Below is an email exchange I just had with a librarian claiming that Google owns and has copyright of whatever you post on Google Plus. It speaks for itself. My response includes a lengthy quote from Google’s terms of use. The user clearly retains ownership and copyright. I have removed her name and email address from this post. I am also having a hard time avoiding being snarky! I have not edited her message in any way other than removing name and email address.
—–Her Original Message—–
From: J.Librarian
Sent: Wednesday, August 03, 2011 11:26 AM
To: Wilfred Drew
Subject: Re: Google Plus and Librarians
I wish I had saved the article to send you the link. However I do remember it being a tech oriented publication and it quoted a few paragraphs from the terms that must be agreed to in order to use Google . the wording very clearly stated that anything posted there became google’s property and it could,be used as is or altered and published elsewhere by Google. it made me pull back from exploring it any further. basically I felt that by agreeing to the terms, I would be giving up copyright to anything I posted there.
—–My response—–
From: Wilfred Drew
Sent: Wednesday, August 03, 2011 11:32 AM
To: ‘J.Librarian’
Subject: RE: [NYLINE] Google Plus and Librarians
That article is completely wrong and is offering a wrong view of Google’s policy. Read for yourself the pertinent sections from the terms of use.
9.4 Other than the limited license set forth in Section 11, Google acknowledges and agrees that it obtains no right, title or interest from you (or your licensors) under these Terms in or to any Content that you submit, post, transmit or display on, or through, the Services, including any intellectual property rights which subsist in that Content (whether those rights happen to be registered or not, and wherever in the world those rights may exist). Unless you have agreed otherwise in writing with Google, you agree that you are responsible for protecting and enforcing those rights and that Google has no obligation to do so on your behalf.
11. Content license from you
11.1 You retain copyright and any other rights you already hold in Content which you submit, post or display on or through, the Services. 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.
11.2 You agree that this license includes a right for Google to make such Content available to other companies, organizations or individuals with whom Google has relationships for the provision of syndicated services, and to use such Content in connection with the provision of those services.
11.3 You understand that Google, in performing the required technical steps to provide the Services to our users, may (a) transmit or distribute your Content over various public networks and in various media; and (b) make such changes to your Content as are necessary to conform and adapt that Content to the technical requirements of connecting networks, devices, services or media. You agree that this license shall permit Google to take these actions.
11.4 You confirm and warrant to Google that you have all the rights, power and authority necessary to grant the above license.
