(the VCM's terms of service are unacceptable to me
for [...]
Yeah, there's some funny stuff in those T&C.
Such as?
Speaking personally?
- They require you to agree to California legal jurisdiction
(unreasonable for individuals living non-near California, outrageous
for individuals living outside the USA) and binding arbitrarion, with
no right of recourse beyond that arbitrator.
- They require that the site be accessed via Web browsers only
(unacceptable to me, as I want to fetch pictures).
- It requires that I use my full legal name. I don't even know what
that _is_ by California law, and unless California law would let me
use "der Mouse" (which it may, I've heard that in many jurisdictions
a name you use long enough and consistently enough with no fraudulent
intent becomes a legal name for you) it would be unacceptable, as
that is the only name by which I am known in computer circles. Even
if California law _would_ let me use "der Mouse" I would expect to
have to fight for it, and I'm not willing to go to that much effort.
- I may not engage in "activities that may adversely affect the
performance or stability of the Site". If I may not do anything that
risks crashing it accidentally, I can't even _touch_ it!
- I am (well, would be) liable for my own acts and omissions, but the
VCM isn't: "To the fullest extent permitted by law, the foregoing
indemnities will apply regardless of any fault, omission, negligence,
or breach of warranty or contract of the Operators of the Site or
their suppliers, vendors, and assigns". Sorry; responsibility is a
two-way street.
/~\ The ASCII der Mouse
\ / Ribbon Campaign
X Against HTML mouse(a)rodents.montreal.qc.ca
/ \ Email! 7D C8 61 52 5D E7 2D 39 4E F1 31 3E E8 B3 27 4B
