Dropbox
Out of context: Reply #14
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from the comments... the above is an excerpt, below is a larger excerpt i guess
"By using our Services you may give us access to your information, files, and folders (together, “your stuff”). You retain ownership to your stuff. You are also solely responsible for your conduct, the content of your files and folders, and your communications with others while using the Services.We sometimes need your permission to do what you ask us to do with your stuff (for example, hosting, making public, or sharing your files). By submitting your stuff to the Services, you grant us (and those we work with to provide the Services) worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sublicenseable rights to use, copy, distribute, prepare derivative works (such as translations or format conversions) of, perform, or publicly display that stuff to the extent we think it necessary for the Service. You must ensure you have the rights you need to grant us that permission."Now, I'm no lawyer, but the salient points in my mind:(1) They aren't asserting ownership. (2) They are explaining that by submitting files to the service (for storage, etc.) you give them the right to follow your preferences and instructions - such as if you put a file in a public folder, you give them the right to make it accessible without your login at a public URL. While certainly it may be able to be worded more clearly, it is basically saying that you give them the right to do what they ask,(3) The 'we think it necessary for the service' is the most nebulous clause here. It would be far better if they would do a thorough internal review and enumerate the uses, for example: a. Any file uploaded to the service must be available for reasonable use, such as run through deduplication software (to reduce our storage needs), mirroring to other Dropbox-operated servers (to improve speed and reliability), and automatic monitoring for copyright infringment or content that may be illegal (or would make us otherwise legally at fault by hosting it). b. Any file placed in a public folder will be accessible via the web without your user credentials being required. You assert that you have the legal right to display the file (that you own or license the copyright, that the content is legal in any jurisdiction you access it from as well as the jurisdiction of our servers (click here for a list of server locations), etc.). We reserve the right to monitor content you make available publicly as we are potentially liable for this content. c. Any content in a shared folder will be accessible to users specified on the access list of that shared folder. d. Any file that you choose a function on, such as translate, edit or encrypt, will be run through code modules appropriate to that function. We will endeavor to store no data traceable to you and your content; however, we will store usage data (such as how often you use a function, how much CPU time it takes, etc.) to ensure that users don't overburden the service. e. Any file placed on the service will be protected from unauthorized use to the best of our ability. We do not guarantee absolute security, and while we encrypt your content when possible there may unauthorized access. Third party tools to enhance security (such as TrueCrypt) and other measure, such as not uploading personally identifiable information (such as address, SSN, bank info, passwords, etc.) are advisable, and we cannot be held liable for breaches except in cases of extreme negligence and/or malice.
Now, again, I'm sure they need to lawyer up, and I can't blame them. I can't say I'm happy with the terms as they stand. But, people below like Ned are correct - absolute security/privacy and the cloud are not really compatible. And the idea of them asserting a license for monetary gain? REALLY bad, and if they add language that prevents that, I'll stay a dropbox customer.
notice he says if...
"if they add language that prevents that, I'll stay a dropbox customer."