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Date Posted: Tue, Apr 13 2004, 12:24:13
Author: MKIceman
Subject: Re: Previous Post (free vs. paying)
In reply to: Dragoness Eclectic 's message, "Re: Well, we've been speculating..." on Mon, Apr 12 2004, 13:35:22

>That's normal for free services--since you are not a
>paying customer and have no contractual relationship
>with them, they don't have to provide you anything at
>all, and can withdraw what they choose to give you any
>time, for any reason. And they can set any arbitrary
>conditions on your usage.

Anything written and agreed upon IS a contractual agreement, which can be debated in courts but holds less validity (or interest) for non-profit organizations than it does for profit organizations.

This clause -- reserving the right to change contract terms at any time -- is normal to profit organizations, too. Anyone can set any conditions they like, for it is up to the customer to agree or reject. Once agreed, however, there is no longer any case for legal complaint.

>Paying customers of various types of services have a
>contractual relationship with their service provider,
>and can't have service yanked arbitrarily--only for
>reasons in the contract they agreed to.

Again, depends upon the contract. Arbitrary refusal of services is not exclusive to non-profit organizations.

>Point? Not much, except that users of "free" services
>have no leverage and no rights; paying customers do.

No: a contract is still a contract, so long as it is written somewhere and witnessed by several people who can testify to its content. The point here, with InvisionFree, is that their contract enables them to change their terms at any time and deny anyone service for whatever arbitrary reason they decide. Again, such clauses are not exclusive to non-profit organizations.

--Matt

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Replies:

  • Addition -- MKIceman, Tue, Apr 13 2004, 12:30:59

  • Reminds me of the Law & Order conversation me and Snorkle had... -- Catseye, Tue, Apr 13 2004, 12:44:50



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