At 10:32 AM 9/30/2002 -0400, you wrote: >................. I'm sure it's possible to >right a terms of service agreement that would protect Fuji from the >actions of third parties without granting the company quite such >sweeping rights. Indeed!. This so called free service in reality will generate revenue from the ordinary reprint service (which is not cheap) with the possibility of additional business from sales to friends and/or relatives of the subscriber, who can order directly from the web site. There will also be sales of mugs, t-shirts, and other fun stuff as Fuji adds them. The storage of the album past thirty days will soon cost $25 AU per year per 500 image block and will produce additional profits. There is free lunch here but not for a photographer. > It sounds like these lawyers were told, "We want to >offer this service and we want to incur no liability whatsoever as a >result of doing so. Whether we trample on the rights of the people >using the service (our customers) is of no concern to us." Sounds >like a case of stupid arrogant business people to me, or else another >instance of corporate harvesting of intellectual property. > > Alan P. Hayes Why not both? I'm not sure the lawyers were told exactly that but I'm sure they were told to come up with an agreement that will protect Fuji et al and produce as much revenue as possible. By the way, there is no requirement for any new technology to produce a huge data base of images because all the shops processing film and loading images to the Internet are included in the use agreement. In essence each store can become a Stock Photo Agency with out having to pay for the images. It would be trivial for a machine operator to cherry pick salable images while processing the film. This might be an incentive for individual processors to advertise locally and participate in Fuji's program. There is nothing particularly wrong here except Fuji is glossing over the use agreement knowing full well the average subscriber will not peruse the contract. Oh, of course, all pros or semi pros will read the agreement and _certainly_ say no!! Dave East Englewood --------------------------- Life is an aimless drive you make alone. Might as well enjoy the ride and take the long way home... - Blood Hound Gang
