I joined a while back but have never posted. In a way, it seems like another timesink like LJ or FB, and also a very fast way for erroneous facts and news to be distributed quickly.
That said it may be a nice tool for communication or networking, provided you are very selective about your use/usage.
While FB rolls on to 350 million people... I think the photo-sharing and invite features are the finest features of that service.
"For content that is covered by intellectual property rights, like photos and videos ("IP content"), you specifically give us the following permission, subject to your privacy and application settings: you grant us a non-exclusive, transferable, sub-licensable, royalty-free, worldwide license to use any IP content that you post on or in connection with Facebook ("IP License"). This IP License ends when you delete your IP content or your account unless your content has been shared with others, and they have not deleted it. "
ie: While your content is on Facebook, they can use it for whatever they damn please. The last sentence is particularly worrying; if Facebook sub-licenses your content to an advertiser, it may be considered to have been 'shared with others' and your IP license does not end.
The issues is not that they do, but that they can. That post says 'our privacy policy promises never to..." In fact, after five minutes' trawling, I can't find anything in their policy that says anything of the sort.
I did find this gem:
"If you do not want us to store metadata associated with content you share on Facebook (such as photos), please remove the metadata before uploading the content."
Isn't that lovely! I wonder what proportion of facebook users know what metadata is, let alone how to remove it.
You own all of the content and information you post on Facebook, and you can control how it is shared through your privacy and application settings. In addition: 1. For content that is covered by intellectual property rights, like photos and videos ("IP content"), you specifically give us the following permission, subject to your privacy and application settings: you grant us a non-exclusive, transferable, sub-licensable, royalty-free, worldwide license to use any IP content that you post on or in connection with Facebook ("IP License"). This IP License ends when you delete your IP content or your account unless your content has been shared with others, and they have not deleted it. 2. When you delete IP content, it is deleted in a manner similar to emptying the recycle bin on a computer. However, you understand that removed content may persist in backup copies for a reasonable period of time (but will not be available to others). 3. When you add an application and use Platform, your content and information is shared with the application. We require applications to respect your privacy settings, but your agreement with that application will control how the application can use the content and information you share. (To learn more about Platform, read our About Platform page.) 4. When you publish content or information using the "everyone" setting, it means that everyone, including people off of Facebook, will have access to that information and we may not have control over what they do with it. 5. We always appreciate your feedback or other suggestions about Facebook, but you understand that we may use them without any obligation to compensate you for them (just as you have no obligation to offer them). "
IIRC I saw something the other day about them explicitly not using pictures for ads and such but them not promising third parties would not do that. I can't recall where now.
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branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2009-12-11 03:19 am (UTC)That said it may be a nice tool for communication or networking, provided you are very selective about your use/usage.
While FB rolls on to 350 million people... I think the photo-sharing and invite features are the finest features of that service.
no subject
Date: 2009-12-11 04:09 am (UTC)>.
(see above.)
no subject
Date: 2009-12-11 04:46 am (UTC)What the fuck? I've got photographer friends who've used their pro work as icons and whatnot. Does that mean they've handed (c) over to FB?
no subject
Date: 2009-12-11 04:49 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-12-11 07:59 am (UTC)ie: While your content is on Facebook, they can use it for whatever they damn please. The last sentence is particularly worrying; if Facebook sub-licenses your content to an advertiser, it may be considered to have been 'shared with others' and your IP license does not end.
no subject
Date: 2009-12-11 08:17 am (UTC)http://blog.facebook.com/blog.php?post=110636457130
(via http://yro.slashdot.org/story/09/07/25/1842203/Facebook-Lets-Advertisers-Use-Pictures-Without-Permission?from=rss)
no subject
Date: 2009-12-11 08:47 am (UTC)I did find this gem:
"If you do not want us to store metadata associated with content you share on Facebook (such as photos), please remove the metadata before uploading the content."
Isn't that lovely! I wonder what proportion of facebook users know what metadata is, let alone how to remove it.
no subject
Date: 2009-12-11 09:04 am (UTC)I guess I need to up my paranoia.
no subject
Date: 2009-12-11 08:03 am (UTC)From their terms and conditions page:
"Sharing Your Content and Information
You own all of the content and information you post on Facebook, and you can control how it is shared through your privacy and application settings. In addition:
1. For content that is covered by intellectual property rights, like photos and videos ("IP content"), you specifically give us the following permission, subject to your privacy and application settings: you grant us a non-exclusive, transferable, sub-licensable, royalty-free, worldwide license to use any IP content that you post on or in connection with Facebook ("IP License"). This IP License ends when you delete your IP content or your account unless your content has been shared with others, and they have not deleted it.
2. When you delete IP content, it is deleted in a manner similar to emptying the recycle bin on a computer. However, you understand that removed content may persist in backup copies for a reasonable period of time (but will not be available to others).
3. When you add an application and use Platform, your content and information is shared with the application. We require applications to respect your privacy settings, but your agreement with that application will control how the application can use the content and information you share. (To learn more about Platform, read our About Platform page.)
4. When you publish content or information using the "everyone" setting, it means that everyone, including people off of Facebook, will have access to that information and we may not have control over what they do with it.
5. We always appreciate your feedback or other suggestions about Facebook, but you understand that we may use them without any obligation to compensate you for them (just as you have no obligation to offer them). "
http://www.facebook.com/terms.php?ref=pf
no subject
Date: 2009-12-11 08:08 am (UTC)