AOL updates its terms of service and privacy policy:

Dear AOL Users,

AOL is working hard to change and improve the way we serve you across all aspects of our services. We have recently relaunched and improved many of our consumer experiences, including AOL.com and MapQuest.com. As we continue to improve AOL for you, some of the improvements are updating the ways that we interact with you and your information. As a result, we want to update you on our Terms of Service (TOS), which contains the agreements between you and AOL.

In addition, we are also updating our Privacy Policy. Privacy is incredibly important to all of us and we want to present the updates to our privacy policy in a simplified format designed to help clarify what information we collect, how we use it, and the marketing preferences and online advertising choices available to you. Both the updated TOS and Privacy Policy are available online now and will take effect on March 31, 2011.

Want to know the highlights? Here they are:

• We consolidated multiple agreements into one new TOS and Privacy Policy. These new agreements apply to your use of all AOL sites on which they are posted. We also added terms about mobile services.

• We simplified the format and language of the TOS and Privacy Policy to make them easier to understand.

• We specify that our services are for individuals at least 13 years old, unless we specifically indicate that services are appropriate for younger users.

• We clarify that for content you post on any AOL sites, you continue to own the content and AOL has the right to use and share your content.

• We updated the processes for reporting alleged copyright and trademark violations and include links that will make it easier for you to report those violations.

• We simplified and updated the “Billing” section of the TOS. We want to make sure that you understand how and when we will bill you for any fee-based services, how to cancel any fee-based services, when surcharges or extra costs may apply to access AOL services, how to contact us, and how to dispute any charges. If you only use our free services, don’t fret, these changes only apply to our fee-based services.

As of March 31, 2011, the new TOS and Privacy Policy will govern your use of AOL services. If you do not agree to the new TOS or Privacy Policy, you should consider not using AOL’s services to meet your needs online and you should cancel services before the roll-out of the updated Privacy Policy and TOS on March 31, 2011. If you have any questions, please contact us.

Thank you for using AOL.

Team AOL