[ale] google docs

[drifter at oppositelock.org (drifter)]

On Monday 21 December 2009 17:24:38 brian at polibyte.com wrote:
> On Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:24:11 -0500, drifter <drifter at oppositelock.org>
> 
> wrote:
> > My son tried to talk me into creating an account on Google Docs.
> >
> > So I started down the path and my first stumble was Google's need for
> > my
> >
> > birth date.  There can be no legitimate need for that data.
> > Then I started reading the Terms Of Service.
> >
> > Buried within were these two paragraphs:
> >
> > 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, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free, and non-exclusive 
>> licence to reproduce, adapt, modify, translate, publish, publicly
>> perform, publicly display and distribute any Content which you submit, 
>> post or display on or through, the Services. This licence is for the
>> sole purpose of enabling Google to display, distribute and promote the
>> Services and may be revoked for certain Services as defined in the
>> Additional Terms of those Services.
>
> 
> That's not in the Terms of Service for Google Docs.
> 
> Section 11.1 of the Terms of Service governing Google Docs is replaced
>  in its entirety by:
> 
> "You retain copyright and any other rights you already hold in Content
> which you submit, post or display on or through, the Service. By
> submitting, posting or displaying the Content you give Google a
>  worldwide, royalty-free, and non-exclusive license to reproduce, adapt,
>  modify, translate, publish, publicly perform, publicly display and
>  distribute any Content which you submit, post or display on or through
>  the Service for the sole purpose of enabling Google to provide you with
>  the Service in accordance with its Privacy Policy."
> 
> See http://www.google.com/google-d-s/addlterms.html
> 
> All the best,
> Brian Pitts

I find this fascinating.  I copied and pasted the paragraphs I quoted 
directly from the TOS I had to "click to agree to" on Google's site.
You have quoted a different one.  From whence did it come?

Also, the explanation that Google needs the "royalty-free license to 
reproduce, . . .,publish, . . ., publicly display"  any Content I have 
elected to store on their servers is meaningless.  I would posit that they 
do not NEED to do any of that to provide the service, any more than they 
NEED my birthdate.

Sean