Hi everybody, this is probably going to be my one and only post on tumblr. I'm going to be talking about & disproving the current stigma around Octocon's TOS. With that being said, i'm not affiliated with them, nor do I represent the companies true intentions, this is just one angry tumblr users breakdown of what the TOS *actually* means.
Let's begin with what the terms of service is. The terms of service are specific clauses that you agree to when you use their services. This is oftentimes to prevent legal or ethical backlash, and prevent users from misusing their app. Quite literally everything *you* use, has a terms of service (From here on out, referred to as a TOS). These are essentially the rules that you as a user must follow, and the rules that the developers will follow in exchange.
Please read the terms yourself when you get the time!! (https://octocon.app/docs/platform/terms)
Terms of service for the Octocon platform
This clause states that YOU are responsible for the data of your account. If you input your login information into a sketchy website and you get hacked, they're at no fault for that. It also says that you are responsible for 1. What you post, and 2. What you do with it. That is a pretty standard clause that most apps have. So, just don't fall for any free robux scams, and this clause shouldn't have to apply to anybody. It also mentions that the usage of the app must not break any rules in clause 2...
This is a very simple, and once again standard rule. This basically states that you cannot use the app to do illegal or immoral things. Don't post hate speech, and you'll have NO problem. About their rumored dislike for endos, they have publicly disproven these claims in their discord!
So they're not going to terminate your account on system origins...
This isn't the full clause, and I highly suggest you look into the full clause, but this is their right to refuse service to anyone they do not want to provide service to. This is another clause that is most commonly seen in the retail or fast food business! Octocon is allowed to terminate accounts based on the breaking of their rules, or the refusal of their service. Now; in my personal experience, I have not seen an account terminated for anything other than a blatant break of clause 2. They add another clause which mentions the abuse of employees. Yes, this is vague, and so you should take it as you will.
Simply Plural has this clause too!
This states that they can modify their services at any point in time without warning. This specifically pertains to updates and QOL changes. The owners of Octocon do not have to let you know if updates are made to their services. Simply Plural ALSO has this clause!
6 is quite a long clause so I won't be pasting it all here, but once again, please look at the terms of service (AT THE TOP OF THIS MESSAGE ITS LINKED!!!) The most important part is subsection 4, where it is specifically mentioned that they will ONLY use YOUR data to help YOU with support requests, bug fixes, and legal proceedings. Don't do anything illegal, and they won't show your data publicly!
Subsection 6 also mentions that they will ONLY provide the data mentioned in subsection 4 to Third Party Services. They will only give the data to the third party services for the reasons of support requests, but fixes, and legal proceedings. Your data is not being sold to a black market; it's being used to help YOU.
(I've run out of images here, so please continue reading this while looking at the TOS, linked at the top of this message. I'm not well versed enough in Tumblr to understand how to fix this :(...)
This is a super simple breakdown, and that's that if you use something that's copyrighted without proper permission, and it gets Octocon in trouble, then they have a right to remove it. That simple.
Bugs & Features Clause, No.8
Features and Bugs says that they will go in the direction with their app that THEY please. It is their app after all. Not everything that the community says that needs to get added; will get added. The bugs portion mentions how any non-essential bugs will not be guaranteed to be fix (However Atlas has always been on top of these bugs), and security bugs will always be fixed. Once again, your data is safe. It's also a specific mention that yes, there will be bugs, it happens!
The API clause specifically mentions that if you are overly overloading their system through multiple API requests (This is also known as DDOS attacks) they have the right to terminate your account.
Finally, the liability agreement, No.10
Finally, your liability agreement says that they are not at fault if things go wrong. You choose to use the app, and they have mentioned in clause 6, they will keep your data as safe as possible. But if something does happen that is OUT OF THEIR CONTROL, they are not responsible for these things. Discord has this exact same clause!
Personal end note; All of these clauses are to protect Atlas, the sole developer of this program. They are an indie developer, and do not want legal smoke for something that they didn't do. You agree to use this app, and Atlas agrees to keep your data as safe as possible. That is 99.9% percent similar to all apps TOS's, including Discord, Simply Plural, Pluralkit, and more. Im not a legal representative, but I see this sheer hypocrisy happening in the System community. You all use apps like Discord and Pluralkit, and praise them as if they don't have the exact same, or even more extreme legal standings. Not only that, the owners of Simply Plural and Pluralkit are most definitely evil and scary people. I understand that you all are upset about the downing of Simply Plural, however you should not be taking these frustrations out on an indie developer. By the creators of Simply Plural, Octocon was recommended because it offered adequate enough services to please the standards of the creators of Simply Plural. So yes, y'all have some goddamn selective hearing. Look into what you're actually reading before you start basing your opinion on some Tumblr thread. Think about what side a post may be portraying, and is it the full picture, or just one interpretation? THAT is media literacy. Please, do your readings before you start agreeing with random people. Thank you, Apollo outtie.
Remember, this is just my interpretation. Please, do your reading and find your own stances!
