I have just signed up as a sitter @IzziDog 
Is the new site you have joined Mindmyhouse? Because I have been looking at joining this site too especially because it says you can import your reviews. I was just concerned about their agreement form which details where you can negotiate a charge for the sit or payment of bills. Iâm just wondering whether members on that site actually ask for any of that? Or is it a just in case sort of thing. Iâve copied my reviews fromTHS just in case I need them in the future.
What site is this please ?
The site is Global Pet Sitter, and shame on THS for their bullying tactics in trying to limit the success of this fab new platform
Seriously, THS had its terms in place before this new company came into the market. It is pretty common for companies to own their intellectual material. Shame on everyone on the forum who are constantly complaining about THS but stay on it and benefit from it. Why donât all the complainers start their own company. That would take work so people just want to complain and have other people (THS) do what they want and complain when they donât. I for one want to thank THS as I have had many wonderful sits. The few people on THS are not hurting their business when they all leave. Good luck with those other platforms that to me look subpar.
Iâve written for publication (e.g. newspapers). This is standard âwhoever publishes your words owns them. Thatâs true even if you donât get paid. Thatâs why youâll notice that authors thank publications for the permission to reprint their own work (e.g. in a book). Itâs just that the general public is only now understanding this. Writers have known this forever.
Work product in an employment situation is owned by the employer because you, the employee, signed an employment contract giving ownership over to the employer.
Social media requires opt-in on their terms and conditions which typically grants a very broad license but rarely outright ownership over member-written material. THS members grant THS that typically broad license for everything but FRR content. With FRR content, THS claims outright ownership. That is understandable but very much not standard.
Explain whatâs to gain by complaining about the complainers, seems to be in vain.
Nah, if you are a staff employee whose job is to write for a newspaper, then the newspaper owns the copyright. (It is just like being an inventor at a company; the company owns and patents your invention, even though you are the inventor.)
However, if you are a freelancer, then it depends on your contract. But for the most part, you own your writing.
One can quote though without any restrictions,
A little late to the party, but, whatâs âFRR contentâ? I googled but didnât find a clear answer.
Can you just include a link to your THS profile, then people can read the originals?
That will absolutely work as long as you have a paid up THS membership. After that, the link will just go to a buffering heart in perpetuity. Hence the workarounds.
Wait a minute. So, if I write something defamatory about a HO and the HO sues, THS would be the defending party since they âownâ the review? OohâŚ
"Why donât all the complainers start their own company.â
The irony here is that some did just that and THS is doing their best to make sure they donât succeed.
Feedback, Reviews and References
Your profile is not owned by THS but what you or others write about you is claimed by THS as THS property. Effectively, THS claims ownership of material that establishes a sitterâs or hostâs reputation in the community. Not being able to transfer that reputation to a competing platform is critical to THSâs protection of their business model. Itâs probably not legally defensible in all markets but it would cost a small fortune to litigate the question. Platforms hosting competitors like GPS wonât litigate and upcoming competitors donât have deep enough pockets to do so.
Seriously! Donât you understand business at all. Iâm sure Coca Colaâs CEOâs call Pepsi all the time and offer help in marketing and acquiring new customers. Companies sue other companies for intellectual property all the time. Now you are blaming THS who is creative and successful for the fail of start ups who are not savvy enough to get customers.
I think I will return to the forum when all the haters leave THS. Have an amazing sit coming up and want to thank THS for the wonderful hosts you attract.
I think you are perhaps taking the term âhaterâ a bit too broadly here. Thereâs a clear difference between hate speech and freedom of speech.
Ah, OK, thanks. Wouldnât have got that 
Iâve done writing-for-hire too, but Iâd like to hear the legal arguments back and forth for this one! 
Thereâs no uniform law across countries and across businesses and their relationships with their vendors, freelancers, staffers, customers, users, etc. Precedents donât apply uniformly, either.
Best to look at the fine print of whatever that youâre asked to sign. And even then, under certain circumstances, you can redline or ask for exemptions or clauses.
Plus, just because a company puts things in fine print doesnât mean itâs legal. Often can depend on whoâs willing to pursue complaints and litigation.
There may not be a uniform law across all 195 countries, but there is the Berne Convention, signed by 180+ countries, which is the closest thing to a universal standard. Both UK and US signed the convention. In fact, UK was one of the original signatories