Content Leeches

There is a new scourge on the net - what I affectionately refer to as content leeches. Okay, maybe they're not entirely new, but definitely more widespread and accepted (and utilized) by the masses more than ever before, due to their friendly appearance and convenience.

These sheep in wolves' clothing seem harmless enough, and portray themselves as "free" content hosting services. I could easily name some BIG sites that have been growing in popularity recetly, but I will instead keep this word of caution vague, for fear of retribution. However, anyone on the internet today is likely to have used one of the many services that fall into this category, since I am referring to popular video, audio, photo, and even *gulp* blogging services. While these new media giants advertise their services as being "free" for users, in reality we are giving up our rights everytime we choose to post something on them.

Read what you "digitally" sign very carefully when joining these services. In most cases, if you are savvy enough to decrypt the legal disclaimers, you will quickly discover that by posting your content on many of these sites, you are in effect, giving them an irrevocable unlimited right to that content, to use (and abuse) as they (and any of their successors) see fit. This is frightening, to say the least, for copyright holders and anyone who would like creative control over how their content is being distributed and sold.

The word irrevocable especially worries me, as I don't like the idea of creating a contract with any entity that will never expire. Although I may agree with how they use my content at this point (I upload a photo for free and send my family over to the site to view it), the future usage of my content can change at any time without my blessing once I've signed their contract (like when they sell my photo to somebody like Pepsi, retain the profit for themselves as a "distribution fee" and earn thousands each time it is aired).

This, however, is the new face of internet media. Why pay an artist, musician, photographer or writer for their work, when you can instead put together a "free" hosting service on the internet for these creative thinkers and gain immediate unlimited access, sales and distribution rights to their work for free?