An easy to read document that puts tumblr's terms of service into readable terms.

1. Seen one of these
before?
I hope so, if you spend a bit of time
online or even on a computer then it’s likely
you have accepted more than a few of them
in your time.
These are service levels agreements that
you are often forced accept before using
most platforms online, think Facebook,
YouTube and iTunes.
Let us take a look at what we are really
agreeing to when we accept the tumblr
terms of service.

2. Tumblr has two docs you need to agree
to before using the service.
Community Guidelines Terms Of Service

3. They have a pretty good reputation for
being transparent & fair
“the only likable
terms of service
we’ve ever seen”
“It would be nice if
other sites followed
suit”

4. So let’s start to break down their policies
and what they mean to you
A pretty standard clause in online policies, if
you don’t accept you can not use the
service. It means you must play by tumblr’s
rules or don’t play at all.

5. And now the important bit… content
ownership.
This is the best part of tumblr’s terms of service. Complete IP
ownership over any content that a user uploads. But it doesn’t mean
that tumblr can’t still use your content for their own benefit (we will
hear more about this soon).

6. Here’s what tumblr lets themselves do
with your content
So while tumblr lets content owners
keep full IP rights over their
properties, they have also given
themselves permission to do... well
pretty much anything with your
content. They mention in this section
a variety of uses which your content
is enabled to be a part of. While
tumblr defends (in a polite way) the
need for this, it is potentially providing
them with an opportunity to monetise
your content in the future.
(And they’ll let approved 3rd parties do it too)

7. Some more good news – tumblr will do
their best to remove your old content
This is often not the case, many other popular online platforms (Facebook
for one) used to provide no assurance that data was ever going to be
removed. Thanks tumblr.

8. Tumblr for many users effectively
becomes a reblogging website. How do
they tackle copyright?
They provide a pretty detailed overview of their internal process.
1- The copyright owner needs to provide documentation and information regarding
any breach claim.
2 – If the required standards are met then the content will be taken down.
3 – Beyond this, if a user believes they were not in beach they have the ability to
submit a counter notification again requiring necessary evidence.

9. So while tumblrs policy is good, it’s
probably not perfect and it’s just a policy
so why does it get such good press?

10. Tumblr have created these polite little balloons that they use to explain the
policy to users. It’s a good thing, this information can help give users a
better perspective on what they are actually agreeing to when accepting
the terms.
Although, the balloons also can seem slightly misleading to many, they
are light hearted which can take away from the serious legal nature of
these terms and also represent tumblrs spin on the terms rather than what
the actual interpretation might be.

11. To recap, a brief overview of tumblrs
policy.
-Tumblr outlines a reasonably straight forward policy and it does seem
they are trying to present the best options for the user
- Be wary though, as with all corporations tumblr is going to have to start
earning money soon.
- While your content will always belong to you, if you upload it or write it
within tumblr, be prepared to have it republished by tumblr and other
providers.
- Be careful placing material with a copyright on tumblr, they have a strict
resolution process and as with all online content, you could end up in
some serious trouble.

12. Image Credit & Copyright
Throughout :
- Tumblr Logo: From tumblr.com following their trademark guidelines
-Screen captures of policy document: obtained from tumblr website using standard windows tool ‘snipping
tool’ from URL’s http://www.tumblr.com/policy/en/terms_of_service and
http://www.tumblr.com/policy/en/community
- Vector arrows (various sizes): Licensed under creative commons from ‘Dragonartz’
Slide 3:
-Gizmodo Au Logo: Sourced from Gizmodo website
- Tech Dirt Logo: Sourced from Wikipedia (Fair use)
Reference:
Throughout – Tumblr 2012, Terms Of Service, Accessed 14/10/2012 at
http://www.tumblr.com/policy/en/terms_of_service
Slide 3 (Gizmodo Quote): Biddle, S. 2012, Tumblr Has the Only Likable Terms of Service We’ve Ever Seen,
Accessed online 16/10/2012 at http://gizmodo.com/5896017/tumblr-has-the-only-likable-terms-of-service-
weve-ever-seen
Slide 3 (Tech Dirt Quote): Masnick, M. 2012, Will Tumblr’s New Terms Of Service Finally Lead To The De-
Stupidifying Of Terms Of Service?, Accessed online 16/10/2012 at
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120326/01301418236/will-tumblrs-new-terms-service-finally-lead-to-de-
stupidifying-terms-service.shtml