Gmail Privacy: Are You Giving Away Your Business Plans to Google?
When you go to an Internet marketing event, you don’t run around the room telling all your potential competitors your new business ideas and trade secrets. And if you find spyware on a computer filled with your business documents, you don’t leave it there to harvest your confidential information.
Why not?
Because you want to implement your plans before someone else does.
Yet the odds are good that you’re telling Google your business plans and other confidential information on a daily basis. And if you believe Google’s informal “Don’t be evil” motto, then perhaps your trust is well-placed.
But are you willing to take the risk?
Here’s an example…
I recently sent an e-mail to one of my Gmail accounts from my law firm as a test. The e-mail described a nonexistent “Project X” as being being important, potentially the “next Google,” and the need to get a patent right away to protect intellectual property rights.
Checking the message in the gmail inbox, I was hit with a bunch of sidebar ads by attorneys including patent lawyers.
Think about that for a moment.
If Google is willing to sniff through your e-mail to target advertising, what is it willing to do when it comes to your business ideas that you’re communicating back and forth daily by e-mail?
Note that I”m not picking on Google. The same could be said of Yahoo! and others. Google just happens to be a very good example because major Internet marketers prefer to use it because of ease and functionality. However, this convenience comes at a price…the privacy of your business plans.
If you develop a better widget, understand that your e-mail communications are not private. And when it comes to gmail, know that the content is being actively scanned for keywords…at least for advertising. Perhaps more. Who knows? Maybe your widget plans will become Google Widget 1.0. If so, good luck trying to collect royalties.
On a lighter note, check out this related humor video regarding Google and privacy.
Independent Contractor Agreements: Should You Use Them In Your Internet Business?
Let’s make one thing clear. An independent contractor agreement should never be used in your Internet business to disguise an employer-employee relationship. If you get caught doing this with an employee, you could be held liable for payroll taxes and some nasty penalties. Simply not worth the risk.
If there truly is an independent contractor relationship, such as a work-for-hire web design gig for a single site, you’ll want a signed written independent contractor agreement in place to protect your legal rights.
Although the terms of an independent contracting agreement will vary depending upon the type of work to be performed and the unique circumstances surrounding the relationship, there are some general provisions that most of these types of contracts have in them in order to be binding (legally enforceable) in a way that offers you protection. These terms include:
- Scope of work
- Price (amount and time(s) of payment)
- Expense allocation (including any reimbursements)
- Deadline for completion
- Milestones (often tied to payment)
- Existence of an independent contractor relationship rather than employment
- Ownership of intellectual property rights for work created and protection of trade secrets
- Governing law and jurisdiction
- Alternative dispute resolution provisions
Your Internet lawyer can draft customized independent contractor provisions that are designed to protect your interests while keeping you out of court in case of a dispute.
