Bonzi Class Action Suit Settled: No Foolin'!

Bonzi Class Action Suit Settled: No Foolin'! 376

Posted by timothy on Wednesday May 28, 2003 @01:57PM from the not-even-a-slap-on-the-wrist dept.

An anonymous reader writes "According to this article in the Toronto Star, a class action suit against Bonzi Software has reached a settlement. Bonzi will not pay damages but will be required to stop using fake user interface (FUI) style error messages to trick users into clicking on their banners. This is a big win for the community as it will help to improve the Internet's ailing perceived user experience. Most of you have seen Bonzi's banners, and probably most of you won't admit to having been fooled by them at some point. Well, imagine how many novice computer users were tricked into installing again, or paying for software they really did not need. Congratulations and thanks to Lukins & Annis for a job well done. Interestingly, bonzi.com has been returning connection refused all day. This is usually one of the net's busiest sites."

Bonzi Class Action Suit Settled: No Foolin'!

This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.

Search 376 Comments Log In/Create an Account

Comments Filter:

Ah... (Score:5, Funny)

by Obiwan Kenobi ( 32807 ) * writes: <evan@misterFORTR ... m minus language> on Wednesday May 28, 2003 @01:59PM (#6058997) Homepage

Interestingly, bonzi.com has been returning connection refused all day. This is usually one of the net's busiest sites.

Ah...a little thing called justice.

Good job! (Score:4, Funny)

by aeinome ( 672135 ) writes: on Wednesday May 28, 2003 @02:01PM (#6059010) Journal

I agree, m4d props to L&A for showing them up. I've never actually clicked on one of them (I swear) but my friend, who uses the same computer, does so numerously. I pretty much have to uninstall Gator and such on a daily basis.

Ya, I was fooled... (Score:5, Funny)

by oscast ( 653817 ) writes: on Wednesday May 28, 2003 @02:01PM (#6059013) Homepage

I thought my OS X aqua icons turned into these nasty, square-shaped, clunky, windows-esch styled buttons.

Cavaliers (Score:5, Funny)

by Jack Comics ( 631233 ) * writes: <{gro.sxtsop} {ta} {scimoc_kcaj}> on Wednesday May 28, 2003 @02:03PM (#6059035) Homepage

Bonzi doesn't have to pay any money? I guess Perfect Tommy and the rest of the Hong Kong Cavaliers managed to save the day after all!

Bad joke, I know but it had to be said, err... written. :)

Your Computer is Being Controlled by a Moron (Score:4, Funny)

by dbravender ( 576338 ) writes: on Wednesday May 28, 2003 @02:04PM (#6059050)

Your operating system sucks. Click here to install Linux now! [Ok]

SYSTEM WARNING! (Score:0, Funny)

by stratjakt ( 596332 ) writes: on Wednesday May 28, 2003 @02:06PM (#6059070) Journal

Your PC is in need of maitainance.

Click here [slashdot.org] to get the latest upgrade for your system.

Comment removed (Score:5, Funny)

by account_deleted ( 4530225 ) writes: on Wednesday May 28, 2003 @02:06PM (#6059077)

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Fooled? (Score:0, Funny)

by tomhudson ( 43916 ) writes: <barbara.hudson@b ... m ['son' in gap]> on Wednesday May 28, 2003 @02:06PM (#6059079) Journal

The only people fooled were Windows users (not surprisingly).
Just like the idiots who get worried when they see the "your computer is broadcasting it's IP address" messages.
Even when I was occasionally using a WinBloze box I wasn't taken in, as I'm sure most tech-savvy users weren't. The people who fall for this tactic are the same ones who keep forwarding email warnings about anti-perspirants causing cancer, etc.

Re:my dad used it... (Score:3, Funny)

by Theaetetus ( 590071 ) writes: <theaetetus@slashdot.gmail@com> on Wednesday May 28, 2003 @02:07PM (#6059091) Homepage Journal

My dad used to use bonzi before I explained what a fool he was for installing spy ware. He like the bonzi-buddy (the little Microsoft Agent Charater) because he could make it talk and it would sing to him.
Maybe you should trade your dad's computer for a parrot. ;)
-T

Re:SYSTEM WARNING! (Score:4, Funny)

by Jack Comics ( 631233 ) * writes: <{gro.sxtsop} {ta} {scimoc_kcaj}> on Wednesday May 28, 2003 @02:09PM (#6059112) Homepage

... Your system apparently is also in need of a decent spellchecker. Please go here [wordperfect.com] for more information.

Nothing (Score:3, Funny)

by unicron ( 20286 ) writes: <{ten.tencht} {ta} {norcinu}> on Wednesday May 28, 2003 @02:10PM (#6059117) Homepage

Will EVER beat the Window Messaging Service pop-up I got selling a program that blocks Windows Messaging Service. They never responded to my emails as to whether or not they offered "change your windows background" or "how to change your boot-up wav" software.

Shoot! (Score:1, Funny)

by GundyRage ( 611514 ) writes: on Wednesday May 28, 2003 @02:10PM (#6059125)

Now I'll never be able to optimize my dial-up connection!

Bubba Asks (Score:3, Funny)

by Arbogast_II ( 583768 ) writes: on Wednesday May 28, 2003 @02:11PM (#6059133) Homepage

What in tarnations are yall talkin about. I use Mozilla everyday, I never seen one of these Bonzi Gorilla Men!!!! What is the big hullabaloo about:)

How do ads like these work? (Score:4, Funny)

by Schezar ( 249629 ) writes: on Wednesday May 28, 2003 @02:13PM (#6059156) Homepage Journal

Not just Bonzai, but all of those ads that try to 'trick' users into clicking through: fake 'X' buttons, bogus radio buttons, etc...

How many people, once fooled into the company's web site, decide "Hey, I'm already here. Why not give them my credit card number for some useless piece of shit I don't need."

?

I'm serious. Has there ever been a study on this sort of thing?

Re:Your Computer is Being Controlled by a Moron (Score:1, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward writes: on Wednesday May 28, 2003 @02:16PM (#6059193)

d0nt 1n5t4LL d4 lunex 0r j3ff-k w1LL h4x0R y0uR b0x!!!!!! 17 h4pp3n3d t0 4 fr3ind!!! LOL on AOL!!

Geek version.... (Score:5, Funny)

by bobm17ch ( 643515 ) writes: on Wednesday May 28, 2003 @02:16PM (#6059197)

WARNING Linux user! You have some Micro$oft webpages in your browser's cache! We can help you remove them safely!

Open up a shell and type: apt-get install hitthemonkey

K THX!

Gimme a 'P'! (Score:4, Funny)

by Col. Panic ( 90528 ) writes: on Wednesday May 28, 2003 @02:18PM (#6059231) Homepage Journal

gimme an 'R'!
gimme an 'E'!
gimme a 'C'!
gimme another 'E'!
gimme a 'D'!
gimme yet another 'E'!
gimme an 'N'!
gimme a 'T'!
What's that spell?

PRECEDENT!

Re:Good job! New Friend (Score:5, Funny)

by Nom du Keyboard ( 633989 ) writes: on Wednesday May 28, 2003 @02:20PM (#6059248)

I've never actually clicked on one of them (I swear) but my friend, who uses the same computer, does so numerously.
Now there's a definition of "friend" of which I was previous unacquainted with.

Re:Cavaliers (Score:5, Funny)

by iamsure ( 66666 ) writes: on Wednesday May 28, 2003 @02:21PM (#6059255) Homepage

"Because bonzi doesnt have to pay any money?"

Of course not - they hit the monkey, and won the cash!

Re:Ah... (Score:5, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward writes: on Wednesday May 28, 2003 @02:24PM (#6059300)

"Your computer is 'broadcasting' an IP address"
Quick! Install the latest WinXP security patch!

MS Office Paperclip (Score:2, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward writes: on Wednesday May 28, 2003 @02:27PM (#6059326)

Now we just need a suit against Microsoft for that annoying Office Paperclip... I'll get you paperclip! You may have won the battle, but the war is not over! You're dead paperclip! DEAD!

Re:Bonzi buddy! (Score:5, Funny)

by malia8888 ( 646496 ) writes: on Wednesday May 28, 2003 @02:30PM (#6059353)

just as their system grinds to a halt with a big purple ape [bonzi.com] on the screen jumping out at you,
The true victim in this lawsuit is the purple ape. He has been neutered and sent to a zoo;)

Re:style sheets to block annoying ads (Score:5, Funny)

by jdreed1024 ( 443938 ) writes: on Wednesday May 28, 2003 @02:31PM (#6059369)

nope -- I don't see any of them anymore thanks to the userContent.css style sheet.
Well, that's all well and good, but your computer is broadcasting an IP address which can be used by hackers, and now you can't even be warned of this fact. Thanks to Bonzi, I found out about this years ago, and my net experience has been much safer since I installed their software. *phew*

Re:Bonzi buddy! (Score:5, Funny)

by Schezar ( 249629 ) writes: on Wednesday May 28, 2003 @02:31PM (#6059371) Homepage Journal

Oh gods.

People at my (former) office would huddle around the monitor and watch the little bastard perform. Never believed me when I told them what it was, and yet constantly complained that their PCs were too slow.

Of course, now I work for IBM (work.. Yet I'm somehow posting on /. at 2:30pm), and I've no doubt that if anyone were caught with Bonzi installed on their machine, they would be laughed out of the department.

Re:Ah... (Score:5, Funny)

by Frater 219 ( 1455 ) writes: on Wednesday May 28, 2003 @02:36PM (#6059415) Journal

Haha.. that ad was always the funniest thing to me. "Your computer is 'broadcasting' an IP address".

The first time I saw that, I was reminded of a schoolyard taunt: "Your epidermis is showing!"
(To make this funny, you have to consider that not every kid knew what his epidermis was, and that it wasn't dirty for [parts of] it to be showing ...)

I like this one: (Score:4, Funny)

by butane_bob2003 ( 632007 ) writes: on Wednesday May 28, 2003 @02:37PM (#6059440) Homepage

Your computer is transmitting an IP address!

Helpful warning, kind of one the same lines as:

Your epidermis is showing!

Re:Ah... (Score:5, Funny)

by canajin56 ( 660655 ) writes: on Wednesday May 28, 2003 @02:41PM (#6059469)

Another good one is to say "Your computer is insecure. Any website you browse can access your files." and then right below it, put a frame with a url of something like "file:///%userprofile%/My%20Documents" or "file:///~" or whatever, depending on the OS and browser reported.

KeWl (Score:4, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward writes: on Wednesday May 28, 2003 @02:44PM (#6059495)

so any word on when I get my money for shocking that bouncing monkey thing!

Re:Bonzi buddy! (Score:5, Funny)

by TopShelf ( 92521 ) writes: on Wednesday May 28, 2003 @02:48PM (#6059531) Homepage Journal

If there was any justice, it would be the developers who got neutered...

Re:wow, how is this good? (Score:4, Funny)

by linuxChique ( 570415 ) writes: on Wednesday May 28, 2003 @02:49PM (#6059538) Homepage Journal

Who wants to volunteer to write one of those FUI ads to install Linux on all those poor fools' Windoze machines?

Re:wow, how is this good? (Score:3, Funny)

by ect0plasm ( 462564 ) writes: <nedzNO@SPAMmail.com> on Wednesday May 28, 2003 @02:49PM (#6059539) Homepage

karma whore! *pointsfinger* (Score:-1 Troll)

My Imagination? (Score:5, Funny)

by ShwAsasin ( 120187 ) writes: on Wednesday May 28, 2003 @03:00PM (#6059638) Journal

I'm happy those bogus errors will finally be put to an end, atleast from Bonzi. I'm rather disturbed that the firm that won this lawsuit is called Annis. Am I to believe that all lawyers are assholes, or just in that one practice?

Re:Big win? (Score:5, Funny)

by notque ( 636838 ) writes: on Wednesday May 28, 2003 @03:04PM (#6059678) Homepage Journal

A big win? What are you smoking? Bonzai duped countless users for years and completely got away with it. They didn't have to pay anything. A big win would be if they got slapped with such a huge fine.

No, A big win would be if they got slapped with a large trout.

yep... (Score:5, Funny)

by maxpublic ( 450413 ) writes: on Wednesday May 28, 2003 @03:11PM (#6059744) Homepage

...it's good to see the monkey being spanked.

Max

Re:Nothing (Score:4, Funny)

by Kintanon ( 65528 ) writes: on Wednesday May 28, 2003 @03:14PM (#6059780) Homepage Journal

Heh, I got one of those a couple of weeks after I stuck my win2k box back on the net. I laughed for about 20 minutes, then I turned of windows messaging service and went about my business. I couldn't believe the guy wanted 20$ for that.

Kintanon

Re:Yum. (Score:3, Funny)

by ryanvm ( 247662 ) writes: on Wednesday May 28, 2003 @03:22PM (#6059894)

How much fun is it to be in the middle of a big data entry project, in the 'zone' and you get disturbed by a gigantic monkey with no 'off' button that wants to eat/nap/take your money?

Oh, so you've met my brother-in-law then?

Re:Bonzi buddy! (Score:3, Funny)

by dogfart ( 601976 ) writes: on Wednesday May 28, 2003 @03:26PM (#6059941) Homepage Journal

But that would just make them more dedicated coders. Fewer distractions, you know.

Re:wow, how is this good? (Score:5, Funny)

by Anonvmous Coward ( 589068 ) writes: on Wednesday May 28, 2003 @03:30PM (#6059982)

"Who wants to volunteer to write one of those FUI ads to install Linux on all those poor fools' Windoze machines?"

Ah yes, that way millions of people could say "WTF? Why don't any of my games work?!"

Re:Nothing (Score:2, Funny)

by Blkdeath ( 530393 ) writes: on Wednesday May 28, 2003 @03:48PM (#6060177) Homepage

Heh, I got one of those a couple of weeks after I stuck my win2k box back on the net. I laughed for about 20 minutes, then I turned of windows messaging service and went about my business. I couldn't believe the guy wanted 20$ for that.

The great irony of it all, you realize, is that everybody who reads your post will be laughing at you.
You're aluding to being technically savvy, yet you put a fresh Win2k install live on the Internet without hardening it or using even a basic $50 SOHO firewall?

Re:Ah... (Score:5, Funny)

by ENOENT ( 25325 ) writes: on Wednesday May 28, 2003 @03:58PM (#6060278) Homepage Journal

The first time I saw that, I was reminded of a schoolyard taunt: "Your epidermis is showing!"

So, I take it that you didn't go to a girls' school in Saudi Arabia?

Holy Crap, Me too!! (Score:2, Funny)

by ProfessionalCookie ( 673314 ) writes: on Wednesday May 28, 2003 @04:06PM (#6060367) Journal

It was a ugly dialog box thingy that didn't really match the rest of my interface. It said that I had to "click to cancel" a theme change in OSX- so I clicked it and fortunately they were not lying 'cause everything stayed the same.

I'm so glad OS X gave me a chance to cancel that, I don't know what I'd do if I had to deal with an interface that ugly!! (Thank You Apple)

OH yeah?! (Score:2, Funny)

by smkndrkn ( 3654 ) writes: on Wednesday May 28, 2003 @04:32PM (#6060687)

I clicked on the http://www.bonzi.com link and I get a popup that states:

Internet Alert
Your Computer is Currently Transmitting An Internet IP Address. With This Address, Someone Can Begin Attackign Your Computer.

Download Internet Alert To Protect Yourself Now!

haha classic. I've seen this one before but in light of the settlement I think its even funnier that I Just got that.

Oh now thats Cruel (Score:5, Funny)

by Loosewire ( 628916 ) * writes: on Wednesday May 28, 2003 @04:41PM (#6060783) Homepage Journal

Interestingly, bonzi.com has been returning connection refused all day. This is usually one of the net's busiest sites."
So what do people do when they read this, they click it to see if its true - that was just a ploy to get us to slashdot the site wasnt it ;-)

Re:Ah... (Score:5, Funny)

by Cruciform ( 42896 ) writes: on Wednesday May 28, 2003 @05:22PM (#6061203) Homepage

Hey, it worked.
500,000 people just stopped broadcasting! :)

There may be more comments in this discussion. Without JavaScript enabled, you might want to turn on Classic Discussion System in your preferences instead.

Ah... (Score:5, Funny)

Good job! (Score:4, Funny)

Ya, I was fooled... (Score:5, Funny)

Cavaliers (Score:5, Funny)

Your Computer is Being Controlled by a Moron (Score:4, Funny)

SYSTEM WARNING! (Score:0, Funny)

Comment removed (Score:5, Funny)

Fooled? (Score:0, Funny)

Re:my dad used it... (Score:3, Funny)

Re:SYSTEM WARNING! (Score:4, Funny)

Nothing (Score:3, Funny)

Shoot! (Score:1, Funny)

Bubba Asks (Score:3, Funny)

How do ads like these work? (Score:4, Funny)

Re:Your Computer is Being Controlled by a Moron (Score:1, Funny)

Geek version.... (Score:5, Funny)

Gimme a 'P'! (Score:4, Funny)

Re:Good job! New Friend (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Cavaliers (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Ah... (Score:5, Funny)

MS Office Paperclip (Score:2, Funny)

Re:Bonzi buddy! (Score:5, Funny)

Re:style sheets to block annoying ads (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Bonzi buddy! (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Ah... (Score:5, Funny)

I like this one: (Score:4, Funny)

Re:Ah... (Score:5, Funny)

KeWl (Score:4, Funny)

Re:Bonzi buddy! (Score:5, Funny)

Re:wow, how is this good? (Score:4, Funny)

Re:wow, how is this good? (Score:3, Funny)

My Imagination? (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Big win? (Score:5, Funny)

yep... (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Nothing (Score:4, Funny)

Re:Yum. (Score:3, Funny)

Re:Bonzi buddy! (Score:3, Funny)

Re:wow, how is this good? (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Nothing (Score:2, Funny)

Re:Ah... (Score:5, Funny)

Holy Crap, Me too!! (Score:2, Funny)

OH yeah?! (Score:2, Funny)

Oh now thats Cruel (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Ah... (Score:5, Funny)

Related Links Top of the: day, week, month.

Slashdot Top Deals