That Facebook status won’t protect your copyrights

In the last few days, you may have noticed that an infamous Facebook hoax has reappeared. It prompts users to share an allegedly “legal text”, about two or three paragraphs long, which can be summarized as “I notify to Facebook that it is forbidden to use any content shared on my profile”.

Sometimes, they justify the text mentioning some unspecified recent changes in the privacy policy and terms of use of Facebook. It even affirms that users who don’t share the text won’t be able to protect their content in the future.

This is one example among many:

In response to the new Facebook guidelines I hereby declare that my copyright is attached to all of my personal details, illustrations, comics, paintings, photos and videos, etc. (as a result of the Berner Convention).

For commercial use of the above my written consent is needed at all times!

(Anyone reading this can copy this text and paste it on their Facebook Wall. This will place them under protection of copyright laws, By the present communiqué, I notify Facebook that it is strictly forbidden to disclose, copy, distribute, disseminate, or take any other action against me on the basis of this profile and/or its contents. The aforementioned prohibited actions also apply to employees, students, agents and/or any staff under Facebook’s direction or control. The content of this profile is private and confidential information. The violation of my privacy is punished by law (UCC 1 1-308-308 1-103 and the Rome Statute).

Facebook is now an open capital entity. All members are recommended to publish a notice like this, or if you prefer, you may copy and paste this version. If you do not publish a statement at least once, you will be tacitly allowing the use of elements such as your photos as well as the information contained in your profile status updates.

(Example from techdirt.com)

Why this status has no effect

Facebook already addresses the issue of copyrights in its terms and conditions, and it makes it clear that all rights on the content will always belong to the original authors. By accepting the terms of use, the only thing we do is giving Facebook a non-exclusive license to use our content in different ways.

There are many reasons why Facebook needs this license. For example, when we are giving them permission to copy and modify our content, that means they can create backup copies in their servers, or resize our photos to fit them into the site’s design. These are all things they need just in order to function normally.

Article: What can social networks do with my content? For further information, here we explain step by step what the terms and conditions of most social networks mean.

So, the fact of copying and pasting some legal text won’t change anything. If you are using the social network, that means you agree to its terms and conditions. Nothing you can share on your profile will modify them or cancel the license.

More information: Facebook’s policies.

[Video: John Oliver explains how to really protect your personal information]