I agree with what DoulaCBE/Angie said!

Hello everyone, great feedback and sorry for the late sign in. Had some connection issues here. Did a little research on the specific language related to the TOS and here's what I discovered ... If, for example, we identify that someone in the alldoulas community does something cool -- say shares lifesaving advice with another -- and we would like to promote that person in a press release, that TOS language gives us the option to use that thread to illustrate the example. Of course, this is by mutual agreement only, meaning -- and this is how we do it at EmpowHER, we would contact the person/people involved in the post, get their thoughts and then run with it if that's the direction we decide to go. If we remove that TOS language, we would essentially lose the opportunity to promote the cool people who -- and I totally agree -- have put so much into it over the past several years. So here's my thought -- instead of removing the language entirely -- what do you think of including a phrase related to the 'mutual agreement' piece of it? Am open to ideas, of course, but wanted to provide a little food for thought ... Look forward to your responses. Thanks ladies. And well wishes to Rosa -- who is sick today:(

Hi Tina. If that is the reason for that part of the TOS, why not just make those arraingments with the individual at that time? I'm sure that none of us would mind being contacted because you want to show off our awesomeness lol.

So instead of "By submitting Postings to the Site, you grant us and our affiliates the right to use, copy, display, perform, distribute (through multiple tiers of distributors), adapt, translate, edit, and promote your Postings in any medium and any manner we choose..." you might say something to the effect of "By submitting Postings to the Site, you grant us and our affiliates the right to contact you in order to make arraingments to use, distribute (through multiple tiers of distributors), display, adapt, translate, edit and promote your post."

Only thinking this through aloud with a common sense approach and with the doulas privacy as the priority.

Usage Permission works the other way around for us users, you can ask us any time for usage without the blanket TOS for usage of our posted words, thoughts and ideas.

If EH thinks something is "cool" here you can ask the doula if they want to be participate in an EH advertising or marketing promotion with their writing or ideas.

However whatever they say, with this TOS you still legally have the right to use it whether permission is given to EH.

So, you might be a thoughtful and courteous administrator at EH, and you sound really helpful and forthright. My concern is What happens when you leave your job and the next executive is not as courteous by asking for AD post usage.
Remember with this TOS They don't legally have to ask us, EM continues to have the right to use our words without our permission.
That is not a good deal or fair to any doula here.

Alaska and Monday have very reasonable suggestions.

There are many doulas on here who have worked hard to build reputations through writing for blogs and publications... we see ourselves as a new form of journalist/activist and our concerns regarding the use of our words is very real. If I were to solicit quotes for a blog post or guest posts for my blog I would seek permission before using someone else words, even if I cited the person as the contributor. Right now the EH TOS doesn't require that they take that step. And I would like to see that same courtesy that is extended elsewhere on the internet here in regards to publishing the words of birth professionals. This isn't just any web forum, it is a forum for professionals and I am sure that if ACOG or ACNM has discussion boards you would find similar courtesy or there would not be wide participation.

While I might think it is great to publish someone's story on my blog, they might not agree with me- they might hate my politics and not want to be associated with me- or something else. And netiquette, among other standards gives them the right to refuse to have their words republished somewhere that they do not agree. I want to know that I have that right here.

I truly appreciate that this is being heard and I understand that this might be the first foray for EH into the area of owning a site which caters to professionals and hosts their discussions. I am still withholding participation until I see that my words are protected from unauthorized use.

ACOG does have a forum which is very well protected. To register you have to provide your ACOG ID, Last Name, and Last 4 Digits of your SSN. Then they send you an email to finish the registration process.

But here is their Privacy Policy which is pretty standard.


Privacy Statement for ACOG's Website

NAK....so this will be short and direct
the TOS, w/or w/out the purposed changes DO. NOT. work for me. I cannot agree to give you rights to all of my designs/artwork for your redistribution rights.
If I did "something heroic" in my line of work I wouldn't want it posted all over the web either.

Hi all! Sorry for not coming on yesterday-- I caught the stomach bug that was going around in my house

Leaving off on what Tina stated, if this mutual agreement is added to the TOS...would it help? B'earth angel--this gives you the option to decline when approached about it. Also, regardless if Tina was replaced by someone else it would already be on the TOS at which point we would be violating the TOS if we took something without you agreeing to it. The new TOS would then have to state that EmpowHer would only use a posting approved by you with your signed consent (or something of that nature). That way you still have the power to decide whether or not you want something of yours to be used, what exactly will be used, and where it will be used. What do you all think?

I look forward to reading your responses. Have a wonderful weekend!

it has always been possible to contact a doula directly and ask her for permission to use her posts. i've done so several times and have been granted permission to use for example their art work on my site, giving credits as defined by the particular doula and sometimes with an additional clause which grants the doula to withdraw permission at any time. it hasn't happened yet, but if one day someone decided so, i would have to delete their content from my server.
so, if it's really eh's intent to promote great works, there's no problem with coming back to the old tos or changeing the paragraph in a way like 1stimestar suggested, and just apply general nettiquette, right?
thanks for reading. and rosa, get well soon!

Thank you Tina and Rosa. I am comfortable with a TOS stating that EH may use information from this thread with written permission from posters detailing what EH is using and how they are using it. I like Falling Leaves' additional clause that we may revoke permission at any time.

Get well soon, Rosa

Just putting out a big thank you to all of thoughtfulness coming from the mega seasoned alldoulas. I appreciate all you are bringing forward and for maintaining respectful negotiations with new admin.

That would be perfect!

Rosa, I hope you are feeling better!

I agree that the changes to the wording of the TOS you are proposing will work. To carify..... EH wants to use the post of a specific member. EH would then notify that member of their wish to use this posting elsewhere on the internet or another media? The member would then approve or dissaprove in writing?
My only questions is this... This agreement would cover both paid members and unpaid members?
Thanks Rosa!!

I hope you are feeling better!

Thank you for considering our feedback. If the above was added to the TOS I would feel that my contributions were safe.

In gratitude,