Daily Archives: March 14, 2005

Mar 14 2005

Thrashing Through Cyberspace: AOL Eavesdrops, Grants Itself Permission To Steal Your AIM Conversations

[Thrashing Through Cyberspace](http://benstanfield.com/thrash/2005/03/aol*eavesdrops*.html:)
“AOL has some new *Terms of Service* for those who use their AOL Instant Messaging servers, and it’s pretty crazy:

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.

…I never thought to be concerned that the company providing the service would share that information.”

Hear hear! Hey! AOL! Get a clue… you don’t own people’s conversations. The phone company doesn’t, and you don’t either. You provide the medium, not the content. We have to stop this nonsense!