Giving Away Your Creativity to Google?

[Angelo]

Caught this article on Photofocus this morning. I'm wondering how many knew what we give up when we post on the internet?

Google Plus – Read the Fine Print BEFORE You Sign Up « Photofocus

[Daniel Bates]

Originally Posted by photofocus article

It will probably be successful because Google has their hooks into everything – and everybody.

Anybody remember Google Wave?

[Howard Barlow]

This is true of 99.99% of any hosting site, other than your own web site, or blog. Read the fine print.

[prncfarquad]

Wow..now that is unbelievable. AND people will sign up and not even realize what they are giving away. Thanks for the link!

[Howard Barlow]

Same for peeps who enter images in national photo contests.

[TheFantasticG]

Good thing I had no intentions on signing up...?

[bkuhns]

He conveniently excluded the first part of that TOS clause (emphasis mine):

11.1 You retain copyright and any other rights you already hold in Content which you submit, post or display on or through, the Services. By submitting, posting or displaying the content you give Google a perpetual [...]

[revjvegas]

Yes...BUT, you still grant them free use of your stuff however they wish to use it and they NEVER have to pay you dime one.

So its only a big deal if that matters to you or not. If not, who cares. If so, then don't use the service.

And this is not limited to just Google+; check out FB TOS and you see the same basic terminology.

[bkuhns]

Yes...BUT, you still grant them free use of your stuff however they wish to use it and they NEVER have to pay you dime one.

It doesn't give them right to use your content however they wish. No TOS can override Copyright law. It says right in the terms: "This license is for the sole purpose of enabling Google to display, distribute and promote the Services [...]"; That very strictly limits the use of your content. The only fishy part is "promote", but that's in regards to if they make a promotional video or image that shows a screenshot of Google+ and your content just so happens to be in it. That way you can't sue them over it.

And this is not limited to just Google+; check out FB TOS and you see the same basic terminology.

It's the same basic terminology because it applies to the same fundamental technical requirements of these systems to operate. Facebook/Google+/etc have to be careful with how they define their permissive uses of your copyrighted content so they don't get sued. Those uses usually include distributing your content across first and third party content distribution systems, converting and/or compressing your media for transmission or storage (which could be construed as "derived works" for you to sue them over), and finally the actual display of the content you uploaded to the service.

[revjvegas]

I guess when it all comes down to it, if it is of any true concern, one should consult with a licensed IP Attorney for a proper interpretation and how it directly pertains to you, and not completely depend on information posted by bloggers who've never even smelled the inside of a law book or court room.

Just say'n.

[bkuhns]

and not completely depend on information posted by bloggers who've never even smelled the inside of a law book or court room.

Bingo. I'm no attorney, but I know enough from working in the software industry to recognize that Google (and Facebook, etc) aren't superseding my possession of the copyright to my own content.

If anyone is honestly concerned, feel free to talk to an IP lawyer; then go have fun on G+ and Facebook promoting your business.

[contributor_M]

I'm not hosting my photos on Google+. That's why I got a 500px/flickr account. If anything, I'm looking for a facebook alternative.

[bkuhns]

Ditto, I'll continue hosting my JPGs on Flickr and raw in S3. But, I don't think a lot of pros will be looking to specifically host their photos on G+, just as I don't think any sane professional does so on Facebook. But instead, people will use G+ to promote their business. The (misguided) fear from the blog post would suggest that G+ would be allowed to do anything they want with the promo photos you upload. Which is silly anyway considering you'll be uploading web-quality photos. You won't be finding large print canvas versions of your G+ photos for sale by Google...

[PatrickONeill]

simple over reaction to the terms of service that grants google the permission to show your images to others, to make thumbnails or to rescale the images to best fit the size requirements for the website design/layout.

nothing to see here.

[revjvegas]

Pretty good write up by RC:
What Pictures To Put Up On Facebook/Twitter/Twitpic?