This is possibly the worst blog site I have ever used, and I've used a lot. Where do I begin?

First of all, it took four attempts to create this blog, and that was after I created and validated an MSN Passport. The site is really overloaded. You'd think with as much hype as MSN generated for this launch, not to mention the resources at their disposal, they could've prepared their launch a little better. But beyond that, the scripting of the page disables all the buttons when you submit. Then the submit doesn't go through, and you're forced to reload the page and fill it out over again instead of just resubmitting. Disabling all the buttons on a page is generally a really bad idea.

Moving on, there are 31 themes, but they're all boring. All the "theme" does is change the images and some colors. There's no ability to redesign things at all, and worse there's no ability to reorganise the page. Speaking of images, why does it use so many? It's awfully slow to load.

Beyond that, your blog is merely embedded into a regular MSN template. That means that there is the MSN logo and sign-in/out on the top of every page. There is also a set of ugly, mostly irrelevant links at the bottom.

Disturbingly, there is also the following text at the bottom of every page: "©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved." Oh, but perhaps you, like most readers, will have skipped or skimmed the Terms of Use entirely. I quote section 6:

For materials you post or otherwise provide to Microsoft related to the MSN Web Sites (a "Submission"), you grant Microsoft permission to (1) use, copy, distribute, transmit, publicly display, publicly perform, reproduce, edit, modify, translate and reformat your Submission, each in connection with the MSN Web Sites, and (2) sublicense these rights, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law. Microsoft will not pay you for your Submission.

Emphasis is mine. In case you missed the meaning, you're basically saying goodbye to some of your intellectual property rights by allowing Microsoft to reproduce your blog — sorry, Space — entries at will. Oh, and don't expect compensation.

Did they mean to be evil? Possibly, but also possibly not. Should you post your blog here if you're concerned about your IP rights? Remember, by law, everything your write is yours at the time of creation unless you waive your rights. Agreeing to the MSN TOU would qualify as such waiver.

I wonder when the blogosphere will notice this.

There's so much more to complain about here, but I'll leave it at that.

Of course I'm perfectly aware that by writing this entry here, I've given up my rights to the work to MSN. All I have to say is this: MSN, if you'd like to reproduce this entry, you have my blessing!

ObDisclaimer: I am not a lawyer and make no claims as such, nor do I provide legal counsel or advice.

Update: Thanks to Boing Boing for the link here.

-- Melissa Della