# Some thoughts on mastodon.social's updated terms
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# Some thoughts on mastodon.social's updated terms
I hadn't intended to read mastodon.social's updated terms of service this evening.
But I did, and so I wrote up my thoughts in what I hope is a kind, helpful manner.
But, tl;dr, there are some bits with which I really struggle, particularly in the context of a federated service.
https://neilzone.co.uk/2025/06/some-thoughts-on-mastodonsocials-updated-terms/
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# Some thoughts on mastodon.social's updated terms
I hadn't intended to read mastodon.social's updated terms of service this evening.
But I did, and so I wrote up my thoughts in what I hope is a kind, helpful manner.
But, tl;dr, there are some bits with which I really struggle, particularly in the context of a federated service.
https://neilzone.co.uk/2025/06/some-thoughts-on-mastodonsocials-updated-terms/
There is an incredibly detailed write up of a concern about the IP licence grant here, and a confirmation from the project that they will look into it.
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There is an incredibly detailed write up of a concern about the IP licence grant here, and a confirmation from the project that they will look into it.
Who woke up too early to start writing some template terms for federated services (to be licensed as CC BY-SA-NC, I suspect)?
This guy.
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Who woke up too early to start writing some template terms for federated services (to be licensed as CC BY-SA-NC, I suspect)?
This guy.
I've made a good start, but now time for breakfast and then I will need to get on with Actual Legal Work.
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I've made a good start, but now time for breakfast and then I will need to get on with Actual Legal Work.
I'm not sure that I'll get much more done on some template terms today.
I'm rather legal'd out.
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I'm not sure that I'll get much more done on some template terms today.
I'm rather legal'd out.
I was wrong.
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I was wrong.
I have a draft set of template terms for fedi instances which, I think, does not suck too much.
I want to sleep on it, and I should probably get some friendly "critical friend" / peer review before punting them out for broader feedback...
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I have a draft set of template terms for fedi instances which, I think, does not suck too much.
I want to sleep on it, and I should probably get some friendly "critical friend" / peer review before punting them out for broader feedback...
Having slept on it, I've woken up wondering if this is the way to go or not.
Part of me thinks that another strawman might be useful.
But part of me thinks that this should start as a community effort, taking in a wide range of perspectives, not just the views of random bloke with a blog.
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Having slept on it, I've woken up wondering if this is the way to go or not.
Part of me thinks that another strawman might be useful.
But part of me thinks that this should start as a community effort, taking in a wide range of perspectives, not just the views of random bloke with a blog.
@neil I don't think it's a bad idea to get more perspective but you're more than just a random dude with a blog, you're a -lawyer- with a blog and direct experience of administering the relevant systems. There could hardly be a better person to take point on this.
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@neil I don't think it's a bad idea to get more perspective but you're more than just a random dude with a blog, you're a -lawyer- with a blog and direct experience of administering the relevant systems. There could hardly be a better person to take point on this.
Plus you have the spoons for it, and the people who will benefit from what you're doing (like me and all the other ND / disabled / marginalised instance admins) don't.
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Plus you have the spoons for it, and the people who will benefit from what you're doing (like me and all the other ND / disabled / marginalised instance admins) don't.
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@welshpixie @http_error_418 Now that's an excellent point. Thank you.
And, like @sarahjamielewis and @mindpersephone point out in other replies, this can be the start of a community effort.
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