Doubt about G-drive and Onedrive/Skydrive

Immanuels · May 17, 2014

Okay, this is my first post ever here, and I hope I'm putting it at the correct place.

I want to use online back-up services, and I would like using the editors of text of Onedrive and Google drive, but I'm afraid that my material might be taken down if I write a battle scene. For example, I saw this rule on the code of conduct of Onedrive:

"Prohibited Uses

You will not upload, post, transmit, transfer, distribute or facilitate distribution of any content (including text, images, sound, video, data, information or software) or otherwise use the service in a way that:

...

incites, advocates, or expresses pornography, obscenity, vulgarity, profanity, hatred, bigotry, racism, or gratuitous violence."

My bold.

But I stumbled across an interview at the site Microsoft News, that said it was okay to store porn if it wasn't shared. So I thought it might be okay to store some violent battle scenes since porn is okay, but this interview and the code of conduct are contradictories, and I don't want my works suddenly disappeared because of some misunderstanding from my part. Code of conduct of Google Drive don't talk too much about violence in non-public files.

I would like knowing if people here use Google-Drive or Onedrive/Skydrive to storage and editing their works (novels, short-stories, etc...) and if you guys have had any problems with material being taken down.

Alexys · May 17, 2014

Those types of clauses don't tend to be enforced unless someone complains--they're more CYA on the company's part than true prohibitions. However, do not, under any circumstances, store the only copy of your work on any cloud service. If said service goes under--and both Google and Microsoft have a habit of abruptly withdrawing services for corporate policy reasons that often make very little sense from an outsider's point of view--then you'll lose your work no matter how carefully you adhered to the rules.

Kerosene · May 17, 2014

I don't think Google gives a shit; those clauses are more for covering their asses.

I've hosted more than enough "bad" things that Google would like to take down, and it's never been taken down.

Also, keep a offline backup if anything would go wrong.

Reziac · May 18, 2014

When in doubt, zip it up with a password before uploading. That keeps most indexers from seeing it, so the content becomes irrelevant.

benbradley · May 18, 2014

...
incites, advocates, or expresses pornography, obscenity, vulgarity, profanity, hatred, bigotry, racism, or gratuitous violence."

The "incites, advocates" part is clearly for non-fiction, such as political screeds that promote violence against officials or against just random people.

The "expresses" part might technically apply, but even there, it seems it would have to be a WRITER/AUTHOR expressing this, NOT a fictional character.

If something were to happen based on that legalese, I'd be tempted to pay for an attorney's opinion on whether it would be worth fighting.

But as already said, it's always a good idea to also have an offline backup.

thothguard51 · May 18, 2014

Anything you put into the clouds can be removed by the cloud gods without a users approval. This is why it is suggested to always keep an off line back. Multiple forms of backup are even better...

Doubt about G-drive and Onedrive/Skydrive

Immanuels

Alexys

Took a wrong turn at the Pleiades

Kerosene

Your Pixie Queen

Reziac

Resident Alien

benbradley

It's a doggy dog world

thothguard51

A Gentleman of a refined age...