很多人 过去都经历过这样的斗争，但我开始了解微软 垄断 的具体情况是一个多月前，当时我对东芝 Portege 2000 产生了兴趣。在通过 1-800-TOSHIBA 与销售代表定制笔记本电脑时，我询问是否可以在不安装操作系统的情况下购买该设备。这个问题似乎让销售员感到困惑，他需要将问题转交给主管。最终，我被告知我无法在没有预装 Microsoft 操作系统副本的情况下购买硬件，而且这个规定是不能商量的。在这一点上，我意识到在某种程度上，我作为消费者的权利受到了侵犯。我知道在继续讨论之前，我需要退一步并自我教育。以下是我发现的

在花费几天时间研究其他人 类似情况 以及与这些 OEM 厂商打交道后，我清楚地知道我无法在没有捆绑操作系统的情况下订购硬件。如果我想获得公正，我必须行使 EULA 中定义的权利。我再次拨打 1-800-TOSHIBA 订购我的新 Portege 2000。因为我想行使 Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional EULA 定义的权利，所以我向销售代表确认，这个操作系统将在我确认购买之前预装在系统上。此外，为了积极主动，我通知了办公室的主管，我将寻求此退款。

笔记本电脑在八月的第一个星期内的某个时间送达。在特别注意将捆绑的软件介质（和相关文档）留在其原始包装中后，我插入了笔记本电脑，连接了 USB 软盘驱动器，插入了软盘并执行了 Red Hat Linux 7.3 的网络安装。

以下是我与 Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. (TAIS) 的 John Smithson 进行的电子邮件线程的历史记录（为了可读性稍作清理）

Subject: re: License To: akosmin@nyp.org From:
CSD.Customer.Service@tais.toshiba.com Date: Tue, 20 Aug 2002 09:15:59
-0700
Adam ,
please send me your complaint.
Thank you,
John Smithson 800-272-0569x4034
Date: Tue, 20 Aug 2002 12:55:00 -0400 From: "Adam Kosmin"
<adk9001@nyp.org> To: Adam Kosmin <adk9001@nyp.org>
        , CSD.Customer.Service@tais.toshiba.com
CC: akosmin@nyp.org Subject: Re: License (Correct Version)
John,
        I sent the wrong license. Here's the correct attachment and
        snippet
from Windows 2000 Professional.
***********************************************************************
YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS OF THIS EULA BY
INSTALLING, COPYING, OR OTHERWISE USING THE PRODUCT. IF
YOU DO NOT AGREE, DO NOT INSTALL OR USE THE PRODUCT; YOU
MAY RETURN IT TO YOUR PLACE OF PURCHASE FOR A FULL REFUND.
***********************************************************************
Please note, that upon receiving the laptop, I inserted a Linux boot disk
and formatted the contents of the hard drive. This means that I never
accepted the terms of any End User License Agreement (EULA) that would
have been presented. I did not install, copy, download, access, or
use the software and therefore, am requesting a full refund as well
as instructions (if any) on how to return the unused product. Also,
please note that when I say "product", I am not speaking of the laptop
but rather the software as defined in the EULA.
Thanks, Adam Kosmin
Content-Disposition: inline;
 filename="EULA.TXT"
Subject: re: License To: akosmin@nyp.org From:
CSD.Customer.Service@tais.toshiba.com Date: Mon, 26 Aug 2002 13:22:06
-0700
Adam Kosmin,
I have received the following regarding your complaint.  Please consider
this as an answer to your question.
"The Master EULA (C1192-4) is a standard item on all BOMs, shipping with
all units. It is part of the documentation set inside the pizza box,
which means it is shrink-wrapped along with the Resource Guide, Warranty
booklet, etc.  However, now that we moved away from the pizza box to a
"pouch", it is may or may not be in a separately shrink wrapped package
inside the pouch.
It is a single half sheet of paper, printed on one side. The language
referred to is in capital letters in the 1st paragraph from the Master
EULA copied below for your convenience.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the separate terms provided
by the Software supplier, TAIS does not accept the return of component
parts, or bundled Software, which have been removed from the TAIS
hardware product.  Pro-rata refunds on individual PC components, or
bundled Software, including the operating system, will not be granted."
Thank you for your inquiry,
Sincerely,
John Smithson
Case Manager
Customer Relations
800-272-0569 x 4034
Date: Mon, 26 Aug 2002 16:33:36 -0400 From: "Adam Kosmin"
<adk9001@nyp.org> To: CSD.Customer.Service@tais.toshiba.com Cc:
akosmin@nyp.org Subject: Re: License X-Mailer: Sylpheed version 0.8.1claws
(GTK+ 1.2.10; i386-redhat-linux)
John,
        This is totally unacceptable. If I do not receive instructions
        on how to collect the reimbursement for my unused software by
        the end of the week, I will start filing my complaints with the
        Federal Trade Commission.
Please note that my complaints will target Toshiba since the license
clearly defines the manufacturer as being the party who is responsible
to provide this refund. It is clear to me that you have not actually
read the EULA and you have just forwarded me a generic response from
your Microsoft contact. Again, I must remind you that your company is
violating the terms of this license. I will not accept this reply.
Adam Kosmin
Date: Mon, 26 Aug 2002 16:53:21 -0400 From: "Adam Kosmin"
<adk9001@nyp.org> To: CSD.Customer.Service@tais.toshiba.com Cc:
akosmin@nyp.org Subject: Re: License
John,
        In your last email, you pointed out the Master End User License
        Agreement. I have found the copy of the agreement in my "pizza
        box" and offer the following observations...
*** taken from the MEULA *******
IMPORTANT: Use of any software or any related documentation (collectively,
"software") preinstalled on, or shipped with a TAIS hardware product
or otherwise made available to you by TAIS in whatever form or media,
will constitute your acceptance of these terms.
********************************
Well, looks like I was able to avoid that trap since (as explained
earlier) I haven't used any software or any related documentation. My
legal foothold just keeps getting stronger and stronger with every
rebuttal that Toshiba offers. The bottom line here is simply that Toshiba
cannot bind me to terms that I did not agree to. As stated earlier, I am
giving Toshiba until the end of the week to provide me with instructions
on how to collect the refund I am entitled to. If I do not receive an
appropriate response by that time, I will file my complaint with the
Federal Trade Commission and take this to a lawyer.
Best, Adam Kosmin
Subject: Toshiba License Agreement To: adk9001@nyp.org From:
CSD.Customer.Service@tais.toshiba.com Date: Thu, 29 Aug 2002 10:59:33
-0700
Dear Adam,
I have relayed your message to the Legal Dept.  They have replied below.
The user has two chances to return the system. [The user accepts the
license when]
1.    The user first sees a shrink wrap label on the computer baggie,
reads about Toshiba's policy regarding no pro-rata returns, ignores the
written policy, and tears off the shrink wrap label.
On the plastic baggie that contains the notebook there is a shrink wrap
label that reads substantially as follows:
Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. (TAIS) currently sells personal
computers with a Microsoft Windows operating system pre-installed, based
on general customer demand.  In order to maintain the highest quality
standards under the Toshiba brand name, TAIS is committed to delivering
computing solutions to the customer as a total PC system.
TAIS does not accept the return of component parts, or bundled software,
which have been removed from the PC system.  Pro-rata refunds on
individual PC components or bundled software, including the operating
system, will not be granted.
If you wish to return a complete PC system, contact the TAIS dealer where
you purchased the product, and comply with the dealer's standard return
policies and procedures.
Sincerely,
John Smithson Case Manager Customer Relations 800-272-0569x4034

这是 John Smithson 和我之间的最后一次电子邮件交流。在 2002 年 9 月 3 日星期二，我打电话给他并解释说我对东芝的立场不满意。他回答说：“法庭上见”。

在同一天向联邦贸易委员会提起申诉的同时，我还指控东芝公司故意拒绝我退还我未开封和未使用的 Windows 2000 Professional 副本的权利。此外，我指控东芝试图通过使用附加许可证来强迫我接受不需要的产品，这些许可证对我的接受做出了广泛的假设，但事实上，我从未有意识地努力放弃我关于此退款的权利。虽然我不是律师，但我的直觉告诉我，东芝的“小贴纸”和 MEULA 违反了 UCC 第 2 条，其中规定

我的理解是，双方都需要知道他们正在签订合同，以便最终有任何价值。东芝的 MEULA 没有向用户披露进入任何此类协议的机会。相反，它错误地将用户所做的完全无关（但可预测）的行动解释为接受可能从未审查过的要约。

最后，我对社区有几个问题

1. 有没有人真正让退款计划生效？我很想听听您的经历，我保证（经您许可）发布它们，以便其他人可以受益并获得更多见解。

2. 是否有任何法学院学生想要探索这种情况，进行研究项目或学校作业并发布他们的结果？如果创造了足够的动力并赢得了集体诉讼，从而一劳永逸地消除了这种侵犯消费者权利的行为，我只能想象法学院的学费会显得多么便宜。