"They do it for free" - Moot imposes new legal rules on 4chan Janitors, Mods


In an unprecedented move that pulls at the very fabric of anonymity, Christopher "Moot" Poole announced a new policy to be imposed upon his volunteer labor force. From here on out, Janitors and Moderators alike will be forced to provide 4chan with government-issued identification, in order to continue on in their positions. This is, in moot's words, to be able to "enforce the agreement should it be violated (ie. user information being misused, leaks, ect.) and establish a liability barrier in between the company an its volunteers". 

With this new policy in place, moot and 4chan "LLC" will now be able to hold janitors and moderators legally responsible for their actions, even acting as unpaid volunteers for a site that is over a decade old. The new volunteer agreement even holds janitors' actions "Punishable by Law", which is rare language to ever be associated with the image board.

This shift comes on the heels of another post by Moot, in which he explains the final death of his start-up business project "canvas" which failed last year - an event that signaled an apparent shift in his general attitude.

How many moderators and janitors will jump ship due to the new requirements is uncertain. Who would be willing to enter into a legally binding contract with 4chan, especially when you have no chances of reimbursement or compensation of any kind?

It is apparent that the biggest concern is that of "leaks", where disgruntled volunteers would provide 4chan users at large with information of the inner-workings of the site.

Moot added in the end of the post; "As for any future leaks that may inevitably occur—frankly, I look forward to them. I’ve been amused by past leaks because they usually show just how mundane and even-keeled 4chan’s moderation team is."

We shall see about that. Scruffening anyone?

We have copy-pasted the entirety of the new "Volunteer Agreement" below.

4chan, LLCVolunteer Moderator Agreement
The following are the agreed-upon terms pursuant to which you will be volunteering with 4chan, LLC (“4chan”) as a Volunteer Moderator:
1. Duties. This is a volunteer position. As a Volunteer Moderator, you will monitor user-posted content on 4chan’s website at 4chan.org, including its subdomains and associated domains and any message boards contained thereon (collectively, the “Website”), and (a) report, edit, and/or remove user-posted content that is in violation of the Rules posted at https://www.4chan.org/rules (“Prohibited Content”) and (b) block users from accessing the Website for posting Prohibited Content (collectively, the “Moderation Duties”). You will perform the Moderation Duties in accordance with this letter agreement and any instructions and guidelines for Volunteer Moderators provided by 4chan to you from time-to-time. By entering into this letter agreement and performing the Moderation Duties, you represent and warrant that (x) you have no contractual commitments or other legal obligations that would prohibit your activities in connection with 4chan, (y) you will perform the Moderation Duties in a good and professional manner, and (z) you have full power, right and authority to enter into this letter agreement.
2. Relationship; No Compensation. You understand and agree that this is an unpaid, volunteer position and not an employment relationship. This position is for no specific period of time and will be “at will,” meaning that either you or 4chan may terminate your position and the service relationship at any time and for any reason, with or without cause. Although you must perform the Moderation Duties in accordance with all terms and conditions contained in this letter agreement, or as otherwise provided by 4chan to you, 4chan does not require any specific time commitment for this position (i.e. it is not “full time” or “part time”), and the amount of time you spend performing the Moderation Duties is solely at your own discretion. You acknowledge and agree that 4chan will not pay you any wages or other compensation (including without limitation any equity or ownership share in 4chan) at any time, now or in the future, under any circumstances, for performing the Moderation Duties, and you will not be eligible to participate in any 4chan company-sponsored benefits. Any contrary representations that may have been made to you are superseded by this letter agreement. 4chan may terminate your position and the service relationship with or without notice to you.
3. Identity Verification. Your service with 4chan is contingent upon your providing legal proof of your identity and your representation hereunder that you are authorized to work for 4chan. Prior to starting the Moderation Duties, you must provide 4chan with a copy of a government-issued identification document (e.g. a passport or driver’s license) in a form reasonably acceptable to 4chan. You represent and warrant that all information you provide regarding your identity and ability to perform the Moderation Duties, including but not limited to any form of identification you provide, is valid, accurate and up-to-date. You acknowledge that providing 4chan with any false or inaccurate information regarding your identity is both a breach of this contract and a punishable offense under law.
4. Proprietary Information. You acknowledge that in the course of performing the Moderation Duties, you may encounter or otherwise gain access to certain Proprietary Information of 4chan, and you agree to hold in confidence and not disclose to any third parties in any manner or medium whatsoever or, except in performing the Moderation Duties, use any Proprietary Information. “Proprietary Information” means all financial, business, legal and technical information of 4chan or any of its affiliates, suppliers, customers, users, contractors, owners, and employees (including without limitation information about user-posted content, personally identifiable information pertaining to users (such as but not limited to IP addresses, location, and cookie data), team member identities or nicknames (including without limitation other moderators, and regardless of whether such identities or nicknames are real-life or virtual), chat logs, orientation materials, legal or regulatory affairs, operations, marketing, transactions, inventions, processes, materials, data, know-how and ideas, whether tangible or intangible, and including all copies and other derivatives thereof), that is previously, presently or subsequently disclosed by or for 4chan to you or which is otherwise made available to you or which you learn in the course of performing the Moderation Duties. For the avoidance of doubt, this letter agreement, its terms, and its existence shall constitute 4chan’s Proprietary Information. Upon termination or as otherwise requested by 4chan, you will promptly return to 4chan all items and copies containing or embodying Proprietary Information.
5. Survival. Your obligations under Sections 4, 5 and 6 of this letter agreement shall survive any termination or expiration of this letter agreement.
6. Miscellaneous. This letter agreement constitutes the entire agreement, and supersedes all prior negotiations, understandings or agreements (oral or written), between the parties concerning the subject matter hereof. No change, consent or waiver to this letter agreement will be effective unless in writing and signed by the party against which enforcement is sought. The failure of 4chan to enforce its rights under this letter agreement at any time for any period shall not be construed as a waiver of such rights. Unless expressly provided otherwise, each right and remedy in this letter agreement is in addition to any other right or remedy, at law or in equity, and the exercise of one right or remedy will not be deemed a waiver of any other right or remedy. In the event that any provision of this letter agreement shall be determined to be illegal or unenforceable, that provision will be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary so that letter agreement shall otherwise remain in full force and effect and enforceable. This letter agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, USA without regard to the conflicts of laws provisions thereof. Exclusive jurisdiction and venue for any action arising under this letter agreement is in the federal and state courts located in New York City, and both parties hereby consent to such jurisdiction and venue for this purpose. Any notice hereunder will be effective upon receipt and shall be given in writing, in English and delivered to the other party in a manner indicated by 4chan.

remember
>they do it for free 

Comments (16)

  1. "For the avoidance of doubt, this letter agreement, its terms, and its existence shall constitute 4chan’s Proprietary Information."

    > "this letter agreement"
    > "Proprietary Information"
    > Already posted publicly online, thus disclosing Proprietary Information

    This is going to be fucking hilarious.

    ReplyDelete
  2. What's to stop a janitor from "borrowing" someone else's ID (like someone he hates for example) and continue doing it for free? He could also break said agreement by leaking shit and go scot-free.

    Also, it actually had to be said that the volunteers weren't being paid? Seriously m00t?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Holy fuck you gotta sign an NDA just to volunteer on 4chan? Is moot out of his fucking mind?

    ReplyDelete
  4. "mundane and even-keeled 4chan’s moderation"
    Yeeaaah, that's why I'll get instabanned if I mention Gamergate, cuckholding, niggers, 8chan, or My Little Pony, right?

    ReplyDelete
  5. moot really is actually retarded if he keeps thinking that forcing 4chan to be more "legitimate" like this will net it any financial gain.
    Get a real job on the side like the rest of us, you dumb faggot. Leave 4chan to be the shitposting shithole it always was.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. When did 4channers turn just as whiny and entitled as Tumblr users?

      Delete
  6. Waiting for more people to move over to 8chan. Sure, it's nothing more than an early beta right now, with a very small userbase, but that will change if m00t won't change (like he will).

    ReplyDelete
  7. >2015
    >still using cuckchan
    Kek.

    ReplyDelete
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    ReplyDelete
  9. And now we see 4chan finally circling the drain as m00t takes in in the ass from more SJWs

    ReplyDelete
  10. /v/ gets taken over by SJW mods and Quinn symphathisers, /pol/ dies, 8chan gets axed, now this.
    Well good riddance 4chan you've turned to shit.

    ReplyDelete
  11. But 8chan is still alive...

    ReplyDelete
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