AIM TOS, part deux

Well, AIM changed the TOS. They responded to various concerns about it. This article from eweek.com talks about it. One of AOL's spokesmen, Andrew Weinstein said that AOL doesn't monitor AIM chats, and such. This sounds good, but as the second page of the article says, doesn't mean anything, because the TOS is what matters, and it has legal text saying they can. It goes so far as to state "You waive any right to privacy." I think that's pretty cut and dry.

However, AIM decided to change the TOS. Good for them. It now says they can monitor "content you post to public areas." Much better, although I'd rather they didn't give themselves the right to use anything you post, but oh well.

AIM's new TOS

AIM has a new Terms of Service up. It has one part that drastically cuts into our rights as AIM users.

Although you or the owner of the Content retain ownership of all right, title and interest in Content that you post to any AIM Product, AOL owns all right, title and interest in any compilation, collective work or other derivative work created by AOL using or incorporating this Content. In addition, by posting Content on an AIM Product, you grant AOL, its parent, affiliates, subsidiaries, assigns, agents and licensees the irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide right to reproduce, display, perform, distribute, adapt and promote this Content in any medium. You waive any right to privacy. You waive any right to inspect or approve uses of the Content or to be compensated for any such uses.

This can be interpreted as meaning anything you do on AIM, or aim.com, or any of a bunch of other things, AOL can use for any reason, without your consent, and without compensating you. The only thing I see that could be confusing is the definition of "post," but it seems as though that's referring to AIM chats also. earlier in the TOS: "You are responsible for any materials you post or make available on or through the AIM Products, including message board posts, chat participation and homepages."

I'd move over to another service (GAIM, Jabber, Trillian, or the like), except for the TOS says:

For purposes of these Terms of Service, the term "AIM Products" shall mean AIM software (whether preinstalled, on a medium or offered by download), AIM services, AIM websites (including, without limitation, AIM.COM and AIMTODAY.COM) and all other software, features, tools, web sites and services provided by or through AIM from America Online, Inc. and its business divisions (e.g., Netscape) (collectively "AOL") and AOL's third-party vendors.

So I think, even by using their servers, they reserve the right to use anything you transmit on their servers for any reason. Scary shit.

And one could encrypt their messages, but most people don't know how to do that.

I'm going to wait and see what happens in the future with this, as most people use AIM and not ICQ or MSN I have heard that MSN has a better TOS, but that's neither here or thereit's actually in a third place.

I'm still recommending people to sign up for the free ipods dealie.

iPods

So, a while ago I signed up for one of the free ipod thingies. This one was one where you had to complete 6 offers, and they'd send you an ipod. Well, I'm having some doubts about it.

so I decided to sign up for another one. I completed one free offer, but this requires five people to sign up under me. One of the offers is totally free, as long as you cancel before a month is over. It just requires a credit card, but it won't get charged. I signed up for it last night, and got credit for it today, and I cancelled my account so I won't get charged anything. So, if any of you could sign up, that would be awesome. Be sure to use my link, so I'll get credit.

Snowing, again

GRAR! It's snowing...once again...stupid snow...and overuse of ellipses. ha. So I got out of class, and it's snowing. So I went and turned in my timesheet so I could get paid. Because getting paid is good. and such.

I'm going home today; my dad's coming at like 5 to pick me up. I'm really glad he got out of jury duty so I don't have to wait until 8. That would mean I'd have to schlep all my stuff down to the UC at 7 and wait for him to come.

spring break

yayness

I go home tomorrow. I'm excited. Even though I don't know if anyone else is having break this week. My dad's coming to pick me up at 5ish. Hopefully he won't hit too much traffic, because I don't want to get back that late.

I really wish spring would come. It was really nice on Monday, like 50 degrees, but it's been freezing since. It snowed on Tuesday.

I should check my typing speed, as it seems that it's gone up in the past months. Or maybe I just haven't typed anything that can just go out onto the computer, and I don't need to think about it, so I can type all at once without having to think. I shouldn't type in stream-of-consciousness, or that happens. Eew.

I swear this conversation happened today

well, yesterday, at least

dan: we used to have a server named Alderaan.
me: used to? what happened to it?
dan: it blew up.