For the second time in as many weeks, Dropbox has found itself in the headlines over privacy concerns. This time ’round, it’s due to Dropbox changing its terms of service, leading people to think they could do whatever they damn well pleased with their uploaded media.
Understandably, people panicked. This isn’t the case however, argued AgileBits, which said that Dropbox needed to include that paragraph because part of the Dropbox service is sharing media from the public folders, which Dropbox republishes.
After users’ outcry – and a few deleted accounts – Dropbox amended the paragraph, detailing the clause further:
You retain ownership to your stuff. You are also solely responsible for your conduct, the content of your files and folders, and your communications with others while using the Services. We sometimes need your permission to do what you ask us to do with your stuff (for example, hosting, making public, or sharing your files). By submitting your stuff to the Services, you grant us (and those we work with to provide the Services) worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sublicenseable rights to use, copy, distribute, prepare derivative works (such as translations or format conversions) of, perform, or publicly display that stuff to the extent reasonably necessary for the Service. This licence is solely to enable us to technically administer, display, and operate the Services. You must ensure you have the rights you need to grant us that permission.
Feel that tiny bit safer, Dropbox users? [Dropbox via AgileBits and Liluputing via SlashGear]