Looks like HN has another part of IP law to dislike. If service providers didn't secure a license from the uploader/creator of a work, this could happen: -

Looks like HN has another part of IP law to dislike. If service providers didn't secure a license from the uploader/creator of a work, this could happen: - Jim McJones uploads his photo to flickr - flickr displays his image to the public - Jim McJones sends flickr a cease and desist or sues for copyright infringement Which leads to... huh? Obviously the intent when you upload a photo to flickr is to have them display it for you. But they need a license, and since this is a legal issue, it needs to be written in a legally specific way. Thus, that's what everyone has done. DropBox's clause relating to this was already decent and fair in my opinion. Of course, I am not a lawyer or legal expert, just someone who both creates content and runs websites which distribute other peoples' works.