Don’t Fall for the Facebook Copyright Notice Hoax!

Posted: Feb 24, 2013
Author: WordJack Media

A copyright notice has been floating around Facebook for the last few weeks, claiming that anyone who posts it on their Timeline will be protected from Facebook claiming the rights to their personal data, photos, and other posts. Before you change your online marketing strategy for Facebook, you should know that just like many other viral social media posts, this is a hoax.

According to Snopes.com, “The law just doesn’t work that way. Facebook users cannot retroactively negate any of the privacy or copyright terms they agreed to when they signed up for their accounts nor can they unilaterally alter or contradict any new privacy or copyright terms instituted by Facebook simply by posting a contrary legal notice on their Facebook walls.”

But don’t panic yet—the truth is that Facebook doesn’t own the content posted on your personal or your business page, and they never will.

As reported by ABC News, Facebook spokesman Andrew Noyes confirmed: “When you post things like photos to Facebook, we do not own them.” Facebook is granted permission to “use, distribute, and share” the things you post in accordance with privacy settings, but the copyright remains with you and your business.

So post away, friends! Keep those online marketing juices flowing!