The EULA that you agree to before installing the game does. You did agree to it after all.
Wow. If im ever playing charades and have to draw IRONY, that would be it. Reminds me of a thread from the Titan Quest forums along the lines of... "I just downloaded your game and its great, but crashes when i enter the cave" (cave was an internal cd check).

You mean the EULA that explicitly tells me I can make a backup copy of the disc? I wonder how I would do that? Unfortunately, the EULA isn't worth squat. If they're going to hide behind it and say the user agrees to its terms and conditions (which can only be done after buying and opening the game, thus meaning no shop will accept it as a return if you refuse the EULA), then they need to abide by it themselves. So, with that in mind, I've asked on Bethesda's forums how I'd go about making my one allowed backup copy.
Surprisingly, I've not received an answer to that yet.
And I don't recall seeing it stated anywhere in the EULA that they can force you to remove/shut down certain software. I could well have missed it though.

Just something I noticed last night while playing, I thought was cool. While wandering around outside, I saw a group of what appeared to be vultures flying over an area a ways off. This was the first time I had seen any birds so I went that direction to check it out. As I got closer I saw several Super Mutants in what looked like a fortified area. Being low on ammo I didn't get close enough to engage them, but the vultures were circling their area.
Nice touch, Bethesda. :)

There have been a lot of issues with the game on the official forum. Some people can't even get past the starting screen.
When I wrote my review I was basing it off my experience, and apparantly I'm one of the lucky ones who have had no issues at all. As far as I know I don't have any securom on my computer (at least from this game) because I bought it from Direct2Drive.
As far as DRM and stuff like it, I'm just glad that Starforce is no longer used (at least in the States afaik) - HOWEVER Securom is starting to act eerily similar to it.

the legal status of EULAs is not without controversy -- court decisions in the united states have issued seemingly contradictory opinions on whether or not EULAs are legally binding.
sorry for the thread hijack, just wanted to point this out.

I think part of the problem is, as has been mentioned above, you have to buy the game and open it before you get to see what the EULA has in it.
Could be why the opinions contradict themselves. Personally I agree with the sentiment that however much money gets spent on licensing crappy DRM stuff would be better suited to dedicating to a better product.
Far to often in these modern times games are released in alpha/beta-like stages, partly because most people have the internet (I think) and because the devs know a patch is easy to get out.
Look at examples of games which were released in a very sad shape and started off healthy but quickly went downhill. I can name two off the top of my head: Hellgate:London and Age of Conan. I think that developers and publishers should be held accountable for releasing unfinished product.
After all, you don't go to a movie when it's only half done and expect to "patch" the rest as they get to it, do you? ;)

The main question in this situation is: can you be legally bound to something you couldn't agree to BEFORE buying a product, which cannot be returned after opening.

my understanding of the real legal issue is that the software developers cannot prove that you physically checked the "i agree" box and then clicked "ok." contracts have to be signed with a legal signature for this very reason -- to be able to identify who the signatory is without any doubt.

Back on track: See my previous post for a review of the game so far.
Basic bottom line: If you didn't like Oblivion, you probably won't like Fallout 3, though it's different and (imho) much better.

I'm so proud of what all I've done so far.. without a guide (gamefaqs is down ;(

update:
so far fallout 3 has crashed twice in 3 days of play.
once was when I had the radio in pipboy and an actual radio object playing in the game at the same time... I try to activate the actual radio object. game froze.
Getting kind of tired crawling through tunnels/sewers to get from place to place. Just a personal issue but still worth docking one point for.
and LOL @ party hats on ghouls... and there is a very nicely done shelter....
previous rating: 8/10
current rating: 8.5/10...
maybe I just haven't gotten into the game far enough yet .... crawling through tunnels is taking me a while.

3 days in here too but I've been blessed with no crashes...yet. That seems to be a problem a fair amount of folks are having according to the forums.
@robbiemad: The fast travel option (only works on the surface to places you have been to before) helps out some. That was one of the things I didn't like about STALKER:SOC, the walking from one side of the world to the other.

Don't worry, they aren't really levelled in this game. The main quest is slightly levelled but all side quests are not.

fallout 3's level scaling is explained here. in other words, it's not like oblivion at all, and is nearly non-existent.

yeah the fast travel... =P
haven't been to rivet city yet
trying to get to rivet city... ARGH