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Reading Google Chrome's Fine Print

Much ink and many electrons are being spilled over Google's Chrome browser (discussed here twice in recent days): from deep backgrounders to performance benchmarks to its vulnerability to a carpet-bombing flaw. The latest angle to be explored is Chrome's end-user license agreement. It does not look consumer-friendly. "By submitting, posting or displaying the content you give Google a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free, and non-exclusive license to reproduce, adapt, modify, translate, publish, publicly perform, publicly display and distribute any content which you submit, post or display on or through, the services. This license is for the sole purpose of enabling Google to display, distribute and promote the services and may be revoked for certain services as defined in the additional terms of those services."

2 of 607 comments (clear)

  1. Re:jumping to conclusions by the+99th+penguin · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    I think you're jumping to conclusions; that is Google's usual "content license", and something they need in order to offer services to you. I don't know how you think it applies to the browser. If you're trying to imply that Google is attempting to claim that everything you do with Chrome belongs to them, you're wrong.

    I suppose you are a contract lawyer?

  2. Bullshit by speedtux · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    The section that people cite explicitly says "by submitting, posting or displaying the content"; this refers to content you submit to Google services, not arbitrary content you submit through the Chrome browser.

    Furthermore, later, Google says explicitly that you retain all your rights to your content.

    All they need from you is a license to display the stuff that you asked them to display. This is boilerplate and it is justified for the kind of services they offer.

    I suppose it could be written a little more clearly so that even total morons understand its scope, but, hey, it's a beta release. Looks like they already clarified it.