The “do no evil” mantra of Google is out the door.
If you’re a lawyer who is considering using Google Drive as your Dropbox alternative, I suggest you stop, or at least check the Google Terms of Service. From the TOS:
When you upload or otherwise submit content to our Services, you give Google (and those we work with) a worldwide license to use, host, store, reproduce, modify, create derivative works (such as those resulting from translations, adaptations or other changes we make so that your content works better with our Services), communicate, publish, publicly perform, publicly display and distribute such content. The rights you grant in this license are for the limited purpose of operating, promoting, and improving our Services, and to develop new ones. This license continues even if you stop using our Services (for example, for a business listing you have added to Google Maps).
Uh, that’s a scary thought. A worldwide license which basically means Google owns everything. I’m not an expert in the area of licenses, but when I see “use, host, store, reproduce, modify, create derivative works (such as those resulting from translations, adaptations or other changes we make so that your content works better with our Services), communicate, publish, publicly perform, publicly display and distribute such content,” forever, I get worried.
Sure the base arguments are that “there are settings that you can change to ‘protect’ yourself,” and “you’re already using Google’s other services, so what’s the big deal.”
The problem is though that I’m okay with sharing information about my calendar, email (slightly), and contacts, which may contain little or no private and confidential information, rather than uploading and storing my entire client file.
Here’s a great post on ZDNet discussing the various terms for other services. You’ll notice that even ZDNet is hesitant about the scope of the “limiting” clause.
So, until Google wants to change or clarify its TOS, I’m sticking with Dropbox for my mobile file storage.
[...] to me, is the announcement and opening of Google Drive, Google’s Dropbox killer. If you read this post, you’ll know I’m not recommending Drive just yet, at least for attorneys. Unfettered [...]
[...] is trying hard to get you to jump to their Drive service (here’s why lawyers should wait), and is especially touting its features. If you don’t know, Drive has assumed or morphed [...]
[...] s); })(); I’m a fan of the Google Drive (formerly Google Docs) system (except for this little reason or this one). I like that I can open, edit, create, manage, design…, well, you get the [...]
[...] my favorite PDF editor, RepliGo Reader. Second, using the new offline mode in Google Drive (I know what I’ve said about the program before), I was able to draft and edit my response to a motion for summary judgment using only my tablet. [...]
[...] preferred apps are OfficeSuite Pro 6 and Google Drive (formerly Google Docs). Although I have some full-fledged reservations about using Google Drive for anything but the most basic documents (think publicly -filed [...]
[...] that sometimes you get what you pay for Those are great, and I’ve talked about a couple, especially the agreements, when it comes to mobile security. You can check out my references on using Dropbox (my preferred [...]
[...] though I have Google Drive reservations, that doesn’t mean you need to. The Google and Your Business Blog gives these five tips to [...]
[...] add, if you don’t agree with the policy, you don’t need to use the service. I’m ardently critical about some of Google’s service policies, yet I’m far more willing to trust Google with certain information than say some local [...]
[...] Drive (free) – I have reservations about actually storing important information, but for basic word processing and document creation, [...]
[...] Google changes its information access policy, I still cannot recommend Google Drive as a file storage platform for confidential client documents. However, it’s perfect for [...]