Does keyboard monitoring violate EULA of Starcraft 2?

I've read starcraft 2 EULA and wonder if application that collects info about user's keyboard/mouse activity (i.e. "how many times user clicks 1?") violates this.

If I understand part 2 correctly - the answer is "no" but I want you to help me.

Solution 1:

Disclaimer

I am neither a lawyer nor a representative of Blizzard Entertainment. Consider my answer to be anecdotal in nature but based on experience with World of Warcraft add-ons. For an official answer, you should speak with a Blizzard representative or a qualified legal professional.

Short Answer

You should not run an analysis as the game is running, but you can run an analysis on the replay files the game generates.

Long Answer

This clause is one Blizzard uses in the World of Warcraft EULA as well and is often cited when people are making add-ons for the game:

C. use any unauthorized third-party software that intercepts, “mines,” or otherwise collects information from or through the Game or the Service, including without limitation any software that reads areas of RAM used by the Game to store information about a character or the game environment; provided, however, that Blizzard may, at its sole and absolute discretion, allow the use of certain third party user interfaces;

In the case of World of Warcraft, the distinction is related to how the data is collected. For example, it is permissible for the data to be collected and written to a file form within an add-on that is resident in-game written through the WoW API. Once you close the game, you can use a third-party application to upload those files elsewhere. What you cannot do is have that third-party application sniff out data while the game is running and upload it directly.

In the case of StarCraft 2, if you want to analyze actions within the game, you would be allowed to use a third-party application to analyze the generated reply files or upload them to a server that analyzes them. However, running an analysis as the game is played would fall under the category of "Things You Should Not Do".

Solution 2:

There is no way this would be in violation in its purest form; their EULA cannot dictate what you do with your mouse / keyboard, or unrelated software.

BUT, if the monitoring app is mining information from sc2 itself, even something like detecting whether you are in a game or not, then maybe.

For example if you happen to be running a keylogger while playing sc2, even if it is for the purpose of analyzing your sc2 gameplay habits, is not a violation.

Solution 3:

Are you referring to this clause?

Additional License Limitations. 4. Use any unauthorized third-party software that intercepts, "mines", or otherwise collects information from or through the Game or the Service, including without limitation any software that reads areas of RAM used by the Game to store information; provided, however, that Blizzard may, at its sole and absolute discretion, allow the use of certain third party user interfaces;

The response is: Maybe. It depends of the way the application is working... If your app collects info through the game, you don't have rights to do this, unless you contact Blizzard to ask for a formal agreement.

But, if the application collects data directly from the mouse and keyboard, without interaction with the game, you legally have the right to use it, according to EULA. Anyhow, i don't think Blizzard would caution that kind of work-around...

If you want to avoid problems, don't do this.