Robert Ambrogi Blog
[See my update about this: Clarification on Demand Media: Two Contracts.]
Way back in 2006, I accepted an invitation to enroll this blog in something called the BlogBurst Network. It described itself as “a syndication service that places blogs on top-tier online destinations.” Those destinations included several major newspapers, such as the Houston Chronicle, San Francisco Gate and the Washington Post. While I would retain ownership of my posts, I had to agree to give BlogBurst a “perpetual license to reproduce, distribute, make derivative works of” my posts.
I don’t remember whether I gave it much thought. I enrolled and then pretty much forgot about it. Whether any of my posts were ever picked up through BlogBurst, I can’t say.
Recently, I received notice that Demand Media had acquired BlogBurst and that I would have to take action to migrate my account. “With the power of Demand Media Studios, we are offering a new platform to help great bloggers like you be even more impactful and successful,” said this new invitation. “Whether your goals are building your online brand, driving more traffic to your blog, or positioning yourself as an industry expert, the Demand Media Blog Distribution Network can help.”
It went on to say this: “The Blog Distribution Network will allow you to grow your fan base and interact with larger audiences through new channels. In addition to the current BlogBurst distribution, your posts can now appear on our highly trafficked network of sites like eHow.com and LIVESTRONG.COM in relevant sections or even on homepages. As before, all posts will include links back to your blog to help you increase traffic and engagement.”
Tempting. Until, that is, you get to the bothersome fine print. The invitation doesn’t mention it, but if you “migrate” your blog to Demand, you are also turning over ownership of your posts. Here is what the Contributors Agreement — which bloggers are required to agree to — says:
Your Grant of Rights. Each of your Contributions will be original and solely created by you as a “work-made-for-hire” specially ordered or commissioned by us, with Demand Media being deemed the sole author of the Contribution and the owner of all rights whether now known or hereafter devised (including all copyrights and all extensions and renewals of copyrights) in and to the Contribution, with the right to make all uses of the Contribution throughout the world and all changes in each Contribution. Without further obligation to you, we may use, reproduce, edit, change, add to, take from, translate, reformat, or reprocess the Contribution in any manner.
If for any reason a Contribution is not deemed to be a work-made-for-hire under applicable law, you hereby irrevocably assign to us all rights whether now known or hereafter devised (including all copyrights and all extensions and renewals of copyrights) in and to each Contribution throughout the world, including any and all of your rights to authorize or control the exploitation of each Contribution by any media and means now known or hereafter devised.
You waive all “moral rights of authors” that may exist or any similar rights. We may, but are not obligated to, provide attribution to you in connection with any Contribution or to display, use or otherwise exploit any Contribution. You hereby grant us a royalty-free, perpetual, nonexclusive, worldwide, transferable license to use and display any biographical information or photographs that you provide to us in connection with this Agreement in any and all media. Upon request by us, and at your own cost, you will promptly provide us with such documents and agreements as we may require to further evidence and confirm your representations, warranties, and covenants under this Agreement, including material and location releases and assignments.
In case that wasn’t clear, let me restate it: If you agree to syndicate your blog through Demand, then Demand becomes the “sole author” of your posts and “the owner of all rights whether now known or hereafter devised” in your posts. You are turning over ownership of your blog to Demand.
That’s a Demand I can live without.