Google are evil….. but not THAT evil… at diversity.net.nz

Some super-sleuthing resulted in this post which identified that the Google Aps terms of service says;

“… you grant Google a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to reproduce, adapt, modify, publish and distribute such Content on Google services for the purpose of displaying, distributing and promoting Google services…”

Now the conspricists among us would say that Google, in its plans for galactic domination, is intending to take all our private data and crate some leverage from it, steal our business ideas and generally subvert our IP.

However we need to look at it dispassionately. Google is in the business of selling advertising - every sevrice it provides is in the pursuit of that aim (directly or not). I see it more as over zealous lawyers trying to fit a few more words in legal agreements, perhaps they’re paid by the clause, rather than anything dodgy.

It does have to be said however that this is sometimes what happens when an enterprise gets so big that it forgets about its vision, its customers and simplicity.

Compare if you will the Zoho terms of service;

“We assure you that the contents of your Account will not be disclosed to anyone and will not be accessible to employees of AdventNet. Neither do we process the contents of your Account for serving targeted advertisements”

Perhaps the Google gang needs to re-read “How to win friends and influence people”

Hat tip to Zoli for pointing this discussion out!

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