Skip to content
Merged
Changes from all commits
Commits
File filter

Filter by extension

Filter by extension

Conversations
Failed to load comments.
Loading
Jump to
Jump to file
Failed to load files.
Loading
Diff view
Diff view
67 changes: 55 additions & 12 deletions content/analysis/reference/copywriting.md
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -5,17 +5,52 @@ aliases: /memos/copywriting-reference/

# Memo copywriting

Each memo must be composed of the elements detailed below. You must follow this structure when writing your memos.
## Purpose of a memo

Memos aim at a short analysis of detected changes, whose is *diff* the atomic unit.
They must first describe what has been added and what has been deleted.
Their secondary objective is to provide materials to demonstrate matters of interest and further investigations.

## Structure of a memo

A memo has:

- a title,
- metadata (service name, term type and modification date),
- paragraphs describing the changes,
- optional paragraphs providing context for the changes.

Each item is explained in detail.

## Scope of a memo

If the diff has changes related to more than one topic, write separate memos for each topic.
Identify topics from the following list:

| Topic | Subtopics |
|----------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Privacy and Surveillance | Data collection, use, storage, and retention, informed consent, transparency |
| Cybersecurity | Data breaches, security mechanisms, verification and authentication processes |
| Censorship | Content prohibitions and restrictions, reporting mechanisms |
| Access and Accessibility: | Access to services, discrimination/exclusion risks |
| Mis/Disinformation | Definitions of false/harmful content, content sharing, verification and reporting mechanisms |
| Hate Speech | Definitions of violent content, content sharing, reporting mechanisms |
| Algorithmic Accountability | Data use in AI training |
| Data Sovereignty | Data governance, cross-border data flows |
| Copyright | Fair use and licensing rules, verification and reporting mechanisms, monetisation |

- Include topics in the frontmatter metadata of the draft.

## Title

- Write a short declarative sentence to highlight the key change.
- 140 characters maximum.
- Use the name of the service as the subject.
- Write in the present tense.
- Prefer active phrasings over passive (e.g., “Microsoft expands reach rather than Reach expanded by Microsoft).
- Prefer active phrasings over passive (e.g.Microsoft expands reach rather than Reach expanded by Microsoft).
- Describe the policy change, not the name of the document. This information will be given in the metadata below.
- Use no punctuation.
- Use international title casings (i.e. only the first letter of the leading word should be in capital).
- Do not put a link in the title because in some reuse contexts the entire title is a link to the memo.

**Examples**
Expand All @@ -26,7 +61,7 @@ Each memo must be composed of the elements detailed below. You must follow this

## Service name

- Write the service name and not the company name, e.g., Facebook rather than Meta.
- Write the service name and not the company name, e.g., Facebook rather than Meta.

**Examples**

Expand Down Expand Up @@ -60,23 +95,30 @@ Each memo must be composed of the elements detailed below. You must follow this
## Body text

- Describe changes in a neutral, objective, non-judgmental manner.
- Write in the past tense (e.g., “added”, “removed…).
- Write in the past tense (e.g.added’, ‘removed…).
- Bolden the most important point.
- Do not repeat the date, it is already in the metadata.
- Systematically add a link to the diff on this action verb.
- Title of the link: See the change.
- Avoid verbs like announce, because most of the time the changes detected are not announced.
- Title of the link: See the change.
- Avoid verbs like announce, because most of the time the changes detected are not announced.
- Do not hesitate to quote the new text.
- Do not italicise citations, use quotes.
- Minimise the length of citations because legal text is often very wordy.
- Only quote the text before modification if it is strictly necessary to understand the change, to reduce the risk of confusion and length.
- __If changes have been made in a specific jurisdiction, mention it in the memo. Do not mention jurisdiction when changes have been made globally.__
- If you write in a different language than the detected change, always look for citations in the version of the document that matches the language of writing if it exists instead of translating them yourself.
- __Use British English throughout__
- ‘organisation’ and not ‘organization’
- No full point in abbreviations
- See also
- [Guardian style guide](https://www.theguardian.com/guardian-style-guide-a)
- *New Hart’s Rules. The Oxford Style Guide*, 2014

**Example**

> OpenAI [specified](https://github.com/OpenTermsArchive/GenAI-versions/commit/30f1df7d18676c57a0ae1c43c3ccdfc264535cb3) that, as far as European (EEA and Swiss) developers were concerned, their Agreement is with OpenAI Ireland Ltd. OpenAI stopped acting as a separate controller of personal data, and developers now have to present a privacy notice to their users prior to processing their data.
>
> OpenAI also extended export restrictions to plugins located in countries embargoed or sanctioned by the US. This provision previously concerned only plugin owners.
> OpenAI also extended export restrictions to plugins located in countries embargoed or sanctioned by the US. This provision previously concerned only plugin owners.
>
> OpenAI Ireland Ltd is a Dublin-based subsidiary of OpenAI [set up](https://openai.com/blog/introducing-openai-dublin) in 2023.

Expand All @@ -86,7 +128,7 @@ Each memo must be composed of the elements detailed below. You must follow this

> **Midjourney strengthens policies on intellectual property infringements**
>
> _Midjourney ▪ Terms of Service ▪ December 23, 2023_
> *Midjourney ▪ Terms of Service ▪ December 23, 2023*
>
> Midjourney introduced an explicit [prohibition](https://github.com/OpenTermsArchive/GenAI-versions/commit/2cb30a2b4b338a4dffbeab9add8262cec78a3062) regarding the infringement of others’ intellectual property rights in its conditions for service availability and quality, mentioning the possibility of legal action and permanent ban from the service.
>
Expand All @@ -96,22 +138,23 @@ Each memo must be composed of the elements detailed below. You must follow this

> **Instagram adds a posting ban to protect copyright**
>
> _Instagram ▪ Community Guidelines ▪ March 28, 2022_
> *Instagram ▪ Community Guidelines ▪ March 28, 2022*
>
> On March 28, Instagram [updated](https://github.com/OpenTermsArchive/france-elections-versions/commit/1be4b836e3012344558b60d8f9f871bc42cfa4ca?short_path=c108c01#diff-c108c013f0b8769389f20259465cb81324e805f4334bcda6931344e16f999441) its intellectual property community rules, prohibiting the posting of content that facilitates copyright infringement through unauthorized devices or services. The text presents a list of cases in which users would risk infringing the copyright of a third party or even merely facilitating such infringement, even if they did not intend to do so. After the previously listed cases, which include you purchased or downloaded the content or you saw others post the same content, Instagram adds that users risk infringing copyright if they use an unauthorized streaming device or service (examples: a jailbroken or loaded app or service).
> On March 28, Instagram [updated](https://github.com/OpenTermsArchive/france-elections-versions/commit/1be4b836e3012344558b60d8f9f871bc42cfa4ca?short_path=c108c01#diff-c108c013f0b8769389f20259465cb81324e805f4334bcda6931344e16f999441) its intellectual property community rules, prohibiting the posting of content that facilitates copyright infringement through unauthorized devices or services. The text presents a list of cases in which users would risk infringing the copyright of a third party or even merely facilitating such infringement, even if they did not intend to do so. After the previously listed cases, which include you purchased or downloaded the content or you saw others post the same content, Instagram adds that users risk infringing copyright if they use an unauthorized streaming device or service (examples: a jailbroken or loaded app or service).

## Contextualisation (optional)

- Body text in a new paragraph: contextualisation with external links to the most authoritative sources available.
- For example, explain which wider problems are tackled by this policy change, or give a historical perspective on the change.
- For clarity, separate body text and contextual elements instead of grouping all changes in a single paragraph and then a lengthy context paragraph with multiple threads.

**Example**

> **Meta expands reach against child exploitation**
>
> _Facebook ▪ Community Guidelines ▪ June 13, 2022_
> *Facebook ▪ Community Guidelines ▪ June 13, 2022*
>
> The section on child exploitation for both Facebook and Instagram [expanded](https://github.com/OpenTermsArchive/france-elections-versions/commit/0396436542fa7ef8dd8ae4dd02ff0ed5500e08a2) to cover not only publications that exploit minors, but also any activity related to such acts.
> The section on child exploitation for both Facebook and Instagram [expanded](https://github.com/OpenTermsArchive/france-elections-versions/commit/0396436542fa7ef8dd8ae4dd02ff0ed5500e08a2) to cover not only publications that exploit minors, but also any activity related to such acts.
>
> This opens up the question of moderation of private discussions, as social platforms show difficulties in managing content related to child abuse —as recently as late March, the New York Times [showed](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/31/business/meta-child-sexual-abuse.html) that moderation remains very light in this area, even though platforms are supposed to list this type of content and [report it](https://www.theverge.com/2022/3/31/23005576/facebook-content-moderators-child-sexual-abuse-material-csam-policy) to authorities.

Expand Down