Generally we blog about cool models, exciting Challenges, and new developments in Open Engineering. Today we’re going to cover something almost as neat - an update to our Terms of Service!
To be more serious, one of our core values here at GrabCAD is transparency, so we feel its important to let you know when we do something like update our Terms of Service (TOS). We’ve posted a new version to our site today and we encourage you to read it. Below we’ve highlighted what we think are the most important changes.
What’s in it for Me?
Some of these changes are designed to protect GrabCAD, but others are specifically aimed at making our service better for you, our users. Here are three ways the new TOS help you:
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We promise to keep your private stuff private - We added language to make it clear that the things you upload to GrabCAD Workbench are private.
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We make it easy to report a problem - We’ve added section covering the Digital Millenium Copyright Act, which explains how to report if you think someone has posted something you copyrighted.
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We add further restrictions on bots and spammers - As GrabCAD has grown we’ve attracted more attention, some of it unwelcome. We want our members to know we are taking action to prevent unauthorized use of their content.
The Changes
Account Access
In order to access the Services, you need to register and provide certain account information. The new terms point out that you can’t do this through unauthorized means, for example, by using a script, bot, spider, crawler, or scraper, or other automated methods. The new terms also include instructions for cancelling your account, which you may do at any time.
GrabCAD Workbench
Our Services now include software functionality – GrabCAD’s Workbench software – for setting up a private space to share designs with individuals you select.
User Submissions
We’ve expanded the section on User Submissions. One of the changes is that if you provide GrabCAD with ideas or feedback, GrabCAD can use your suggestions without restriction.
License
The new TOS has a license section in which you, as the user, are granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and use the Services in accordance with the Terms of Service. This section also points out that you do not have the right to transfer someone else’s User Submission (e.g., CAD model) to a third party or post it to another website without the written permission of the owner of that work; or to reproduce, modify or distribute any of GrabCAD’s content (e.g., graphics, or the look and feel of our site) without GrabCAD’s written permission; and you may not reverse engineer any software making up part of the Services.
Social Distribution
The new terms include a section on Social Distribution. If you share content for social media purposes, you may not imply an affiliation with GrabCAD, or that GrabCAD has approved your comments.
Prohibited Uses
We’ve added language that prohibits automated collection mechanisms (e.g., any robot, spider or other automatic device). Among other practices, this prohibits crawling, scraping or caching.
Third Party Products and Services
The new terms point out that GrabCAD may also make third party products or services available on or through the site. Third party products, services or content are made available for your convenience, but GrabCAD is not responsible for these resources, and you use them at your own risk.
Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)
The new terms include a section on the DMCA. GrabCAD respects the intellectual property rights of others, and expects those who use the Services to do the same. If you believe that your work has been copied in a way that constitutes copyright infringement in the United States of America, please notify GrabCAD of your claim of infringement by following the instructions that are set out in the new terms.
The new terms point out that GrabCAD maintains a policy that provides for the termination in appropriate circumstances of the use privileges of users who are repeat infringers of intellectual property rights.
International Access
If you access our Services from countries outside the United States, you are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations.
Disclaimers, Limitation of Liability, Indemnity
The new terms include a revised version of the warranty disclaimer, limitation of liability, indemnity, governing law and various “general” provisions.
Thanks for everything you've done to help make GrabCAD better everyday. We wouldn't be where we are today without our great community. You can read the full terms of service here.
Photo courtesy of GrabCAD's community manager Sara Sigel.
