Exasperated and disturbed the new IP license in the Mastodon TOS has no termination clause.
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Exasperated and disturbed the new IP license in the Mastodon TOS has no termination clause.
https://mastodon.social/terms-of-service/2025-07-01
Facebook and YouTube have terms saying you can intentionally remove your IP grant by deleting the content. Twitter lets you remove your IP grant by deleting your *accounts*, which is punitive, but possible to exercise (I did). It's very good Mastodon's grant is limited-use—but so was Tumblr, and it eventually abused its. I want Mastodon to be as pro-user as *Facebook and Google*.
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Exasperated and disturbed the new IP license in the Mastodon TOS has no termination clause.
https://mastodon.social/terms-of-service/2025-07-01
Facebook and YouTube have terms saying you can intentionally remove your IP grant by deleting the content. Twitter lets you remove your IP grant by deleting your *accounts*, which is punitive, but possible to exercise (I did). It's very good Mastodon's grant is limited-use—but so was Tumblr, and it eventually abused its. I want Mastodon to be as pro-user as *Facebook and Google*.
I think IP termination clauses are really important! I spent two full years throwing a fit about this on Cohost and I still refuse to use TikTok because of *this single issue*. Trying to figure out what to do about Mastodon suddenly joining the irrevocable license club (a club that currently includes: TikTok and not much else).
I have been using this site since 2016 and I'd rather not move (never mind Mastodon doesn't *actually* have an account migration feature).
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I think IP termination clauses are really important! I spent two full years throwing a fit about this on Cohost and I still refuse to use TikTok because of *this single issue*. Trying to figure out what to do about Mastodon suddenly joining the irrevocable license club (a club that currently includes: TikTok and not much else).
I have been using this site since 2016 and I'd rather not move (never mind Mastodon doesn't *actually* have an account migration feature).
Update:
Mastodon has checked its alarming new TOS into git as the new TOS template:
https://infosec.exchange/@dvandal/114699285766155770
Meaning all new Ruby Mastodon instances created after this date who use the stock legal text will *also* adopt an irrevocable IP grant license (no way to terminate the license if you decide your instance is abusing it) for post content (and also potentially some existing instances, if they regenerate their TOS from templates)
( POST EDITED: https://hachyderm.io/@thisismissem/114699395151999383 )
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Update:
Mastodon has checked its alarming new TOS into git as the new TOS template:
https://infosec.exchange/@dvandal/114699285766155770
Meaning all new Ruby Mastodon instances created after this date who use the stock legal text will *also* adopt an irrevocable IP grant license (no way to terminate the license if you decide your instance is abusing it) for post content (and also potentially some existing instances, if they regenerate their TOS from templates)
( POST EDITED: https://hachyderm.io/@thisismissem/114699395151999383 )
I've posted a Github issue outlining why I'm freaked out at the word "irrevokable" in Mastodon's new TOS IP clause:
New Terms of Service IP clause cannot be terminated or revoked, not even by deleting content
https://github.com/mastodon/mastodon/issues/35086
It's sort of long (sorry), but several people seemed confused what my problem was earlier, so maybe extra detail will help. I include an outline of my "nightmare scenario", and contrast other site TOSes.
I *will* delete my account over this, and I am not joking.
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I've posted a Github issue outlining why I'm freaked out at the word "irrevokable" in Mastodon's new TOS IP clause:
New Terms of Service IP clause cannot be terminated or revoked, not even by deleting content
https://github.com/mastodon/mastodon/issues/35086
It's sort of long (sorry), but several people seemed confused what my problem was earlier, so maybe extra detail will help. I include an outline of my "nightmare scenario", and contrast other site TOSes.
I *will* delete my account over this, and I am not joking.
@mcc excellent job writing up the issue!
