Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Intelectual Property and Facebook

Barry mentions Facebook in his State of the Union Address and so does the Lowell Sun.

Lowell Sun:  "All of your pictures and private messages belong to Facebook."

Facebook Statement of Rights and Responsibilities:  "You own all of the content and information you post on Facebook, and you can control how it is shared through your privacy and application settings. In addition:

   1. For content that is covered by intellectual property rights, like photos and videos ("IP content"), you specifically give us the following permission, subject to your privacy and application settings: you grant us a non-exclusive, transferable, sub-licensable, royalty-free, worldwide license to use any IP content that you post on or in connection with Facebook ("IP License"). This IP License ends when you delete your IP content or your account unless your content has been shared with others, and they have not deleted it.
   2. When you delete IP content, it is deleted in a manner similar to emptying the recycle bin on a computer. However, you understand that removed content may persist in backup copies for a reasonable period of time (but will not be available to others)."

I see something of a disconnect here.  You might almost think the reporter didn't do his homework.  But that can't be!  He's from the high priesthood of the mainstream media!  He wouldn't perhaps be, um, fear mongering?  Naw!  That can't be!

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