Looking at the CBC terms of use document for my previous post, I was disappointed to see a linking policy section. They’re just plain silly. I won’t go on about that, but the reason I mention it is because the linking policy contains a really large sentence. Check it out:
While CBC/Radio Canada encourages links to the Web site, it does not wish to be linked to or from any third-party web site which (i) contains, posts or transmits any unlawful, threatening, abusive, libellous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane or indecent information of any kind, including, without limitation, any content constituting or encouraging conduct that would constitute a criminal offense, give rise to civil liability or otherwise violate any local, state, provincial, national or international law, regulation which may be damaging or detrimental to the activities, operations, credibility or integrity of CBC/Radio Canada or which contains, posts or transmits any material or information of any kind which promotes racism, bigotry, hatred or physical harm of any kind against any group or individual, could be harmful to minors, harasses or advocates harassment of another person, provides material that exploits people under the age of 18 in a sexual or violent manner, provides instructional information about illegal activities, including, without limitation, the making or buying of illegal weapons; or (ii) contains, posts or transmits any information, software or other material which violates or infringes upon the rights of others, including material which is an invasion of privacy or publicity rights, or which is protected by copyright, trademark or other proprietary rights.
As far as my eyes and the text search tell me, there’s only one period in that obscenely large block of text. It appears at the very end, after more than 200 words.
I particularly like the part that disallows linking from sites that contain material protected by copyright. Seriously. Unless material is explicitly released into the public domain or the copyright has expired, everything is copyrighted. If I abide by their terms, I could not provide any links to their page. But I don’t abide by their terms because they’re ridiculous. I also believe they’re not remotely enforceable. Their own wording (“ … does not wish to be linked … ”) suggests they they know their terms are nothing more than suggestions with legal-sounding phrasing.
Regardless, that’s a big sentence!
sethra
Do lawyers take a class specifically to learn how to do this? That’s the most ridiculous, and pointless, rambling of words I’ve seen in quite some time.