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P.S. There has been a lot of discussion on social media about my post on reading fine print when installing apps, specifically focused on the Grammarly app. Some people have responded with the interpretation that Grammarly can only use your content to correct your grammar and not for anything else.
I disagree. This is not a correct interpretation, in my opinion.
Even though that interpretation may be based on a provision in the TOS that states you keep ownership of your content, they still have an unlimited, perpetual, royalty-free right to use it. I won’t repeat the prior post, but do urge you to read it.
Others have suggested that Grammarly’s TOS are typical of SaaS (software as a service) agreements and, somehow, that makes it okay. The TOS may be similar, but the products aren’t. Grammarly, in my experience, crawls through everything you type. Everything.
The other argument proposed by someone is that because this is typical SaaS language, they don’t really mean that they are going to use your content. Really? Then say so in a clearly-drafted, user-friendly contract a/k/a TOS.
I have not heard of someone successfully arguing in court that even though they agreed to a license of their product, they didn’t think the person was really going to use it … and therefore, they shouldn’t be allowed to use it. If you know of such a case, send it my way.
Again, legal ethics prohibit me from using the service. That aside, I don’t choose to give Grammarly access to everything I type.
As one person put it, “everything ever typed on the computer, so while it runs in the background, it gathers password, credit card data, shopping habits, text conversations from Facebook, messenger services, anything you do… recorded and stored.”
Finally, my posts are my opinion and my legal analysis. I am not your lawyer. And, I am not telling you what to do.
One of my major focus points with clients is clarity. Fabulous decisions come from clarity. Make a decision that’s right for you.
I love a great discussion! Keep the comments coming.
MSB
