The Dissenter's Voice Volume 1 Issue 3: FINAL ISSUE |
Dissension has always been a primary role of the writer. From ancient times, carried through by the bards of Ireland and Scotland, satire was a powerful form that in and of itself could bring down a tyrant or ruin the business of a rude inkeeper. It is in keeping with this time honored tradition that we respectfully present this material. As those bards of long ago were protected by Brehon Law, we are protected by the First Amendment. Nothing contained on this page is libelous or slanderous. No matter what you read on these pages, I remind you that this is only satire. Chances are, if it offends you, it is because it hits too close to home. No official from any organization, nor any agent of law enforcement has the power to restrain our freedom and we will not tolerate any threats of this kind. FINAL ISSUE: Here we are at the end of a long road. Once Geocities was a friendly place, where people could post their intellectual property with some security that, while their voice could now be heard, it was still ultimately their property. This is the final issue of the Dissenter's Voice as I cannot condone simply handing my writing and works over to Yahoo! to do as they please. Can they do this? Yes, they can. In order to sign on to our websites, we were required to agree to certain terms, most of which sign away our rights. Following is a part of the agreement(emphasis added):
8. CONTENT SUBMITTED TO YAHOO
Yahoo does not own Content you submit, unless we specifically tell you otherwise before you submit it. You license the Content to Yahoo as set forth below for the purpose of displaying and distributing such Content on our network of properties and for the promotion and marketing of our services. Let me see if I have this right. If I created it, post it, edit it, and even copyright it, they don't own it, but they still have the right, even in the face of infringing my rights to my intellectual property, to "use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from, distribute..." it? Wow, so if I write a book and post it here, they can write out that pesky character they don't like, publish the book translate it into Swahili write the sequel and give it away for free or, heck why not, sell it for a tremendous profit,without ever having to pay royalties! That is like having the company that makes the paper or produced the computer owning whatever was produced on it. So does this mean that Bic owns my diary? I will not tolerate a reduction of my rights as an author and an artist simply because I employ electronic means to create! I find it interesting that this same TOS which wholesale violates our rights protects Yahoo!'s:
16. YAHOO'S PROPRIETARY RIGHTS
You acknowledge and agree that the Service and any necessary software used in connection with the Service ("Software") contain proprietary and confidential information that is protected by applicable intellectual property and other laws. You further acknowledge and agree that Content contained in sponsor advertisements or information presented to you through the Service or advertisers is protected by copyrights, trademarks, service marks, patents or other proprietary rights and laws. Except as expressly authorized by Yahoo or advertisers, you agree not to modify, rent, lease, loan, sell, distribute or create derivative works based on the Service or the Software, in whole or in part. Of course, I better watch out, because if they don't like me, they'll just terminate me:
13. TERMINATION
You agree that Yahoo, in its sole discretion, I bet that makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside. There's more, too, oh so much more, but at some point I suggest you read the entire TOS agreement yourself. It should keep you laughing for a little while, and then crying for a long time. This is the FINAL ISSUE of the Dissenter's Voice. There will be no further updates, but hopefully this issue will remain online for some time to come. In the event that this issue is edited or removed, I will attempt to find free webspace on which to host it. Back issues have been removed and all graphics destroyed. I, for one, will not let Yahoo! feast off of my creative energy.
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