Slashdot | AIM's New Terms Of Service

Slashdot | AIM's New Terms Of Service. Gotta check the details, but if that's true I may simply refuse to use AIM anymore.

Update: Hmm... just realized. Since AOL owns ICQ do the same TOS apply? That leaves me with Yahoo IM. Great.

Update: Reading through the TOS now. Funny bit:

You may not use AIM while driving, operating hazardous equipment, or engaging in other forms of hazardous activities.

Ok, here's the relevant portion:

Your Responsibility: You are responsible for any materials you post or make available on or through the AIM Products, including message board posts, chat participation and homepages.

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.

However, their privacy policy states:

Your AIM information may be shared within AOL and its business divisions. Your AIM information will not be shared with third parties unless it is necessary to fulfill a transaction you have requested, or in other circumstances in which you have consented to the sharing of your AIM information. AIM or AOL may use your AIM information to present offers to you on behalf of business partners and advertisers. These business partners and advertisers receive aggregate data about groups of AIM users, but do not receive information that personally identifies you.

AOL does not read your private online communications when you use any of the communication tools offered as AIM Products. If, however, you use these tools to disclose information about yourself publicly (for example, in chat rooms or online message boards made available by AIM), other online users may obtain access to any information you provide.

Your AIM information, including the contents of your online communications, may be accessed and disclosed in response to legal process (for example, a court order, search warrant or subpoena), or in other circumstances in which AOL has a good faith belief that AIM or AOL are being used for unlawful purposes. AOL may also access or disclose your AIM information when necessary to protect the rights or property of AIM or AOL, or in special cases such as a threat to your safety or that of others.

So, I guess the privacy policy giveth and their TOS taketh away?

Update: Andrew Weinstein, AOL spokesperson, responds below, and /. has an update.

Update: AOL is updating its terms of service. Good for them.

Permalink | 7 Comments | id 6686

10:06 (utc-5)
edited: 2005-03-15 15:14 (utc-5)