Boilerplate' and 'fine print' are some of the more charitable words used to describe the terms of the service agreements that take a license, or outright ownership, of user content distributed through each of the web systems. Microsoft, the first to feel the criticism, backs down. Microsoft's Passport service, the target of widespread criticism for terms that take complete ownership of any communication or data transferred in connection with service, quickly revised .
Service receives more criticism for invasive privacy terms .
Slashdot reveals arguably less invasive terms for Google's online Usenet archives, which only take a perpetual license in posts. Washington-based Justicefiles.org sued by police officers and the city of Kirkland to enjoin publication of the officers' Social Security Numbers, arguing the action is to protect the officers' privacy. I coverage of the site owners' Freedom of Information Act suit to expose police records. Under the microscope . Alexa under Federal Trade Commission inquiry.