Another Random TOS Change

Kimi Filed Under: Labels: imvu, profanity, refunds, tos, tos change, vgp

Once again, IMVU has changed their Terms Of Service - without warning. This time, they have taken the word "Bitch" off of the list of acceptable General Audience words. Check out this thread Most importantly, check out the post by Senior Community Manager Jamidiaz where she specifically states "This topic came up recently and I verified that B**** [Bitch] is considered AP."

Well la-de-da. Additionally, we now face the issue of what is really acceptable. There used to be a nice little list of words and the categories in which they fell under. The proof is in the pudding in the image below. (Click to see larger image)


Thanks to several members of the community, I have confirmed that there is now no list to be found anywhere on the website. The Virtual Goods Policy has a link suggesting it leads to what IMVU calls a place "To learn more about what IMVU considers profane" but upon clicking the link, you are lead to IMVU's crappy help center. Upon searching for information on words suitable for General Audience, you are sent right back to the VGP. *Sigh*

The real kicker? This topic is being first adressed by Sparkle (not to be confused with Sparkles) who due to a re-rating of the word "Bitch" has had to issue a significant amount of refunds. Ex Community Manager GuardianRob posted nearly a year ago HERE that Content Creators would NOT be responsible for refunds issued to buyers due to a change in the TOS. Point 11 of his post states "If the VGP should receive an addendum and it affects creators with a refund, IMVU will cover the full amount of refunds. However any product found in violation of that new rule after IMVU covers the cost, the creator will be responsible for the refund."

So now we wait. So far, IMVU is standing by their so-called new policy. I will update this post with further information as I receive it.

6 Responses to "Another Random TOS Change"

1. Chem-X Says: http://testingsfc.blogspot.com/2009/07/another-random-tos-change.html?showComment=1246706551765#c3031231678271864886'> July 4, 2009 at 4:22 AM
2. What IMVU did to Sparkle was really (excuse my language) but B!tchy. Instead of subtracting 2500+ credits from her, they subtracted over 26000 credits, WOW!! IMVU needs to get their crap together and give her back her credits.
   
   They should also make an announcement every time they decide to change/update the TOS.
3. Kimi Says: http://testingsfc.blogspot.com/2009/07/another-random-tos-change.html?showComment=1246720627083#c23803282360778533'> July 4, 2009 at 8:17 AM
4. I agree. There should be either a home page message from IMVU Inc, a Blue Bar notification or preferably both. We cannot be held responsible if the rules change and we don't know the change has occurred.
5. Chem-X Says: http://testingsfc.blogspot.com/2009/07/another-random-tos-change.html?showComment=1246744167622#c3133714734108920674'> July 4, 2009 at 2:49 PM
6. Exactly!! The blue Bar and the message from IMVU inc would both be very good for the users. Not everyone reads the top blue bar, but usually everyone reads the messages from them.
   
   Taking more credits than what they should have is not excusable though. How can they take 26000 credits when they should have only taken 2500? Thats really messed up. And they shouldnt have taken any, since Sparkle or any of us new about the TOS change.
   
   Imvu needs to be more responsible and have more communication with their users, or the users will just take their business somewhere else.
7. Anonymous Says: http://testingsfc.blogspot.com/2009/07/another-random-tos-change.html?showComment=1246747689608#c7250984738872357903'> July 4, 2009 at 3:48 PM
8. LOL, god, that image sure has spread. I was the one to originally screenshot it.
9. WWGinger Says: http://testingsfc.blogspot.com/2009/07/another-random-tos-change.html?showComment=1246835326982#c6368963449042194076'> July 5, 2009 at 4:08 PM
10. @ announcing tos changes; it's standard practice on the Internet to post detailed and DATED notices of changes to TOS on membership sites. Not only is it common courtesy, but it's PROFESSIONAL behavior. I guess courtesy isn't so common these days. :/
11. Kimi Says: http://testingsfc.blogspot.com/2009/07/another-random-tos-change.html?showComment=1246838947338#c8311286310765791800'> July 5, 2009 at 5:09 PM
12. IMVU relies too heavily on its stance that they can and will do what they want and when they want without notice. We see it time and time again in terms of accounts being disabled and we have seen it many times over the years in reference to the TOS and VGP. It's unfortunate, because I for one think that the community wouldn't have issue with many of the changes so long as we were made aware of them before they happened.