Dropbox -- your files are our files... no, really, they are...

I completely agree and canceled my account yesterday. This doesn't sit right with me at all. Maybe I was being paranoid but I like to be the only one with access to my work. They are supposed to store only. Back to the old but trusty flashdrive for me.

Considering that I use Dropbox as one of my primary forms of back-up for the most recent versions of my MSs, this part is terrifying to me.

By submitting your stuff to the Services, you grant us (and those we work with to provide the Services) worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sublicenseable rights to use, copy, distribute, prepare derivative works (such as translations or format conversions) of, perform, or publicly display that stuff to the extent we think it necessary for the Service.

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So, that means, if I have a complete, polished MS which I keep a copy of on Dropbox, they could go ahead and publish/display it somewhere and therefore burn my first rights for me? WTF?

Okay, my work is mine. I have an account with them but I haven't used it yet and with that TOS change, I'm glad I haven't. Time to cancel methinks. Thanks for the heads up.

I don't have anything important with them. Lucky I don't, and now I won't ever give them access to anything important.

Not cool.

Off to look at other options now.

I checked this out. There's an update about this.

http://blog.dropbox.com/?p=846

We asked for your feedback and we’ve been listening. As a result, we’ve clarified our language on licensing:

You retain ownership to your stuff. You are also solely responsible for your conduct, the content of your files and folders, and your communications with others while using the Services.

We sometimes need your permission to do what you ask us to do with your stuff (for example, hosting, making public, or sharing your files). By submitting your stuff to the Services, you grant us (and those we work with to provide the Services) worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sublicenseable rights to use, copy, distribute, prepare derivative works (such as translations or format conversions) of, perform, or publicly display that stuff to the extent reasonably necessary for the Service. This license is solely to enable us to technically administer, display, and operate the Services. You must ensure you have the rights you need to grant us that permission.

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This update to the policy was on Dropbox's blog, with their bolding. I think it's interesting if you don't just pick and choose what you post, like the person on the OP's link did:

You retain ownership to your stuff. You are also solely responsible for your conduct, the content of your files and folders, and your communications with others while using the Services.

We sometimes need your permission to do what you ask us to do with your stuff (for example, hosting, making public, or sharing your files). By submitting your stuff to the Services, you grant us (and those we work with to provide the Services) worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sublicenseable rights to use, copy, distribute, prepare derivative works (such as translations or format conversions) of, perform, or publicly display that stuff to the extent reasonably necessary for the Service. This license is solely to enable us to technically administer, display, and operate the Services. You must ensure you have the rights you need to grant us that permission.

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I think they have a reasonable understanding of what they're saying and not trying to rip anyone off. Like,it's up to you not to store your child pr0n on your DB account. That's covering their backsides. They've also CYA'd it with the 'we can change the services at any time' - probably meaning they can expand or shrink your space if you've got a free account, and or change how and when you upload and access files.

Besides, who's got time to go through all those files on all those accounts on the off-chance there's something worthwhile? It's like saying copyright your manuscript before you submit it, because an agent might steal it. Not worth it.

Does it sound scary? Sure. In practical application, probably not an issue. And I love my Dropbox. Now that the tech department has fixed my work computer, I'm downloading it to that one too, so I can have certain files on all computers. I usually just use if for Grad School stuff, and when the semester's over I move it to my laptop so I don't overstuff the box. And I DO use it for manuscripts, but someone would have to do some pretty hard digging to find out a)which is the version I'm submitting, and b) what the hell to do with it if they did find it.

I only use the public folder for anything not mine that must be shared with other parties.

Yeah, I'm still not comfortable with the terms. I've cancelled my account, but I'm still holding the files in one place where I can put them back, should they fix things.

I'm not seeing a problem, frankly. First, you need to keep in mind their definition of Service, and remember that your content is what is, essentially "serviced," so to speak.

This is partially a cover your ass statement. It's not a rights grab; it's to avoid someone suing them for, say, having copies on a backup up, or because a user shared a file with another user--who then did something the first user doesn't like.

I'd worry more about their four-hour loss of password protection.

When I read this thread, I freaked out, and first I deleted my files from the Dropbox folder, transferred them somewhere else in my Documents folder, and then I went to Dropbox's website and cancelled my account. Now I am going to uninstall their program from my computer. Seriously, OP, thank you so much for this warning. Downside is I am not sure if other internet file-storage services are safe, so until I acquire a flashdrive of the same size as my former Dropbox account (2 GB) my files will stay in my hard drive and go nowhere else unless something happens to my computer and I have to perform yet another out-of-box system recovery. I thank you a million times. You rule. You've saved our files!!

Don't panic. Really. Dropbox had some clumsy lawyers, or non-lawyers that tried to speak legalese.

Ah ha! So my paranoia was right!

*Prints out WIP and burns internet*

Maxinquaye said:

Don't panic. Really. Dropbox had some clumsy lawyers, or non-lawyers that tried to speak legalese.

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Maxinquaye said:

Don't panic. Really. Dropbox had some clumsy lawyers, or non-lawyers that tried to speak legalese.

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I'm pretty sure it's the latter--they misuse several key terms and phrases, says she who is not an attorney, but used to write TOS statements working with a battery of really smart IP and contract attorneys.

These are attempts to cover their ass if disgruntled users are, well, disgruntled.

Medievalist said:

I'm pretty sure it's the latter--they misuse several key terms and phrases, says she who is not an attorney, but used to write TOS statements working with a battery of really smart IP and contract attorneys.

These are attempts to cover their ass if disgruntled users are, well, disgruntled.

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This. I'm not worried about my Dropbox account. It's nothing more than a clumsy TOS statement.

I am not worried. This TOS is really no different that what you agree to with email accounts, or other websites that you are members of.

And if you don't go public, then there is no reason for DB to allow anyone to view your files, nor send it elsewhere. Use it what it was really designed for, (cloud storage), and you won't have any problems...

Jeez, freak-outs over badly-worded TOSes happen pretty regularly. Should Dropbox have been told (firmly) that their wording was problematic? Yes. But does anyone honestly think that their plan was "BWAHAHAHAHA! Now we can steal any unpublished screenplays and manuscripts our users are storing and sell them ourselves!"? (Or maybe, "Now any time an author publishes a manuscript that s/he stored with our service, we can demand a cut"?) Come on, people.

Well, the earlier version of the TOS was pretty toxic. If Dropbox had insisted, I would have closed my accounts, and shouted about it. However, as I don't think that Dropbox is (or was yesterday) after my half-finished first drafts and my novel notes in order to sell them to Hollywood, and since they responded pretty fast to the criticism, I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt.

Now that four hour open-season, I've screamed shrilly and with force about that. That warranted an over-the-top panic-attack.

I'm glad they updated the TOS. I really like the service, and I'd hate to have to pull my stuff off of it.

Little Ming said:

Ah ha! So my paranoia was right!

*Prints out WIP and burns internet*

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Amadan said:

Jeez, freak-outs over badly-worded TOSes happen pretty regularly.

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This.

You still have your files on someone else's server. That is what I don't like and never have liked. Their files were compromised some time ago. (I had a thread on it.) And every now and then you hear about an 'employee' who takes home work or a laptop or files either mistakenly or for other reasons. (Although this has never happened with the service in question; it has happened on other sites.)

I have trouble trusting my family. I am not going to trust strangers. I know many of you disagree with this and that's fine. And no, I don't think anyone's going to take my stories and publish them or whatever. I just don't like having my stuff...on someone else's server.

Or on gmail, which lost a ton of emails about a year ago.

jmo

I'm a terrible one for misplacing jump drives. Which is why I love DB. I also have three computers that I work from, and I can never remember what's on what computer! LOL.

I don't have anything important --like medical/bank/personal information on there, so I think I'm safe. It's saved on my computers as well, so I have three backup copies as well as the stored copy. And a portable HD.

But it works for me and not for everyone.

They aren't trying to rip anyone off, but by agreeing to this, they now have the legal right to rip off everyone who uses their service. This means you're fine, as long as only good, considerate, honest people are in charge. You're screwed if anyone bad, inconsiderate, and dishonest gets in charge.