The return of the legalese

I received an e-mail from a woman named Maria in Arizona just before the weekend, which was very flattering:

I’m looking for WordPress-hosted blogs to show as examples in a training video I’ll be recording next week……..

I’m going to show off 4 to 6 blogs that have a nice look and interesting content as a way to introduce WordPress blogging. Your blog will be onscreen for 1 to 2 minutes of a 2+ hour video.

As you know, flattery (or beer) is the main source of energy behind this blog, so I sent off a positive reply within minutes.

A bit later, I received another e-mail, this time from Michelle, with a pdf form enclosed. Michelle is a paralegal in Ventura, California.

I am the owner / publisher of KNUTALBERT (my “Blog”). I hereby grant to Lxxxx.com, Inc., a California corporation (“Lxxxx.com”), the absolute right and permission to use, re-use, publish, and re-publish my Blog, in whole or in part, without restriction as to changes or alterations, or reproductions thereof in color or otherwise, made through any and all media now or hereafter known, primarily in connection with training videos, but also for illustration, promotion, art, advertising, trade, or any other purpose whatsoever. I also consent to the use of any printed matter in conjunction therewith.

There was more, too, but that paragraph was enough for me. Signing this might have been the road to fame, stardom and a yacht, but I’d rather keep things as they are. I’d rather not have anyone in California have the right to my blog for any other purpose whatsoever.

I need a beer. In color or otherwise.

(In all fairness, Maria has apologized. She had told them the form could scare people off!)