Joost Beta -- The devil is in the details.

Joost - Free online TV

For those who haven't heard Joost is this great new Internet TV service provided to you free of charge. They have an amazing lineup of programming and their software is currently in public beta. I was excited to try it out and I downloaded it and was all set to install it. However, I am one of those weird guys that actually reads EULAs and TOSs and all that kind of stuff. Let me save you the headaches and outline some scary stipulations before you actually decide to install this software.

2.1.1. Joost and the Joost Software will, and will permit third parties to, display advertising and other information within the interface of the Joost Software and/or in connection with the display of content and programming. Joost or the Joost Software serves, and permits third parties to serve, advertisements within or adjacent to the content and programming delivered to you by the Joost Software.

Not a big deal, much like anything free, it has to be supported somehow. I would expect a certain amount of advertising to be in the product or videos to support the infrastructure.

2.1.2. Joost and the Joost Software will, and will permit third parties to, make available software applications – that Joost calls “widgets” – to be used on or within the interface of the Joost Software. These widgets will work within or adjacent to the content and programming delivered to you by the Joost Software. You understand and agree that these widgets may gather certain information from you, as further described in the Joost Privacy Policy, or in the privacy policy applicable to the widget.

Translation -- "Hey, we're going to drop some spyware on your computer and call them widgets."

Also in section 2.1.2:
Joost assumes no responsibility for the content, functionality, services, privacy policies, or other practices of these third-party widgets. You are encouraged to read the terms and other policies published by applicable third parties on their websites or otherwise. By using the Joost Software, you agree that Joost will not be liable in any manner due to your use of, or inability to use, any third-party widget.

Translation -- "If these widgets steal your personal data, or break your PC, not really our fault."

2.1.3. The Joost Software will utilize the processor, bandwidth and hard drive (or other memory or storage hardware) and/or cache of your computer (or other applicable device) for the limited purpose of facilitating the communication between, and the transmittal of data, content, programming, services or features to, you and other Joost Software users, and to facilitate the operation of the network of computers running instances of the Joost Software.

Translation -- "You are going to let us make a zombie out of your computer and we'll do with it what we please."

This part is VERY interesting. You are basically donating your computer's resources to supporting the Joost infrastructure. I am not 100% sure how this works, but they may be using your computer as a relay device to cut their bandwidth costs. They also don't specify whether running instances means that the Joost client is actually up and running, or if there is a service that runs in the background to perform this nice little bit of work.

2.1.4. The Joost Software will take organizational and technical measures intended to protect the privacy and integrity of the computer resources (or other applicable device) you are utilizing, however, you acknowledge and agree that this is not a representation or warranty of Joost.

Translation -- "If you get hacked because of our software, not our fault."

There is more, but rather than copy and paste it all out, I will provide a brief summary. The above was enough to scare me and ensure that I will never install this software on my PC.

By using the software you are agreeing to:

• Force updates of the software without your acknowledgement
• Allow communication between Joost and unlisted third party servers
• Joost continues to operate unless you kill it
• Link to external sites through the client that Joost has no control over
• A huge blanket of an indemnity clause absolving Joost of any wrong doing even if they shoot your mother

So yeah, no thanks Joost. MSFT just launched the Internet TV beta over Vista Media Center edition. While not as content-rich as Joost, I prefer to not allow spyware or to have my machine used as a zombie for an unfamiliar network.