tumblr policy primer

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I hope so, if you spend a bit of time online or even on a computer then it’s likely you have accepted more than a few of them in your time. These are service levels agreements that you are often forced accept before using most platforms online, think Facebook, YouTube and iTunes. Let us take a look at what we are really agreeing to when we accept the tumblr terms of service. Seen one of these before?

description

An easy to read document that puts tumblr's terms of service into readable terms.

Transcript of tumblr policy primer

Page 1: tumblr policy primer

I hope so, if you spend a bit of time online or even on a computer then it’s likely you have accepted more than a few of them in your time.

These are service levels agreements that you are often forced accept before using most platforms online, think Facebook, YouTube and iTunes.

Let us take a look at what we are really agreeing to when we accept the tumblr terms of service.

Seen one of these before?

Page 2: tumblr policy primer

Tumblr has two docs you need to agree to before using the service.

Community Guidelines

Terms Of Service

Page 3: tumblr policy primer

They have a pretty good reputation for being transparent & fair

“It would be nice if other sites followed

suit”

“the only likable terms of service

we’ve ever seen”

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So let’s start to break down their policies and what they mean to you

A pretty standard clause in online policies, if you don’t accept you can not use the service. It means you must play by tumblr’srules or don’t play at all.

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This is the best part of tumblr’s terms of service. Complete IP ownership over any content that a user uploads. But it doesn’t mean that tumblr can’t still use your content for

their own benefit (we will hear more about this soon).

And now the important bit… content ownership.

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Here’s what tumblr lets themselves do with your content

So while tumblr lets content owners keep full IP rights over their properties, they have also given themselves permission to do... well pretty much anything with your content. They mention in this section a variety of uses which your content is enabled to be a part of. While tumblr defends (in a polite way) the need for this, it is potentially providing them with an opportunity to monetise your content in the future.

(And they’ll let approved 3rd parties do it too)

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Some more good news – tumblr will do their best to remove your old

content

This is often not the case, many other popular online platforms (Facebook for one) used to provide no assurance that data was

ever going to be removed. Thanks tumblr.

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Tumblr for many users effectively becomes a reblogging website. How

do they tackle copyright?

They provide a pretty detailed overview of their internal process.

1- The copyright owner needs to provide documentation and information regarding any breach claim.

2 – If the required standards are met then the content will be taken down.3 – Beyond this, if a user believes they were not in beach they have the

ability to submit a counter notification again requiring necessary evidence.

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So while tumblrs policy is good, it’s probably not perfect and it’s just a policy so why does it get such good

press?

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Tumblr have created these polite little balloons that they use to explain the policy to users. It’s a good thing, this information can

help give users a better perspective on what they are actually agreeing to when accepting the terms.

Although, the balloons also can seem slightly misleading to many, they are light hearted which can take away from the

serious legal nature of these terms and also represent tumblrs spin on the terms rather than what the actual interpretation

might be.

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- Tumblr outlines a reasonably straight forward policy and it does seem they are trying to present the best options for the

user

- Be wary though, as with all corporations tumblr is going to have to start earning money soon.

- While your content will always belong to you, if you upload it or write it within tumblr, be prepared to have it republished by

tumblr and other providers.

- Be careful placing material with a copyright on tumblr, they have a strict resolution process and as with all online content,

you could end up in some serious trouble.

To recap, a brief overview of tumblrs policy.

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Image Credit & CopyrightThroughout :

- Tumblr Logo: From tumblr.com following their trademark guidelines-Screen captures of policy document: obtained from tumblr website using standard windows tool ‘snipping tool’ from URL’s http://www.tumblr.com/policy/en/terms_of_service and http://www.tumblr.com/policy/en/community- Vector arrows (various sizes): Licensed under creative commons from ‘Dragonartz’

Slide 3:

-Gizmodo Au Logo: Sourced from Gizmodo website- Tech Dirt Logo: Sourced from Wikipedia (Fair use)

Reference:Throughout – Tumblr 2012, Terms Of Service, Accessed 14/10/2012 at http://www.tumblr.com/policy/en/terms_of_service

Slide 3 (Gizmodo Quote): Biddle, S. 2012, Tumblr Has the Only Likable Terms of Service We’ve Ever Seen, Accessed online 16/10/2012 at http://gizmodo.com/5896017/tumblr-has-the-only-likable-terms-of-service-weve-ever-seen

Slide 3 (Tech Dirt Quote): Masnick, M. 2012, Will Tumblr’s New Terms Of Service Finally Lead To The De-Stupidifying Of Terms Of Service?, Accessed online 16/10/2012 at http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120326/01301418236/will-tumblrs-new-terms-service-finally-lead-to-de-stupidifying-terms-service.shtml