AOL's new terms allow it to own your AIM messages

[tinrobot]

I found this on Slashdot and it is pretty disturbing. The new license agreement for AOL's Instant Messenger service now has a clause that allows AOL to own the content of all your AIM messages.

Here's the relevant section - paragraph two is the scariest:

Content You Post
You may only post Content that you created or which the owner of the Content has given you. You may not post or distribute Content that is illegal or that violates these Terms of Service. By posting or submitting Content on any AIM Product, you represent and warrant that (i) you own all the rights to this Content or are authorized to use and distribute this Content on the AIM Product and (ii) this Content does not and will not infringe any copyright or any other third-party right nor violate any applicable law or regulation.

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.

http://www.aim.com/tos/tos.adp

By using AIM, you waive any right to privacy. Yike.


(edited for grammar)

[Liberty Belle]

1. Call or email to ask if there's an opt-out clause for this.

It's outrageous. If you'll provide an e-mail address, we can deluge them with complaints.

:kick:

[tinrobot]

3. Can't find anything

Talk about lack of support. There's nothing on the AIM webpage resembling a support or feedback form.

There is a feedback form on the main AOL page:

http://www.aol.com/info/feedback.adp

[Catch22Dem]

2. Not only that, but...

Don't be sending magical code snippets to co-workers. :)

[Hissyspit]

4. AOL - Just Say No... n/t

[Swamp Rat]

5. AOL... America Off Line

Fuck them. I'll NEVER give them my business, even if they were the ONLY ISP on Earth. I'd rather write on stone tablets, send smoke signals, and dispatch letters by carrier pigeon. x(

[WLKjr]

6. Friends don't let friends AOL

[FreedomAngel82]

10. My family used to have them

in the very beginning. Now we have cable and it's SO much better. I'll never go back to dialup again. Blech!

[foreigncorrespondent]

7. Oh those dirty rotten bastards!

Sapph and I use AIM to remain in contact on a daily basis, but I am certainly not waivering my right to privacy, and I know she would agree with me. Time to find another IM program. We can't use the Yahoo one because it freezes Sapph's puter up, but I am sure there is something out there, we can run.

[area51]

8. tucows

You might want to check out tucows for IM alternatives, if you haven't already.

[FreedomAngel82]

11. Have you tried

MSN messenger?

[ConsAreLiars]

12. You might want to look at Skype

Free phone service when you are both online. http://www.skype.com/

[FreedomAngel82]

9. Oh wow!

That is really scary. I talked to someone last night about PNAC and stuff. :\ Does anybody know about Yahoo? I save chats from there for just me.

[tinrobot]

13. Is this even legal?

What about the laws covering common carriers? Phone companies can't own or redistribute your conversations. FedEx doesn't own the documents it ships for you.

Besides, what about privacy? If AOL can peek into your IM messages at will, can the government pull the messages as well and use them in court?

[Name removed]

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