Almost everyone has at least one email account these days. To have one, all you need to do is fill the various boxes in the application page of the service provider���s website. And the last box asks you yes/no for the ���Terms of Use���, for which you normally click ���yes���. But do you realise that you have just entered into a legal contract, with clauses running into pages?
Try reading the conditions, and it may startle you a bit. Gmail, the fastest growing electronic mail service from Google, has 20 conditions, with an average of four sub clauses for each. Rediffmail has condensed it to 12 huge paragraphs under respective points, while Zapak Mail has gone for detailed descriptions, with several sub clauses as explanations. When you sign in or use the services, it means that you have understood the meaning and legal scope of the following points.
Service: Normally, ���service��� is understood as a facility to send and receive mails. Gmail has an elaborate description of the term ���services���, and states that accessing any facility that falls under the term means that the user has agreed to the conditions laid down by the company. Zapak.com clearly mentions that they have the rights to define or alter the meaning of the term ���services���.
���We may modify these terms any time without notice to you by posting revised terms on our sites. Your use of our sites constitutes your binding acceptance of these terms, including any modifications that we make,��� states the website. Google says the user���s agreement with the website will also include the terms of any legal notices applicable to the services, in addition to the ���universal terms��� or general conditions, under which there are ���additional terms��� also.
���The universal terms, together with the additional terms, form a legally binding agreement between you and Google in relation to your use of the services. It is important that you take the time to read them carefully. Collectively, this legal agreement is referred to below as the ���terms,��� states the website.
���If there is any contradiction between the additional terms and the universal terms, then the additional terms shall take precedence in relation to that service,��� it adds.
Privacy: To sign in, you have to give your personal details, which most of the service providers assure will remain confidential. However, make sure that you have given the correct details. Google states: ���To access certain services, you may be required to provide information about yourself (such as identification or contact details) as part of the registration process for the service, or as part of your continued use of the services. You agree that any registration information you give to Google will always be accurate, correct and up-to-date.��� This clearly implies that any wrong data given would mean that you have violated the agreement.
Regarding the password, which is your key to the services, all websites hold you responsible for maintaining it confidential. Another mail service assures that their servers are well-guarded by firewall, but cautions that no network is ���unpenetrable��� and therefore no data is unreachable.
Content: All data viewed, used or transferred under the service you use comes under the term content. All information such as data files, written text, computer software, audio files, photographs, videos or other images that you access can be called ���content.��� The person from whom such content originates holds the sole responsibility of it and any repercussions coming out of its circulation.
Ever felt uncomfortable over pop-ups of weird ads or links to the websites you hate? Bear it as a side-effect! As per Google, ���By using the services, you may be exposed to content that you may find offensive, indecent or objectionable and that, in this respect, you use the services at your own risk.���
Says Zapak Mail: ���If you find any contents or materials published on our sites as obscene, offensive, indecent, racial, hatred to religion or objectionable or that is inaccurate, you will refrain from the use of the materials or contents and shall bear all risks associated with using that content.���
���We have the right, but not the obligation, to remove any content that may, in our sole discretion, violate these terms or that is otherwise objectionable,��� it adds.
And if you are the one who plays around with objectionable content, you lose there also, as the agreement makes service providers immune to any liability. Rediffmail says: ���You agree to defend, indemnify and hold harmless Rediffmail and Rediff.com, its employees, directors, officers, agents and their successors and assigns from and against all liabilities, damages, losses, costs and expenses caused by or arising out of claims based upon the use of your account, including any claim of libel, defamation, violation of rights of privacy or publicity, loss of service by other subscribers and infringement of intellectual property or other rights.���
Regarding storage of your ���contents,��� the limit prescribed is solely the discretion of the service provider.
Termination: Had enough of the restrictions? You are free to quit, but you should intimate the service provider. Unless you do this, you will be considered an active user, and will be held liable if any miscreant successfully uses your account for malicious activities. But termination is a game two can play. Violation of any term in the agreement, even unknowingly, would lead to termination of your account. The best part is that as per the terms, your email service provider reserves the right to close your account, and they need not give an explanation for that!
Rediffmail says that it ���reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to terminate your access to the services and the related services or any portion thereof at any time, without notice.���Google, in its list of terms, insists: ���Before you continue, you should print off or save a local copy of the Universal Terms for your records.��� Did you ever think of all these while simply clicking the box that said ���I agree?���
Try reading the conditions, and it may startle you a bit. Gmail, the fastest growing electronic mail service from Google, has 20 conditions, with an average of four sub clauses for each. Rediffmail has condensed it to 12 huge paragraphs under respective points, while Zapak Mail has gone for detailed descriptions, with several sub clauses as explanations. When you sign in or use the services, it means that you have understood the meaning and legal scope of the following points.
Service: Normally, ���service��� is understood as a facility to send and receive mails. Gmail has an elaborate description of the term ���services���, and states that accessing any facility that falls under the term means that the user has agreed to the conditions laid down by the company. Zapak.com clearly mentions that they have the rights to define or alter the meaning of the term ���services���.
���We may modify these terms any time without notice to you by posting revised terms on our sites. Your use of our sites constitutes your binding acceptance of these terms, including any modifications that we make,��� states the website. Google says the user���s agreement with the website will also include the terms of any legal notices applicable to the services, in addition to the ���universal terms��� or general conditions, under which there are ���additional terms��� also.
���The universal terms, together with the additional terms, form a legally binding agreement between you and Google in relation to your use of the services. It is important that you take the time to read them carefully. Collectively, this legal agreement is referred to below as the ���terms,��� states the website.
���If there is any contradiction between the additional terms and the universal terms, then the additional terms shall take precedence in relation to that service,��� it adds.
Privacy: To sign in, you have to give your personal details, which most of the service providers assure will remain confidential. However, make sure that you have given the correct details. Google states: ���To access certain services, you may be required to provide information about yourself (such as identification or contact details) as part of the registration process for the service, or as part of your continued use of the services. You agree that any registration information you give to Google will always be accurate, correct and up-to-date.��� This clearly implies that any wrong data given would mean that you have violated the agreement.
Regarding the password, which is your key to the services, all websites hold you responsible for maintaining it confidential. Another mail service assures that their servers are well-guarded by firewall, but cautions that no network is ���unpenetrable��� and therefore no data is unreachable.
Content: All data viewed, used or transferred under the service you use comes under the term content. All information such as data files, written text, computer software, audio files, photographs, videos or other images that you access can be called ���content.��� The person from whom such content originates holds the sole responsibility of it and any repercussions coming out of its circulation.
Ever felt uncomfortable over pop-ups of weird ads or links to the websites you hate? Bear it as a side-effect! As per Google, ���By using the services, you may be exposed to content that you may find offensive, indecent or objectionable and that, in this respect, you use the services at your own risk.���
Says Zapak Mail: ���If you find any contents or materials published on our sites as obscene, offensive, indecent, racial, hatred to religion or objectionable or that is inaccurate, you will refrain from the use of the materials or contents and shall bear all risks associated with using that content.���
���We have the right, but not the obligation, to remove any content that may, in our sole discretion, violate these terms or that is otherwise objectionable,��� it adds.
And if you are the one who plays around with objectionable content, you lose there also, as the agreement makes service providers immune to any liability. Rediffmail says: ���You agree to defend, indemnify and hold harmless Rediffmail and Rediff.com, its employees, directors, officers, agents and their successors and assigns from and against all liabilities, damages, losses, costs and expenses caused by or arising out of claims based upon the use of your account, including any claim of libel, defamation, violation of rights of privacy or publicity, loss of service by other subscribers and infringement of intellectual property or other rights.���
Regarding storage of your ���contents,��� the limit prescribed is solely the discretion of the service provider.
Termination: Had enough of the restrictions? You are free to quit, but you should intimate the service provider. Unless you do this, you will be considered an active user, and will be held liable if any miscreant successfully uses your account for malicious activities. But termination is a game two can play. Violation of any term in the agreement, even unknowingly, would lead to termination of your account. The best part is that as per the terms, your email service provider reserves the right to close your account, and they need not give an explanation for that!
Rediffmail says that it ���reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to terminate your access to the services and the related services or any portion thereof at any time, without notice.���Google, in its list of terms, insists: ���Before you continue, you should print off or save a local copy of the Universal Terms for your records.��� Did you ever think of all these while simply clicking the box that said ���I agree?���
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