Can I use it to make money?

This topic has 11 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 22 years, 8 months ago by RoKgOdDeSs.

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February 2, 2004 at 11:57 am #11191

Hockey_Hair
Member

I am a language teacher and have students who will pay me to teach them classes using MSN or Windows Messenger.

Is this legal? Should I worry about it if it isn’t?

HH

February 2, 2004 at 1:16 pm #85135

DJHyperbyte
Member

Huh? What exactly do they want to learn about MSN/Windows Messenger? I mean… the program isn’t that difficult, is it?

February 2, 2004 at 1:23 pm #85141

Hockey_Hair
Member

ummm…

I teach language classes using the messengers…and want to know if it’s legal. I don’t teach classes on how to use the messengers.

Any ideas on the legal aspects here?

HH

February 2, 2004 at 2:01 pm #85134

sciencefeeling
Member

Your question was very clear. I guess our Moderator read it too fast or too early in the morning, ;), j/k.

MSN messenger can be used in your business but it cannot be used to manage a business or build one with it…or so it sais in its Terms of Use, that you can read completely in this link http://messenger.msn.com/Help/Terms.aspx?mkt=en-us

The part of the Terms of Use that made me think so is…

Quote:

quote: Subject to these Terms of Use, you may use the Service within your commercial organization, but you may not use the Service to advertise or offer to buy or sell any goods or services, or to run a business or commercial entity without the express written agreement of Microsoft.

Now make your own conclusions…I am not a legal expert.

N.-

February 2, 2004 at 3:34 pm #85140

Hockey_Hair
Member

Thanks, sciencefeeling. I was looking for something like that.

HH

February 5, 2004 at 12:02 am #85142

RoKgOdDeSs
Member

I agree after reading the terms of use that you could use it jus tnot advertise with it more or less……Good Luck

February 5, 2004 at 4:10 am #85132

Jeff Hester
Keymaster

I wouldn’t worry about it personally. I think you’re within legal boundaries, and you’re certainly within the boundaries of common sense.

I’m no attorney, but I believe that the two things Microsoft is trying to avoid in their Terms of Use statement are 1) spammers and 2) liability. The spammer one is clear; they don’t want you mass IM-ing users on their network with what are essentially unsolicited ads (i.e. spam, or spim). The second point is less clear, but thinking like a super-size corporation, I’d imagine they don’t want any business basing their entire livelihood on the availability of MSN Messenger (at least, not without discussing it with them).

In your case, your livelihood (teaching a language) could go on with or without MSN Messenger. You could focus on people close enough to meet in person, or you could switch to a different instant messaging network like AIM, ICQ or Yahoo. There are many options. In this case, you’re using MSN Messenger as a communications tool and nothing more.

Someone else might interpret it differently, but that’s how I see it. Of course, if you take my advise and Microsoft sends its attorneys out to clobber you, I’ll claim that you were a fool for listening to me. 😉

February 5, 2004 at 10:57 am #85133

sciencefeeling
Member

Lol, I had the feeling that you shouldn´t worry about it at all, but I didn´t think it was correct to post an opinion that could be interpretated to go against legality. I made sure to give you the source but not give my personal opinion. Now that BigBlueMasterBigJeff gave his opinion, guess my fears of going against Forum Policies or Webmaster´s ethics were pointless, hehehe.

If I re-sell my used CD to a friend and we negociate on MSN…wouldn´t it just be the same as doing it on the phone? I don´t think there is anything wrong with it, and I will be making money. As Jeff says, common sense would say there is nothing wrong with it.

N.-

February 6, 2004 at 5:47 am #85138

f0rbez
Member

how do you plan to teach classes using msn messenger? what kind of students are we talking about, college? i personally think that anyone who pays to learn course over msn messenger is an idiot. sorry:cool:

February 6, 2004 at 1:08 pm #85136

Diggsy
Member

Thanks Jeff and sciencefeeling,

That was my feeling on it as well. Just wanted to get some other thoughts.

Forbez: I’ll keep the specifics to me and my idiots. 😉 Thanks for your opinion.

February 6, 2004 at 1:59 pm #85139

Hockey_Hair
Member

uhhh….sorry….

That was me above. I mistakenly logged in under pseudonym #1, which I thought I’d forgotten. Doh! Anyway, thanks again for the above comments.

February 6, 2004 at 3:40 pm #85137

Red Devil
Member

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by f0rbez

how do you plan to teach classes using msn messenger? what kind of students are we talking about, college? i personally think that anyone who pays to learn course over msn messenger is an idiot. sorry:cool:

why is that stupid? they can learn a language withuot having to go anywhere and at any time they want. there could be group “lessons” or one to one lessons. they can use mics to help with prononciation. text files with english to (language) translations could be sent as “homework”. Hockey hair can teach at a time that is convenient. sounds like a good idea to me.
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