Re: [Staffslug] Google vs Open Source

On Thu, Feb 2, 2012 at 7:44 AM, Adam Egan <adam.egan(a)gmail.com&gt; wrote: Hi All Just wanted to join in the discussion on this to try and better understand myself. I was looking for the section in the new terms and privacy that referred to the above rights and have presumed this comes from the Google Terms of Service in the "Your content in our services section" which states *When you upload or otherwise submit content to our Services, you give Google (and those we work with) a worldwide license to use, host, store, reproduce, modify, create derivative works * * * If this is is the case I do not think this is new and has been in many of the TOS for a long time. How I understand this is that it is for 'content' you upload and share for example: If you upload a video to youtube even if you are Lady Gaga and own your copyright you have to give a license to Google otherwise Youtube could not work effectively. Or another example If I upload my business details to Google publicly they can then use them on Google maps and other places in different formats etc But I don't think this applies to your private calendar information,email or documents in Google docs. This 'data' is not 'uploaded and shared' and Google requests no license and has no license over this private information. This would fall under the privacy policy where they state: *We do not share personal information with companies, organizations and individuals outside of Google* At the end of the day I am not legally qualified and I think a lot comes down to trust and the 'don't be evil' argument but as a commercial business it would not be in Google's interest to abuse it's users in this way. I would be interested on everyones views on this. In general I prefer Googles more transparent approach compared to other web companies and of course I like there significant support of open source projects. Although I am a 'Google Fan Boy' I think they could be many things they could do better including adoption and support for open standards in particular open document standards. Also there Data Liberation Front, although a great idea, could go even further. For full transparency my business is a Google Partner although I make little money through this way and my above comments are more from my personal use of Google products attached to this email address Phil Oakley Google+ http://gplus.to/philoakley