PC World - www.pcworld.com
Contract Title | PC World | |
---|---|---|
Contract Website | www.pcworld.com | |
Contract Application | All PC World website | |
Contract Type | website | |
Contract Date | 06/01/2012 | |
TOS Website | www.idg.com/terms-of-service-agreement/ | |
Total Rating | 63.33 | |
Total Page Count | 9 |
Terms: 3 pages; Privacy: 6 pages |
The Right to Privacy | 2 out of 5 |
General Info: Log data, cookie data, shared with 3rd parties for ads. BAD ASPECTS: Information sharing on p3 seems overly broad. They are part of the IDG publishing network (which is not explained) and also the International Data Group (which sounds like a really bad think in a privacy policy). The law enforcement disclosure is too broad, with terms like 'legal process', which is not a subpoena. When you login with social media, you share all your private data in both directions. They rent their email list, and it also seems they rent your cell phone # and postal address. Doesn't clearly address account recovery and the cell phone porting problem. GOOD ASPECTS: You can opt-out of cookie based data collection and disable cookies. You may also be able to disable clear gifs and web beacons. Follows the self-regulatory principles for online behavioral ads (aboutads.info) and is a member of the network advertising initiative (networkadvertising.org). Your info is deleted when account is canceled. |
The Right to Equal, Fair, & Reasonable Expression | 1 out of 5 |
BAD ASPECTS: The words 'obscene', 'indecent', abusive' are not defined. Can't use forums for commercial purposes (which is not defined) or organized political activity (which again is not defined). They can modify or remove any content, at all, if deemed 'inappropriate'. Can edit all of your letters to your editor. GOOD ASPECTS: the censorship doesn't apply to those who just read the articles. |
The Right to Control My Intellectual Property | 3 out of 5 |
GOOD ASPECTS: Nothing at all mentioned about copyright, so they have apparently have no license whatsoever to use anything you send them, post, etc. If you want any reprints, or want to use an article, they conveniently provide their rights company: The YGS Group. cio@theygsgroup.com FYI, I have used the YGS Group to reprint a Fast Company article once and the prices were reasonable and the service wonderful. BAD ASPECTS: Nothing at all mentioned about your copyrights, which should be mentioned in some capacity. |
The Right to Sue | 1 out of 5 |
Laws of Massachusetts. Venue is also Massachusetts. BAD ASPECTS: Venue is restricted. If you breach, or any 3rd party claims, you must pay their legal fees. The indemnity clause makes it seem like you have to pay for their legal fees even if YOU are the one filing a lawsuit against them. Recovery limited to $100--not good. GOOD ASPECTS: You can sue. |
The Right to Low-Cost Arbitration | 0 out of 5 |
BAD ASPECTS: You can't arbitrate according to the final page, which states that all claims must be handled in Masschusetts' courts. GOOD ASPECTS: None |
The Right to Join a Class Action | 5 out of 5 |
Not waived. |
The Right to No Hidden Terms or Fees | 3 out of 5 |
GOOD ASPECTS: Don't seem to be any hidden terms. The agreement is short, at just 3 pages. BAD ASPECTS: Some parts are unclear. |
The Right to Fair Process & To Be Heard | 0 out of 5 |
BAD ASPECTS: On page 1, the agreement is the term 'terminable at will' regarding the license they provide to you, so basically that means you have no rights. Anyone can be barred at will, for any reason at all. No due process. No warning process. No opportunity to correct. No defense period. No fair and impartial decision making process. GOOD ASPECTS: None. |
The Right to Appeal & The Right to Return | 0 out of 5 |
BAD ASPECTS: No appeal process. No second chance / right to return. GOOD ASPECTS: None. |
The Right to Reasonable Terms | 2 out of 5 |
BAD ASPECTS: "IDG Consumer & SMB does not warrant that the content of its stories will be error free." So we can't trust anything? Further, they are not liable for virtually anything that happens while you use the service. What is SMB Publications--it doesn't seem to be defined anywhere. GOOD ASPECTS: The main TOS is just three pages. |
Historical Fairness | 6.33 out of 10 | |
Historical User Ratings | 10.0 out of 10 | |
Historical Lack of Lawsuits or Arbitrations | 10.0 out of 10 | |
Public Placement of TOS Fairness Score & Link | 20.0 out of 20 | |
Total Rating | 63.33 out of 100 | |
Additional Note | Emails: webmaster@macworld.com; postermasterhelp@idgcommunications.com NOTE: This TOS is the same as the one for MacWorld. |
|
Ways to improve | 1. Fix law enforcement disclosure provisions.
|
|
Review Status | Completed |
First Name | Rating | Comment |
---|
Reviewed by the following attorneys and/or law students:
The reviews on this website are merely a public service. No reviews on this website are to be considered legal advice. Each review is merely one potential analysis. Check that the date of the agreement on a company's website matches the date of the version that we have reviewed. Remember that each 'Click to Agree' agreement is (in most jurisdictions) deemed to be a binding contract between you and the company. Therefore, before making any final decision on whether to sign any online agreement, if you are uncertain, please be sure to read the contract in full, and if you are still confused, consult a licensed attorney in your country or state. Use of this website does not in any way create any lawyer-client relationship anywhere in the world. Click here to read our full terms of service and privacy policy.
First Name | Last Name | Country | Last updated |
---|---|---|---|
Monroe | Mann | USA - NY | 05/21/2018 |
Monroe | Mann | USA - NY | 05/22/2018 |
Monroe | Mann | USA - NY | 05/23/2018 |
Monroe | Mann | USA - NY | 05/24/2018 |
Monroe | Mann | USA - NY | 05/24/2018 |
Monroe | Mann | USA - NY | 05/25/2018 |