How often do you really take the time to see what is in the terms of use statements? Most people are in a rush to get or update the app, use the software or join, they simply skim over or don’t even read it.
I’m bringing this up as our TechTip for the month after receiving a legitimate looking email in the name of a trusted association. I was being invited to join an online business referral network to share and refer business opportunities, leads and collaborations. I’m not going to mention the name of the group, but show you what was in their terms of use.
“Ownership of Information
Content shared on the Site, may or may not be deleted by us when an account is terminated. You understand that removed content may persist on the live site or in backup copies. The Company retains an irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free right to duplicate, improve, distribute, publish, sell, remove, retain, add, process, analyze, use and commercialize, in any way now known or in the future discovered, any Information you provide directly or indirectly, on the Site, including but not limited to any user generated content, ideas, concepts, techniques or data, without any further consent, notice, and/or compensation to you or to any third parties.”
Now I’m not a legal expert, but just using a little common sense here, I believe there are a few words in the statement above that should make the hairs on the back of your neck stand and jump right off.
- Irrevocable, perpetual
- right to duplicate, improve, distribute, publish, sell,
- use and commercialize
- in any way now known or in the future discovered
- without any further consent, notice, and/or compensation
Needless to say, I didn’t join this group, however, for those who have and are sharing leads, referrals or collaborating to jointly do business or create a product, be weary because joining such a group exposes your work in a big way since everything you share or post now belongs to someone else.
We all need to be more conscious of what’s inside these agreements. What looks like a great thing — that killer app, a goldmine of opportunities could very well be great for someone, just not for you.
Tech Tips are Brought to you by
LIASB Technology Co-Chairs,
Joy Graceffo – Long Island Essential Software & Training Joy_Graceffo@liesoftware.com
Fred Dunwoody – FJD & Associates fdunwoody@fjdassociatesinc.com