Opera Employee Blogging Policies
My Opera Community has opened an area in which users can maintain a blog (among other services). We encourage Opera employees to participate in this same community - whether you are obsessively writing about the browser, or about nothing but your favorite Norwegian (or sub-Saharan) wildflowers.
Sometimes Opera employees may want to write about something but worry that it is not for disclosure. This may lead to a missed opportunity to talk about something that is, in fact, public. They also may not realize that something is strategically sensitive and should not be written about. To shed some light on these issues, Opera employees may refer to the following guidelines:
Share your thoughts
Be open and use this service for discussing life at Opera, or talking about topics outside of work. This area is yours, use your personality and use your language, whether that's English, norsk, casual, refined, techy-jargon, or Pig-Latin.
Be active
Interact with other community members, both inside and outside Opera. We want to encourage other users to become active in the community too.
We're not your mama
No one is here to look over your shoulder, but please use common sense when it comes to the use of objectionable language, sensitive topics, etc. Also be sure to proof-read and use proper grammar / spelling.
Don't give away the farm
Remember your obligations to your NDA. If an item is questionable, in terms of secrecy (unreleased versions, release dates, project names, features under development, status of internal development, etc), it may be better to err on the side of caution as we are under strict obligations of secrecy with our partners. If you have specific questions, feel free to bring them up with your manager.
Check your sources
Some sources may acquire inside knowledge that is not meant for publication. Just because you may see something on the Web does not mean it is meant to be public knowledge. As a general rule, an item that has appeared in a press release may be considered fair game.
Our friends are your friends
Remember to protect the privacy of Opera's partners and customers. If there's a new deal with Widget Co. that has not been mentioned in a press release, it is probably not public knowledge.
For the squeamish
Some may feel more comfortable posting a disclaimer claiming that the opinions posted are not those of Opera Software. This may help readers understand that your comments are from your perspective.
Above all
Remember to use common sense. If you need help in a situation, don't hesitate to ask your manager. Your blog is meant to be an open window, but remember there are legal obligations.
