1. Reddit has a relatively short and precise list of terms of use. Many websites
have complicated, long-winded lists covering anything from harrassment to
denial of service attacks to child pornography.
Although the Reddit terms are on a simpler level compared to similar websites,
they still warrant some explaining. So before you go ahead and sign up, make
sure you really understand them.
Because, as stated in the User Agreement; “Service Provider has the right to
terminate and/or suspend your ability to access the Website or any portion
thereof, for any or no reason, without notice.”
(Reddit, 2012)

2. "The Website is not intended for users under the age of 13"
“Such users are expressly prohibited from submitting their personally
identifiable information to us, and from using portions of the Website
for which registration is required, such as our forums and chat areas”
Essentially users under the age of thirteen are allowed to view the
website, however they are not allowed to register accounts enabling
them to post in the forums, even with parental consent, as Reddit
does not wish to collect any personal data of those under thirteen.
It is a very sensible rule for a website to have, especially in an age
where games, books, the internet, music and everything else under
the sun is being blamed for a child's behaviour.
This rule means that if a child reads or views anything on Reddit that
harms them in any way Reddit are not liable.
(Reddit, 2012)

3. “You may not provide to or post on or through the Website any graphics, text,
photographs, images, video, audio or other material that constitutes junk mail,
spam, advertising, and/or commercial offers.”
Reddit is not ad supported, like many websites are. As they don't want to exploit
their service to make a profit from ads, they ask that nobody else will. The
problem with this rule, however, is it can be completely subjective.
On Reddit users post text, links and images. If a link of image comes across as
advertising a service when it may not be, the user can still have their account
suspended.
(Reddit, 2012)

4. “You agree not to use any obscene, indecent, or offensive language”
“You agree to refrain from ethnic slurs, religious intolerance, homophobia, and
personal attacks when using the Website.”
Once again, the Reddit staff want to keep their hands clean and avoid offending
people. If users are bullied or homophobia and racism is spread through the
website, the staff are not liable.
The first line, however, can be very ambiguous. Just what is considered indecent? It
is once again, completely subjective based on a specific moderator's opinion.
(Reddit, 2012)

5. “You further agree not to use any sexually suggestive language or to
provide to or post on or through the Website any graphics, text,
photographs, images, video, audio or other material that is sexually
suggestive or appeals to a prurient interest.”
This rule is interesting, although Reddit staff do not wish for users to post
anything 'sexually suggestive' they do allow for one of the most popular
sections of Reddit, called 'NSFW' to continue operation.
'NSFW' is basically an explicit pornography section of Reddit, they even
included a system to make sure users are over eighteen before entering.
(Reddit, 2012)

6. “You may not provide to or post on or through the Website any
graphics, text, photographs, images, video, audio or other material
that invades anyone's privacy, or facilitates or encourages conduct
that would constitute a criminal offense”
Although this rule is completely understandable, the Reddit staff don't
want to be held liable for users breaking the law, it is once again
strange, considering Reddit has many sections to facilitate such
activity such as the 'Drugs' subreddit.
The Reddit staff include many stipulations in the terms of use, but
then allow the users to break them, almost inviting them to. It is
almost as if the rules are just there to protect the staff.
(Reddit, 2012)

7. “You are responsible for ensuring that any graphics, text, [et al.] you
provide to or post on the Website ... does not violate the copyright,
trademark, trade secret or any other personal or proprietary rights of
any third party.”
Reddit has a very comprehensive system to deal with copyright. While
others may just delete content at the first electronic complaint, Reddit
has employed a 'copyright agent' to be contacted by post that
investigates the complaint and acts accordingly.
The website is based on the idea of sharing content, in employs a
system to spread links to other websites and images, so it is very
sensible to have a strong system in place to deal with copyright.
(Reddit, 2012)

8. “The Assets are protected by ... copyright, trademark and other
intellectual property laws. Nevertheless, we (and our licensors) grant to
you the limited, non-exclusive, right and license to use the Assets solely
as described on the Website ... provided further that you keep intact any
and all copyright and other proprietary notices.”
Reddit allows the limited use of any of the content posted by users to
other users. They then go on to explain that any content owned explicitly
by Reddit, the website system, logos, 'look and feel' of the website, is not
to be used or reproduced be anyone else under any circumstances.
(Reddit, 2012)

9. “you grant us a royalty-free, perpetual, non-exclusive, unrestricted,
worldwide license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, translate, enhance,
transmit, distribute, publicly perform, display, or sublicense any such
communication in any medium”
Well, that's about as blunt as you can get. Reddit owns everything, in
every way possible, completely unrestricted. Everything posted to Reddit
becomes absolute property of Reddit to use however they wish, and that
includes commercial purposes.
This could have harsh consequences, for example if a user posts a section
of website code to one of the programming subreddits, this allows the
Reddit staff to use that in their own websites without seeking permission or
paying any royalties. The same goes for photography, art, graphic design
etc.
(Reddit, 2012)

10. However...
“You may not in any way make commercial or other unauthorized use
... of material obtained through the Website”
Although they grant limited reproduction rights of the content posted
to the website, it cannot be used for commercial or the ambiguous
and unexplained 'other unauthorized' use.
(Reddit, 2012)

11. “You agree not to disrupt, overwhelm, attack, modify, reverse
engineer or interfere with the Website”
“you may not attempt to gain access to Service Provider's servers by
any means - including, without limitation, by using administrator
passwords”
Simply put, users are not allowed to hack the website, masquerade
as an administrator or attack the website in other ways (such as
Denial of Service)
(Reddit, 2012)

12. And finally:
“You acknowledge that Service Provider has not reviewed and does not
endorse the content of all sites linked to from this Website and is not
responsible for the content or actions of any other sites linked to from
this Website. Your linking to any service or site is at your sole risk.”
Another 'hands clean' rule. Reddit is not liable for anything posted to the
website, or the content produced on any of the links posted to the
website.
(Reddit, 2012)

13. So essentially;
●You must be over 13 to register
●You must not use Reddit to advertise
●You must not post anything indecent or abusive
●You must not post anything sexually suggestive
●You must not post anything illegal
●You must not infringe on copyright
●All content posted is owned by Reddit
●You must not attack the website
●Reddit is not liable for anything you post or view
A fairly straight forward set of rules when taken on face value. Rules that
many people would agree to without question.

14. The rules aren't that simple though;
You must be over 13 to register
●
But you can still view the content posted under thirteen, Reddit isn't held
accountable for anything you see.
You must not use Reddit to advertise
●
If a moderator thinks you are advertising, your account can be suspended.
You must not post anything indecent or abusive
●
'Indecent' and 'abusive' were neglected to be defined.
You must not post anything sexually suggestive
●
Unless in the explicit pornography sections of Reddit, I assume.

15. You must not post anything illegal
●
Unless on the boards that cater to illegal actions, such as the 'Drugs'
subreddit that frequently contains highly illegal discussion and images, I
assume.
All content posted is owned by Reddit
●
You need to be really careful with this, if you post a photo of your face Reddit
can then use that as their logo, for eternity, and you can't do anything to stop
them.
Reddit is not liable for anything you post or view
●
The User agreement is very firm on this, it is mentioned many times. Reddit
staff have completely covered every base, they cannot be held accountable
for anything the users do.

16. It's so much easier to register to a website without reading the
user agreement. But would you get a loan without reading the
forms you are signing? Would you buy a house before reading the
legal information?
Terms of service and user agreements are legal documents. In
the long run, it's a lot less hassle just to spend five minutes going
through the details first.
Reddit User Agreement. (2012). Retrieved October, 2012,
from http://www.reddit.com/help/useragreement