Copyright question?

[jurmeneta]

Hello all,

I had my personal website hosted with tripod for a few years, but I'm thinking of going "legit" and getting my own domain name. Part of the reason that prompted me to change over from free hosting was the obvious less novice-y look, no ads, etc.

However a BIG reason is that a while ago, a friend told me if you host on a free server like tripod, geocities, etc., that anything you write on your webpage is technically no longer your property but the host company's, and can be used at their will. Is this true? I have a lot of original stories written for my website and rather don't like the idea that they belong to tripod instead of me! :eek:

The friend told me that the only way to ensure my own ownership of my written material is to switch to a paid host. Is what what friend saying true? What are the legalities of written text on the internet? Is it automatically copyrighted to yourself as long as you put the copyright sign in and does the "free host" vs "paid host" affect that in any way?

Thanks.
JMU

[Jason]

Nope, your work is your own, a host can't claim ownership just for providing you with a hosting service, and if they did, it would have to be disclosed. I think you would have heard about some major recoil if anyone tried to do this though. But it's always a good idea to protect it with a copyright symbol just the same.

You're right about a paid host looking more professional though, in addition to ad-free pages, you can also use a domain name, which is a must if you want to present professional looking work. Domains are available cheaply these days, around $9 a year from sites like http://www.godaddy.com.

[kevin]

Here is the terms directly from the Tripod website,

7. LICENSE TO MEMBER WEB PAGES AND OTHER USER CONTENT
By submitting a web page to Tripod, Angelfire, or any other web page hosting service on the Lycos Network, you grant Lycos a world-wide, royalty-free, nonexclusive, worldwide, unrestricted license to use, copy, transmit, publicly display, publicly perform, create compilations including, and distribute such web page, and any associated Content, for the limited purposes of publishing and promoting the user's web page in connection with the particular service with which the user has chosen to have the web page hosted and for publishing and promoting such web page elsewhere within the Lycos Network. Such license shall apply with respect to any form, media, or technology now known or later developed. The term of the license will extend only for the duration of the user's membership with the particular Lycos Network service (e.g., Tripod or Angelfire). In the event that such membership is terminated, Lycos will relinquish all rights to the user's Content as described above following the duration of any applicable promotional activities ongoing at the time the membership is terminated. You acknowledge and agree that Lycos runs advertisements on the web pages of its users and grant Lycos the right to do so. These advertisements may include, without limitation, "banner" advertisements and "pop-up text" advertisements. The manner, mode, and extent of such advertising is subject to change.

With respect to any other Content posted by or in connection with the Products and Services, you grant Lycos a world-wide, royalty free, perpetual, license to use, copy, transmit, publicly display, publicly perform, create compilations including, create derivative works of, and distribute such Content to publish and promote such Content in connection with the particular Products and Services and to publish and promote such Content elsewhere within the Lycos Network. Such license shall apply with respect to any form, media, or technology now known or later developed.

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They don't seem to be claiming work as their property but that you grant them perpetual license to use it as they see fit, which might as well be the same thing, but it might dissolve them of some liability. I doubt it would stand up well in court if seriously challenged.

Regards,
Kevin