Hello
  1. Free Legal Help, Legal Forms and Lawyers. TheLaw.com has been providing free legal assistance online since 1995. Our most popular destinations for legal help are below. It only takes a minute to join our legal community!

    Dismiss Notice

ISP usage of my content

Discussion in 'Internet & Social Media Law' started by gbarnis, Jul 7, 2020.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. gbarnis

    gbarnis Law Topic Starter New Member

    Messages:
    2
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    1
    Jurisdiction:
    Ontario
    Hi,

    I recently wanted to upgrade my internet connection by switching to Virgin, but upon an examination of their terms and conditions I came upon this clause that did not exist in my current ISP and raised a massive red flag for me.

    31. Can Virgin Mobile use my content?
    To provide Internet Services, Virgin Mobile may need to use, copy, adapt, transmit, display, publish and perform, distribute and create compilations and derivative works from your content. By agreeing to receive the Internet Services, you waive your moral rights and you authorize Virgin Mobile to perform these activities in relation to your content anywhere in the world, solely as required for Virgin Mobile to provide you the Internet Services. You acknowledge that Virgin Mobile may store your content so you can access such content, but that if you fail to access such content within a certain period of time (as determined by Virgin Mobile), or if the Internet Services are cancelled, Virgin Mobile may delete such content without notice to you.
    (The full contract can be read here: Virgin Mobile Home Internet Terms of Service)

    My points are:
    1) There would be no way for me to know what, how and why they are using my content for ("solely as required for Virgin Mobile to provide you the Internet Services" seems like a broad and vague term).
    2) Going to court after signing a contract that "waives my moral rights" and against a massive company like Virgin will be a waste of time and money.

    Let me know what you think, and even if this seems legal to you.

    Thanks,
    Guy
     
  2. Tax Counsel

    Tax Counsel Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    2,779
    Likes Received:
    1,670
    Trophy Points:
    113

    This site only deals with U.S. law. As your question involves Canadian law, we can't help you much with that. The law in the two countries is different. For example, U.S. copyright law does not include moral rights like Canada does. The Canadian government has a page that explains moral rights that may be useful to you.
     
    gbarnis likes this.
  3. adjusterjack

    adjusterjack Super Moderator

    Messages:
    11,913
    Likes Received:
    4,782
    Trophy Points:
    113

    If you don't like the terms, don't use the service.

    That's what I think.
     
  4. gbarnis

    gbarnis Law Topic Starter New Member

    Messages:
    2
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    1
    Thanks, that's useful!
     
  5. zddoodah

    zddoodah Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    6,165
    Likes Received:
    1,986
    Trophy Points:
    113

    I don't disagree with this but it's not for the reason you likely think, and I'm guessing that you do not understand what "moral rights" means in this context. Do you?

    Also, I think the most important words in this blurb are the following (emphasis added): "solely as required for Virgin Mobile to provide you the Internet Services."

    The U.S. Copyright Office would disagree. While it would be correct to say that the U.S. does not recognize "moral rights" to the same extent many other countries do, the statement that "U.S. Copyright law does not include moral rights" is incorrect.
     

Share This Page

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.