GameFAQs: General Message List

FAQ Contributors *Social*

IGN's ToS Explained by them...

Meowthnum1 (32): Board List | Topic List | Post New Message | Log Out | Help

From: Guitarfreak86 | Posted: 6/7/2003 2:54:00 AM | Message Detail

I emailed Rick Sanchez last night about what was discussed here yesterday. Here is his response, and to be quite honest, I agree that IGN aren't out to "screw" anyone in the manner suggested last night. Enjoy!

Hi Richard,

My name is Rick Sanchez. I’m the director of product management here at IGN. Steven forwarded my your email. I can totally see how you might read our TOS the way you did, but it was intended a different way. I’ll go through it item by item.

The IGN Sites may modify = we need this line so that we can convert to HTML for those willing, and frame the .txt ones.

display, distribute = that one is probably pretty obvious...

and create new material using such content on IGN Sites for the promotion and marketing of our services and the operation of our system = this is so that we can create indexes, search results and summaries.

the owner of such content has expressly agreed that, without any particular time limit, and without the payment of any fees, the IGN Sites and anyone they permit may reproduce, display, distribute and create new works of authorship based on and including the content."

My guess is the above line is the one that really concerned you. This particular clause is primarily intended to cover things like mail bag, reader reviews and so on. Amazon.com and virtually every other major web site used identical language for reader submitted content. IGN does not consider itself the copyright owner of any FAQs submitted to us. You can safeguard the work you submit to us further, if you like, by including text like the following at the bottom of your FAQ...

“This FAQ is copyright Richard Arnatt DATE. It may not be copied, published or distributed without the express approval of Richard Arnatt. IGN has been granted a license to display, reproduce and distribute new works of authorship based on this FAQ within the context of their FAQ area.”

I am not a lawyer and the above paragraph is not legal advice nor a guarantee of anything on the part of IGN. (have to put that in there since I am really not a lawyer) However it may be the type of text a lawyer would recommend.

Bottom line is we’re not out to screw anybody. We respect FAQ writers and want to do right by them. There are just too many legal quagmires a public company can get into if we don’t protect ourselves somewhat. You may remember a case about 3 years ago where someone sued a web site (I think it was pets.com) because the site used their reader review to promote a product. All the TOS language since has been to keep that from happening to companies.

If you have any other questions, please drop me an email. I hope this helps...

Rick

---
Guitarfreak86 - #26010 [Winner of NM14's Tourney]
"No offense, but you are all smoking crack" - Psycho Penguin

From: SubSane | Posted: 6/7/2003 3:01:55 AM | Message Detail

Ah man, I shouldn't have sent that e-mail to Hilary Goldstein calling her "a filthy, FAQ-jackin' (lady of the night)."
---
SubSane is kidding!
::Elite Rogue:: {//=|RDoN|=\\}

From: The Admiral | Posted: 6/7/2003 4:20:26 AM | Message Detail

Very interesting. If someone could take the time to save this post (as html) and put it somewhere semi-permanent, that would be a great help for when this issue arises in the future.
---
How does an Advanced Meta-Mod feature sound? Take a sample tour:
http://free.hostdepartment.com/A/Admiral1018/AMMS/AMMS_Intro.htm

From: CMoriarty | Posted: 6/7/2003 7:41:55 AM | Message Detail

From: SubSane | Posted: 6/7/2003 3:01:55 AM | Message Detail
Ah man, I shouldn't have sent that e-mail to Hilary Goldstein calling her "a filthy, FAQ-jackin' (lady of the night)."

Yeah, probably not, considering Hilary Goldstein is a guy.

---
CMoriarty | FAQ Mafia
IGN Guides - [http://guides.ign.com]

From: Xythar | Posted: 6/7/2003 9:23:06 AM | Message Detail

That must cause a lot of confusion.
---
-Xythar Darkmoon, Master Magus
I put on my robe and wizard hat.