Microsoft Updates Services Agreement for Online Products

Last week, Microsoft has started to announce its users about a series of changes brought to its services agreements, set to take effect on October 19, 2012.

In the email sent to users, which encourages them to read the new service agreement, the company informs that the changes affect a wide range of its online products and services, as well as Microsoft accounts.

Some of the affected services include Hotmail, SkyDrive, Bing, MSN, Office.com, Windows Live Messenger, Windows Photo Gallery, Windows Movie Maker, Windows Mail Desktop, and Windows Writer.

The company also informs users that the changes were meant to make it easier for users to read and understand, and that a Q&A format was included to make terms clearer.

“We also clarified how Microsoft uses your content to better protect consumers and improve our products, including aligning our usage to the way we're designing our cloud services to be highly integrated across many Microsoft products,” the company said in the email.

“We realize you may have personal conversations and store personal files using our products, and we want you to know that we prioritize your privacy.”

Following the change, Microsoft will have the possibility to access and display user content across various cloud services, with the purpose to “provide, protect and improve Microsoft products and services.”

Basically, the company will be able to access content from Hotmail, SkyDrive and Office and use it to deliver personalized search results for its Bing users.

At the same time, Microsoft announced the addition of a class action waiver to its contract, through which it requires US users to settle disputes with the company with arbitration rather than litigation.

“Finally, we have added a binding arbitration clause and class action waiver that affects how disputes with Microsoft will be resolved in the United States,” the company said in the email.

Those who would like to have a better look at the new Microsoft Services Agreement should head over to the company’s website via this link.