With all the buzz over Google+ this week, I thought I'd re-post a previous post on Google+.

I have received many emails about the Terms of Service. See below. Check out the bold type, which was omitted from some blog posts. Important stuff.

Also, since diving into Google+, I have been following what my friend Trey Ratcliff is doing with it, including his Hangouts. Quite cool! Read Trey's take on Google+: Google+ is Great for Photographers.

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Last year, I was honored to be invited (thanks to an intro by my friend Tray Ratcliff of Stuck in Customs fame) to speak at the Googlplex. Here's the YouTube link to my talk.

I'll be speaking again at Google in October. I'll also be giving a lighting demo, along with my friend Derrick Story of The Digital Story fame) to the Google camera club. Again, quite an honor.

Speaking of Google, I know much has been written on the Web about Google plus - and the Terms of Service. I have put in bold extra important statements that you should consider - important points that were not mentioned in some posts.

11.1    You retain copyright and any other rights you already hold in Content which you submit, post or display on or through, the Services. By submitting, posting or displaying the content you give Google a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free, and non-exclusive license to reproduce, adapt, modify, translate, publish, publicly perform, publicly display and distribute any Content which you submit, post or display on or through, the Services. This license is for the sole purpose of enabling Google to display, distribute and promote the Services and may be revoked for certain Services as defined in the Additional Terms of those Services.

11.2    You agree that this license includes a right for Google to make such Content available to other companies, organizations or individuals with whom Google has relationships for the provision of syndicated services, and to use such Content in connection with the provision of those services.

11.3    You understand that Google, in performing the required technical steps to provide the Services to our users, may (a) transmit or distribute your Content over various public networks and in various media; and (b) make such changes to your Content as are necessary to conform and adapt that Content to the technical requirements of connecting networks, devices, services or media. You agree that this license shall permit Google to take these actions.

Hey, this is all brand new to me, too. I'll keep you posted as to how I'll be using this service.

Explore the light,
Rick