Ai Carumba . . Legal Simpsons

[MTI]

http://www.hulu.com/

A joint venture with NBC Universal and Fox . . . can the appocalypse be nearing?

[TheDon]

what?

[MTI]

Originally Posted by TheDon

what?

Did I mention that "The Big Lebowski" will be available on the site for free viewing?

[TheDon]

so its like youtube.. but with full episodes.. for free.. legally?... for free?

[MTI]

Unlike YouTube, the participating networks, NBC, Fox, WB, and all their cable subsidiaries like Bravo, etc. are providing the content. Content includes current and old shows. Advertisers are apparently paying to have their hot new commericals available.

[Crazy_Nate]

4. PAYMENTS
Access to the Hulu Site and use of the Hulu Services is free. If we feel it is appropriate to charge for certain premium Hulu Services, we will of course notify you. You will then have an opportunity not to use such premium Hulu Services if you are not interested in paying for them. You are responsible for any costs you incur to access the internet.

Be careful about free...

6. COLLECTION AND USE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION
For information about Hulu's policies and practices regarding the collection and use of your personally identifiable information, please read Hulu's Privacy Policy located at http://www.hulu.com/privacy. The Privacy Policy is incorporated by reference and made part of this Terms of Use. Thus, by agreeing to this Terms of Use, you agree that your presence on the Hulu Site and use of the Hulu Services on any of the Sites are governed by the Hulu Privacy Policy in effect at the time of your use.

Which leads you to...their privacy policy. Quite an interesting (long) read. Especially the bits about the data they collect from you and how they use it.

*snip*

Why does Hulu collect personally identifiable information about me?
Hulu collects personally identifiable information in order to establish and enhance our relationship with you. Also, it helps us deliver a first class user experience. Hulu's use of this information includes the following general purposes: contacting you, customizing the content and advertising you view, fulfilling your requests for products or services, improving our services, conducting research, and providing anonymous reporting for internal and external clients. We only collect personally identifiable information from you because you are voluntarily submitting the information to us in order to enjoy certain Hulu Services.
We also may obtain personally identifiable information from reputable third parties in order to further enhance your user experience with the Hulu Services.

*snip*

So, among other things, you get to watch these TV programs and be a guinea pig for their research. I hope you don't mind your data being probed. I'll pass

[Mistress]

I thought this was a new Hawaiian dance.

[MTI]

Nate, you may want to check into the amount of info Google collects too . . . their search engine isn't "free" either. Who owns YouTube, again?

[Crazy_Nate]

Your point is well taken. I am still creeped out by gmail, but I use noscript and adblock as much as I can with Firefox. Fight back, I say!

http://noscript.net/
http://adblockplus.org/en/