A short, honest terms of service. Most documents like this exist to protect the publisher from the reader. This one tries to do the opposite: explain what you can do with the writing here, with as little legalese as possible.
01What this is
This document covers the rules for reading, sharing, quoting, and otherwise using the writing on HanhDBrown. By using this site, you agree to these terms. If you disagree with any of them, the right thing to do is stop using the site, which is your privilege as a free reader on the open web.
The terms are written in plain language because legalese is one of the things this publication argues against. If a clause is unclear, please tell me, and I will rewrite it.
02How you may use it
You are welcome, with my gratitude, to:
- Read any of the essays, the newsletter archive, or anything else here, as much and as often as you like.
- Quote short passages, fairly attributed, in your own writing, conversations, classrooms, or notebooks. Up to roughly 200 words requires no permission. Beyond that, ask.
- Share links to specific essays anywhere, including in newsletters, on social media, in private chats, or in any other context where one human is recommending writing to another.
- Translate short passages for personal or scholarly use. For full essays in translation, please write to me first.
- Print any essay for personal reading. There is something nice about reading on paper.
03What you may not do
The following uses are not permitted without written permission:
- Republish entire essays on other sites, in newsletters, or in any commercial context.
- Train AI models on the writing here. The essays may not be used as training data, fine-tuning material, or input for any machine learning system, present or future.
- Sell access to the writing in any form, including paid newsletters, syndication networks, or aggregator sites.
- Remove attribution when quoting. Always include my name and a link back to the original.
- Modify essays and present the result as my work. If you want to write in conversation with something here, write your own piece that links back.
04Who owns the work
I own the copyright to all original writing, podcast episodes, and other creative work on this site, unless explicitly noted otherwise. Quotes from other writers are used under fair use principles, with attribution, and remain the property of their authors.
Photographs and illustrations either belong to me, are licensed for use here, or are public domain. If you believe a piece of media has been used incorrectly, please let me know and I will correct it.
05Your contributions
If you write to me, leave a comment, suggest a topic, or otherwise contribute to the conversation here, you keep ownership of your words. By sending them, you give me a non-exclusive permission to:
- Quote you, with attribution, in essays or the newsletter, but only after writing to ask first.
- Reply in private correspondence.
- Refer to your idea in my own writing without quoting you directly.
You may ask me to delete or anonymize your contribution at any time. I will do so within a reasonable period.
06No warranties
This is a personal publication. The writing represents one person's thinking on a given day, often revised later. I do my best to be accurate, but I am not infallible, and the essays are not professional advice on any topic. Not legal, not financial, not medical, not psychological.
The site is provided as is. I cannot guarantee it will always be available, free of bugs, or compatible with every browser and device. I make a good-faith effort, and that is the most honest promise I can make.
07Limits of liability
To the extent permitted by law, I am not liable for any losses or damages arising from your use of this site, including any decisions you make based on something you read here. Treat the essays as one writer's perspective, not as authoritative guidance.
If something I have written has caused real harm, please write to me. I would rather know and revise than hide behind a clause.
08Governing law
These terms are governed by the laws applicable where I live and write. If a dispute arises that we cannot resolve through honest correspondence, that jurisdiction is where it would be addressed. In practice, every problem I have ever had with a reader has been solved by an email, and I expect that pattern to continue.
09Changes to these terms
I may revise these terms from time to time. Substantial changes will be announced in the next newsletter, and the revised date at the top of this document will be updated. Continued use of the site after a revision means you accept the updated terms.
10Get in touch
Questions, requests for permission, complaints, or anything else are welcome. Use the contact form with subject Terms question, or write directly. I respond within a week, usually.