to chop oak trees. If they buy Horseshoes or credits then it's not Zynga's fault.
c. You can't have more than one Facebook account, so no alter accounts. No signing up as accounts with a fake name or details.
d. Convicted sex offender? Sod off
e. Previously banned by Zynga? Naughty, naughty, not allowed back..
f. No playing of the game if you're in a country under an embargo of services from the US or if you're a Specially Designated National by the Treasury Department (I bet that's not as fancy as it sounds).
g. Don't use your Zynga game to make money.
h. Don't use the game to spam anyone or advertise anything you do that you get paid for.
i. Don't use the game for anything illegal.
j. Don't sell or give your account to anyone else, including any Horseshoes in it.
k. Don't use any account that's been sold or given to anyone else.
l. Follow Facebook's ToS.
1.9. License Limitations
If you do any of these things? You might get banned or blocked.
If you mess with the game it puts you on Zynga's naughty list and can even be against the law.
By playing the game you promise with hand on revered article of choice not to...
a. Do anything naughty that is messing with the game or makes something happen in the game that you can't normally do using a third party app/site such as ask for stuff, get stuff, collect stuff, make resources appear etc.
b. Don't lie to support to try and get them to say what you want them to say or get stuff you don't deserve. Also don't swear at them.
c. Don't play the game doing anything you know is against the rules.
CHEATY BITS - You promise not to...
d. Use naughty things. Cheating, exploiting the game, using anything that does anything automatically, using any 3rd party Facebook app or website that lets you add, remove, request, gift or collect anything in game.
e. Use the game code to design anything that does the above.
f. Change any of the files or code for the game.
g. Use anything automated that'll pound the server with an unreasonable amount of requests.
h. Spread a virus or attack the game... or do anything that makes it less fun for everyone else.
i. Try to hack into anyone else's account.
OFFENSIVE OR INFRINGING CONTENT - You also promise not to...
j. Say anything of an 'ist' variety, racist, sexist, ageist if it would get you a slap, don't say it.
k. Post anything involving exposed naughty bits of people, people hitting people (especially in the naughty bits) or anything you'd generally not show your Great Aunt Gertrude.
l. Be rude or an antisocial Arthur to any other player.
m. Post anything that busts anyone's copyright or pretend to be anyone, including Zynga employees. (I know, but I do know someone who pretended to be a Zynga employee to get women... Go figure).
COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY - You'll be naughty if you...
n., o, p - Do anything in or with the game you get paid for. Don't sell in game items and don't get paid to play someone's account. Don't use the game to spam, scam or spread malware.
UNAUTHORIZED USE OR CONNECTION TO THE SERVICE - You also won't...
q. Do anything in the game via a third party app or site that's not actually made by Zynga. You also can't use anything third party that "interferes" with the game.
r. Use any third party app or site that accesses the game or does anything with the info that's sent between the PC and the Zynga servers. You also can't do all manner of technical stuff involving RAM or the network data that flies from your PC.
s. Use any software that reads the chat between the PC and Zynga's servers.
t. Use something that does anything in the game automatically, collecting, gifting, even PLAYING your game (how sad are these people?) or anything that makes a ton of requests in a short time.
u. Use any bits of software that farm through the game automatically like little robots.
v. Use anything that pretends to be the game or connect to the game using any app, site or software Zynga haven't approved.
w. Try to get the actual game code to use any of it or nick any information from it.
x. Copy any Zynga stuff, steal any Zynga copyrights or host the game anywhere Zynga haven't allowed.
COLLECTION AND PUBLICATION OF PERSONAL INFORMATION - Yet again, you won't...
y. Use anything game related to get personal info from other players, email addresses etc.
z. Get hold of any personal info from another player and use it or post it in any way, so you can't use screengrabs of homesteads, usernames, user photos etc without their permission.
1.10. Suspension and Termination of Account and Service
Break any of the Terms of Service and Zynga can ban you. They don't have to warn you, don't have to keep backups of your account details, don't have to compensate you for any lost Horseshoes etc you paid real money for.
They can also ban for folks who keep breaking other folks copyrights and will go as far as to deny you the ability to come back with another account, even to the point of legal steps. Basically, if you're banned, you're banned for good.
It's possible, if you were very naughty, they can even get your Facebook account cancelled...
On the other hand, you can also cancel your own account, but again, Zynga don't have to compensate you for anything left.
It's time to get your town on the map and for that you need a Town Hall.
