So…you use AOL’s instant messenger service (AIM) huh? Well so do a bunch of other people. But, have you actually read their Terms of Service (TOS)? Of course not! No one does. I mean, hell, it’s five (5) printed pages long! Well I wonder how many people would stop using the service if they did? Why do I say that you ask? Well allow me to exoplain. The first paragraph of the terms of service starts off like most others, staing that “You Must agree to these Terms of Service to Use AIM Products.” No big deal there right? I mean that is pretty standard after all. Well where it really gets interesting is down around the thirteenth (13) section, the one entitled “Content You Post”, which reads:

Content You Post
You may only post Content that you created or which the owner of the Content has given you. You may not post or distribute Content that is illegal or that violates these Terms of Service. By posting or submitting Content on any AIM Product, you represent and warrant that (i) you own all the rights to this Content or are authorized to use and distribute this Content on the AIM Product and (ii) this Content does not and will not infringe any copyright or any other third-party right nor violate any applicable law or regulation.

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.

Now, if you carefully read the second paragraph of this section, it basically states that; although the content you post (messages you write, and all content contained within them) are technically your own, by using the AIM service, you grant AOL and everybody it is associated with the right to do what ever they choose to with that information. And further more, the last two (2) sentences of this paragraph really ring out in my mind:

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.

Not only do you automatically waive your right to privacy, but you also have no say in how they will use your information nor will you ever receive any payment, ever! Now, the lack of privacy I might be able to deal with, but the thought that they could use my ideas, thoughts, or exspressions to further their profit and I wouldn’t receive any sort of compensation, that just pisses me off!