If you pay $1,500 for something, you generally want to at least have the option of selling it, should it be necessary. Unfortunately for the 8,000 people chosen for Google's Glass Explorer Program, Google can (and probably will) deactivate your device if you try to sell it or give it away. If you suddenly become strapped for cash or decide you don't like Glass, tough luck.
The rule imposed by Google in its terms of sale on the device came to light when a Philadelphia man who was chosen as an Explorer tried to sell his Glass on eBay. The man told Wired that he didn't realize that he wasn't allowed to sell his Glass until he was informed by other members of the Google Explorers Google+ Group. “People were acting like I had did something sacrilegious,” he told Wired.
Unless otherwise authorized by Google, you may only purchase one Device, and you may not resell, loan, transfer, or give your Device to any other person. If you resell, loan, transfer, or give your device to any other person without Google’s authorization, Google reserves the right to deactivate the Device, and neither you nor the unauthorized person using the Device will be entitled to any refund, product support, or product warranty.
Ridiculous? Yes. It's wild to think that Google basically has total control over something that you ostensibly own. So far, this rule only applies to the Explorer Program, though. It's not clear what the policy will be once Glass is released to the masses. Explorers need not hide their Google Glass away, though. Glass comes with a "guest mode" so Glass owners can let their friends try on the computerized specs without messing up the owner's timeline (or getting the Glass deactivated).
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