AOL helps itself to AIM content
Users lose all privacy with new terms of service
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posted 11:21am EST Mon Mar 14 2005 - submitted by Matthew
NEWS
In the past few days AOL has updated the Terms of Service for AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) users. The changes have been met with raised eyebrows and anger, as AOL has included clauses that remove all privacy from the user. As part of the new terms AOL reserves the right to record all content posted through the AIM service and use it as it sees fit in the future without any communication with users.
Here's the offending passage from the new AIM Terms of Service under the "Content You Post" section (emphasis added):
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.
The new terms mean that everything shared on AIM can and will be recorded by AOL and possibly used by the company in the future however it sees fit.
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