Because of the horrendous contract language in the version of the "Microsoft Passport Web Site Terms of Use and Notices" existing until late on April 4, 2001, Troubleshooters.Com decided not communicate through Microsoft Passport. It is our understanding that Hotmail authenticates on Passport, which may or may not have triggered this license. If it had, it's possible that Troubleshooters.Com's communications through that server could have been hijacked by Microsoft under the terms of their Microsoft Passport Web Site Terms of Use and Notices. That's a chance we just could not take.

Here's how we believe such a hijack could have worked. We email you some of our proprietary work. So far, we're probably protected, because Troubleshooters.Com never agreed to the Passport terms. But let's say you email that material back to us in a reply. As I read the earlier version of their Terms of Use and Notices, Microsoft claims the right to use that material because you agreed to their terms. Then I must sue Microsoft, who could conceivably make the case that they did nothing wrong, and I should sue you. This suspicion is further backed up by the "Indemnify and hold harmless" language in the contract. We just didn't want to go there, so we began rejecting all email from Hotmail.

Although Microsoft fixed the worst of the language in their terms late on April 4, 2001, Troubleshooters.Com is still blocking hotmail, and has no immediate plans to stop blocking it. We may review our stance later if we feel that Microsoft begins to "behave better". This will be evaluated in view of the fact that the license explicitly says that a user using their service after a change in the terms is bound by the terms. We view that as a bad sign, considering the history of this case.

Above and beyond that, our new copyright statement prohibits transmission of any material or quotes from our website being sent through services claiming rights to materials passing through.

If you use any Microsoft services, it's likely you use Passport.

At present, we are evaluating other domains such as microsoft.com and .net, to see if they are likely to use passport. The MSN terms of use have similar language, and we're scrutinizing it closely.

Although you may view this as inconvenient, we do it out of self preservation (read the  contract language  and see for yourself). Many organizations are starting to reject Microsoft-service originated email. There's a simple solution. Get an email service and email client that don't rely on Passport. Not only will you be able to once again communicate with all organizations, but you will eliminate the possible risk of Microsoft taking your work and information and using it as their own.
 

Email Steve Litt (but not from hotmail)