Acceptable Use Policy Q&A

Does the blog own comments posted by users under the terms of this policy?

No. The copyright in comments is retained by the user. However, the user licenses that content to the blog. The licence can be drafted in broad terms, such that the blog may have wide ranging rights to publish, republish, edit etc user comments.

There are two main reasons for having a licence rather than an assignment of the copyright. First, as a matter of English law, legal assignments of copyright must be signed by the assignor. Second, users - insofar as the issue crosses their minds - usually expect to retain ultimate ownership of the intellectual property rights in their own comments.

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