I was referring to both types. Here, for example, is Apple’s:
Terms of Idea Submission
You agree that: (1) your submissions and their contents along with related intellectual property rights will automatically become the property of Apple, without any compensation to you; (2) Apple may use or redistribute the submissions and their contents for any purpose and in any way on an unrestricted basis; (3) there is no obligation for Apple to review the submissions; and (4) there is no obligation to keep any submissions confidential.
As IF you would read that before contacting them with your wonderful idea for a brand new product you hope to grow rich on, but are too ignorant to contact a patent attorney about, first.
Publishers know they wouldn’t live long if they did that, though more and more of them are simply returning those large packets unopened. Here are some examples:
With the exception of our Avon Impulse imprint & Heartdrum, HarperCollins does not accept unsolicited submissions. Any unsolicited manuscripts, proposals or query letters that we receive will not be returned, and HarperCollins is not responsible for any materials submitted. We recommend that you consult your local bookstore or library for sources that can direct you in locating an appropriate agent and/or publisher.
Remember: The pen is mightier than the sword, and the author-publisher relationship still matters, IF the author is any good.
It’s important that we not demonize Medium, here, either — most web hosting companies and forums use similar boilerplate to cover their asses. BUT, Medium is more of a publisher, here, than a “platform.” I cannot imagine my web hosting company “sublicensing” or, even more ridiculously, “modifying, adapting” blah blah blah any of my work for any other medium, now or in the future, unless I ask them to. Now, I checked, and some of the concerning provisions — sort of? — exist in my web host’s TOS. Their terms are so unclear on this that I’m literally unsure they’d hold up in court, but I believe they — and Medium — actually do mean well. TODAY. But what if Medium is bought by Rupert Murdoch, or Disney, or some other entity tomorrow? What if I post a marvelous short story and they want to adapt it into an animated film for children? The new TOS clearly and unambiguously claims the right to do so — without compensating me. So no — not happening, no matter what their lovely post says — today. If it’s not in the TOS, it doesn’t exist.
