Disclaimer. I am not a lawyer and neither do I see into the future, but these terms are concerning.
The blog post says a lot about ‘not selling’ our content or our personal information. It emphasises that so much that you wonder if this information is there to cover distract us from another agenda and I think it is.
We all know that we live in a digital world, and as a Digital Product Owner myself, I can imagine that as we sweat and publish our best work, the cogs behind Medium Digital Transformation are looking and thinking of future products and services they can deliver based on our content. That is exactly what I would do.
Medium was never a charity (the last time I checked) so I fully expect them to make money, and I 100% want them to. I am grateful for the exposure that I have gotten via Medium, I never expected to earn, and Medium has surpassed my expectations.
However, this is what I think. Medium Services sounds like an umbrella for future products and services on the platform or new platform that Medium may choose to deliver in the future. I'll give you a few examples.
Uber started as a platform for driver and riders, now Uber covers, food and package deliveries, courier, freight and scooter rental. They took advantage of their platform and membership. Still a platform - still Uber.
Netflix started streaming movies and now commission their own programs - Netflix Originals anyone? - Still a Platform, still Netflix.
Amazon started with books, remember? Now is the worlds biggest market place, with products, videos, music, e-books, games and software. - Still a platform, Still Amazon.
In today's digital world, the value of a company is in the data. Companies are no longer in the business of selling data, that is so old school. Instead they are leveraging the data they have for profit. Any company worth its salt would critically look at its data and explore ways to extract the best value from the data. Medium Services? What platforms? Entertainment? Learning? AI? VR? The quality of content on Medium is amazing, and if I worked in Medium, I admit, I would be thinking of how I could use the content. Emerging Technology is a game-changer.
I would leveraging the brand, use the content and membership and introduce new products and services in future platforms. (you just read that in the blog post)
Don't get hung up on that. Move beyond 'selling' and ask the question, 'why don't you want me to benefit as you leverage my content?'
There is a new normal after Covid-19, and I fully expect Medium to have long term plans to become sustainable. Remember, if Medium is not sustainable, a lot of writers will not benefit from the meeting and walking alongside other amazing writers.
I am not saying I know what Medium Services are, I am not an insider, neither have I heard anything. But seeing these terms and conditions, I'll buy shares in Medium.
So why are these terms of concern to me?
Simply because I believe writers should be paid and or acknowledged whenever their work is used, outside of the context of advertising and marketing on any future platforms or services Medium are planning to build.
Read the new terms:
modify
adapt
publish
translate
publicly perform
in all media formats
In all distribution methods
Now known or later developed.
This is awesome, for me its great news. Every writer values exposure, but here is the biggie - "WITHOUT COMPENSATION TO YOU"
I love Medium because it seemed like a win-win platform, but these new terms read like a win-lose situation for writers.
Medium and Content Consumers Win
Writers lose
I would not remove my content from Medium because of this, however several writers I know and respect may leave the platform and have expressed their feelings openly.
However, if there is any content I feel has potential, I may withold from Medium and publish elsewhere, and I think this is what the vast majority of people would do, and this will result in a decrease in quality articles, and who knows where else it may lead to.
I respectfully ask Medium to reconsider its terms to create more of a win-win environment. When Medium Wins, Writers Win.
This will ensure the best writing remains on Medium.
From a raving fan.