You’ve probably seen (or maybe even posted) the copyright status update on Facebook recently. The message states that the user owns the copyright to all of their content posted on the Facebook network.
Here’s the thing: The post is bogus. You already own everything you post on Facebook. According to Slate:
No one is trying to take that away. But by clicking yes on Facebook’s terms and becoming a Facebook user, you do agree to let Facebook have access to and even use your content for Facebook-related things.
The copyright protection notice appears to be a knee-jerk response to Facebook revising its terms and policies on Jan. 1. The notice starts like this, according to The Huffington Post:
… in response to the Facebook guidelines and under articles L.111, 112 and 113 of the code of intellectual property, I declare that my rights are attached to all my personal data, drawings, paintings, photos, texts, etc., published on my profile. For commercial use of the foregoing my written consent is required at all times.
Similar versions of the copyright notice have been shared on Facebook since 2012 and maybe even earlier. They’re as useless today as they were in years past. HuffPo said:
You can’t change Facebook’s Terms of Service with a status update. “You can’t unilaterally change those by posting a mashup of law-sounding words on your Timeline, in the same way you can’t unilaterally change your terms of employment by posting an announcement on your office door that you’ll only work 20 hours a week,” [Derek] Bambauer, [law professor at the University of Arizona], said.
So save yourself, and everyone scrolling through your newsfeed, some time, and don’t post the mock copyright notice.
I’ve seen several of my friends post the copyright notice and was tempted to do so myself. But I typically don’t blindly share or post things. I did a little research and voila, I quickly found out the post was a hoax.
Have you seen (or shared) the bogus copyright notice on Facebook? Share your comments below or on our Facebook page.
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