Yahoo Contributor Network, a platform that allows users to voice out their opinions in the form of text, images and videos is set to shutdown by the end of July. YCN reigned over 9 years and the emerging blogging platforms dominated the company’s best product till then. In fact, the Yahoo contributor network was the first option for old bloggers to monetize their content online.
Eventually, with the growth of blogging platforms YCN was slowed down and totally lost back in somewhere in the race. So Yahoo took a decision to take over the network and its sub product Yahoo Voices by August second week.
Here by, Yahoo sent emails to the contributors of the YCN notifying the shutdown of Voices and Contributor Network.
Contributors who are still writing to Yahoo Contributor Network really did upset with the sudden shocking email.
There is no such specification about future alternative to the YCN in the email. Their advise to check FAQ for more questions about the shutting down was a bit disappointing too.
Here is the email that notifies about shutting down of Yahoo Contributor Network
“Dear Contributors,
You made the past nine years incredible. At Yahoo, we’re focused on making daily habits more inspiring and entertaining. That means we’re constantly reviewing our products and experiences and, in some cases, we have to make tough decisions to no longer support a product. As part of our ongoing effort to sharpen our focus, on July 31, 2014, Voices.Yahoo.com will be shut down; on August 15, we will make the final Performance Payment before Contributor.Yahoo.com closes. With the exception of content you provided to Yahoo under a work for hire license, or unless Yahoo arranges differently with you, we will remove from Yahoo all content published through Yahoo Contributor Network and rights for all of your Yahoo Contributor Network content will revert to you.
We know you have a lot of questions. Please refer to this FAQ for details.
It has been such an incredible privilege to share your talents with the world over these past nine years. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.
-The Yahoo Contributor Network Team”
Here is what they answer in shutdown FAQs:
Can I publish to Voices during the month of July?
No. Because the sites are closing, we are no longer accepting submissions starting immediately. Content currently submitted and awaiting review will be declined.
Are both Contributor.Yahoo.com and Voices.Yahoo.com shutting down?
Yes, both sites will be shut down. Yahoo Voices will be closed beginning at 11:38 p.m. on July 30. Yahoo Contributor Network will be closed by the end of August.
What will happen to content I published through Yahoo Contributor Network (or previously Associated Content)?
Whether your content was published on Voices, Yahoo News, Yahoo Sports, or another Yahoo property, it will be removed from the web. Articles published under the Work For Hire license, or for which Yahoo may make a separate arrangement with you, may still continue to appear on Yahoo.
Why is my Work For Hire content staying up?
Per the terms of the Work For Hire license, Yahoo owns that content completely and may continue to use that content as long as it wishes to do so. (This holds true for content created for partner sites over the years under the Work For Hire license; in such cases, the partner owns the rights to the content.) Per our original FAQ: Under Work for Hire rights, the hiring party (either Yahoo Contributor Network or one of our partners) steps into the shoes of the writer/creator and becomes the author of the work for copyright purposes. All of the attributes of copyright ownership - including credit and control - vest in the hiring party, not the creator.
How do I find out if my content was Work For Hire?
Sign into the site and click the Content tab. For each published article, click its title and you’ll be able to see which license type it was published under.
How do I get my Yahoo Contributor Network articles?
You can download your articles by going to the Content tab, clicking a headline, and hitting the "Download" button that appears in the descriptive overlay to the right.
When will I receive my last Performance Payment?
Unless Yahoo has notified you differently, you will receive your last Performance Payment in mid August for page views through July 31, 2014. You must confirm your payment by August 14, 2014 at 12amPST.
What happens to my content after the sites are shut down?
Unless you and Yahoo have a separate arrangement, or your content is Work for Hire, then beginning July 31, 2014 at 12amPT, you will retain ownership of your content and may republish your content wherever you wish.
What if I want to keep writing for Yahoo?
You are encouraged to publish via Tumblr, though please realize the Yahoo Contributor Network publishing and payment platform is not being replaced within the company.
What if I don’t have a chance to confirm my payments by August 14, 2014 at 12amPT.
Any payments that you do not confirm by August 14, 2014 at 12amPST, will be forfeited.
How can I save my performance, payment, and other data, such as the information contained within the Content menu and Payments tab?
As always, this information can be saved to your system by scrolling down to the bottom of those respective tabs and clicking on the Excel or CSV links. This needs to be completed by August 14, 2014 at 12amPST.
How can I use my work history at Yahoo Contributor Network as a reference for future work?
As a freelancer, you will need to keep your own accurate records of this information. You may state you published at Yahoo Contributor Network as a freelancer, just as you normally would. However, there will no longer be links to reference. As such, it is advised that you collect all of the information you need prior to August 1, 2014. As always, there will not be staff available to make statements about your work.
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