Intel backpedals on microcode EULA and allows benchmarks again

[AlTech]

Intel is backpedaling on their policy regarding sharing benchmark results and running benchmarks with the EULA included in their most recent microcode update.

 

Intel has updated their EULA to allow Benchmarking and sharing benchmark results..

 

Quote

Intel has provided GamersNexus with a statement that addresses concerns pertaining to a new “benchmarking clause.” This comes after Bruce Perens published a story entitled “Intel Publishes Microcode Security Patches, No Benchmarking Or Comparison Allowed!” As one might expect, the story has exploded online since this publication.

The crux of the issue comes down to Intel’s Spectre and Meltdown microcode updates, which aim to mitigate vulnerabilities and attack vectors that were exposed for nearly all CPUs (since the 90s) late last year. GamersNexus previously worked to interview some of the expert researchers who discovered Meltdown and Spectre, all published in this article. We’d recommend the read for anyone not up-to-date on the attack vectors.

 

Quote

GamersNexus reached-out to Intel for comment. The company noted that more updates will be available later, but immediately noted that the licensing agreement is being updated to reflect concerns from the community. Intel’s statement reads: “We are updating the license now to address this and will have a new version available soon. As an active member of the open source community, we continue to welcome all feedback.”

 

If nobody had reacted badly towards this, I'm sure Intel would have been fine keeping it this way.  But Intel seeing how angry people got, myself included, probably led them to believe it wasn't worth it and thus re-allowed benchmarking in their microcode license.The fact that Microcode updates contain EULAS show us that we're in a really bad time in terms of privacy and how little companies care about our rights.

 

Anyhow, I'm glad Intel backpedaled on this.

 

Source:

https://www.gamersnexus.net/industry/3357-intel-statement-on-benchmark-clause

[Techstorm970]

Intel: "Fuck you!  Oh, wait, nevermind..."

 

Look, I understand you guys lost your chairman or CEO or whatever, but all of this demonstrates complete fucking incompetence.

 

There's a reason why my profile pic is what you see.

[Bigbootyjudy]

I don't even know how they thought that would just pass right by all the consumers. To this, I say HECK YA BROTHEEEER

[CTR640]

Well, Intel simply can f*ck off. It's not the first time they commit shit. Their shitty shareholders/investors got afraid because of the backlash they received, which leaves them no choice but backpedaling.

[HarryNyquist]

Betcha a dollar they try this again in a year or so.

[PlayStation 2]

Intel already buried themselves in this, backtracking really won't do much for them.

[ARikozuM]

Consumer rights under fire.

 

Why would you not allow benchmarks to be run on your products? Consumers deserve to have the most information available to them before making a purchase. 

[Brooksie359]

36 minutes ago, ARikozuM said:

Consumer rights under fire.

 

Why would you not allow benchmarks to be run on your products? Consumers deserve to have the most information available to them before making a purchase. 

The biggest issue is that if you can't test the cpus then you can't tell if you are getting the product that was advertised. False advertising is a pretty big deal so trying to stop people from obtaining information necessary to determine if the product is as advertised is a big issue as well. 

[Delicieuxz]

Just for clarification, Intel didn't actually "allow" benchmarks again, coz what people do with their own property (such as run benchmarks with it) was never up to Intel to begin with. Intel merely ceased pretending that they had any capability to control whether people benchmarked or not. Intel likely did that because (aside from the negative PR it was causing for Intel) riding their EULA controversy out to the end would have dealt a major blow to the artificial perception that EULAs carry any significant weight, or that they can impose dictations over what people can do with their property (they can't).

 

 

[Stefan Payne]

23 hours ago, AluminiumTech said:

Intel is backpedaling on their policy regarding sharing benchmark results and running benchmarks with the EULA included in their most recent microcode update.

...after Debian said: We ain't doin this shit...

 

That's a very important piece of information, that one of the biggest Linux Distribution provider said no before Intel did change it.