FB updates TOS to old version

Facebook was so moved by the response to their change in TOS that they have reverted to their old policies, at least temporarily .  For those who are re-thinking their usage the following link may be useful.  http://www.allfacebook.com/2009/02/facebook-privacy/

Copyright Issues on Facebook

In the age of sharing everything  digitally we all need to be so much more aware than before of our rights and our responsibilities. For artists, this has never posed a bigger threat to their livelihood. While the net gives us enormous exposure, it also exposes us to great risiks. Recent changes to facebook’s policies with regard to user content have caused concern, and a rash of articles.  Online copyrights have always been a sensitive issue and a balancing act. Artists want to put themselves out there but still want to protect their wares. Our images are about our brand and and licensing them has often been a means of livelihood.  The bottom line is…. artist’s need to protect their copyrights and to be careful where they post their images! Although social media sites make it easy and painless to upload and share your images. You should be very wary of doing this. Otherwise you might be surprised where you find your content and or how it’s being used without your knowledge.  Terms of Service contracts change, often without our knowledge or over time.  We need to read them not just click thru.

Facebook revised it’s Terms Of Service in the last few weeks to read–

“You hereby grant Facebook an irrevocable, perpetual, non-exclusive, transferable, fully paid, worldwide license (with the right to sublicense) to (a) use, copy, publish, stream, store, retain, publicly perform or display, transmit, scan, reformat, modify, edit, frame, translate, excerpt, adapt, create derivative works and distribute (through multiple tiers), any User Content you (i) Post on or in connection with the Facebook Service or the promotion thereof subject only to your privacy settings or (ii) enable a user to Post, including by offering a Share Link on your website and (b) to use your name, likeness and image for any purpose, including commercial or advertising, each of (a) and (b) on or in connection with the Facebook Service or the promotion thereof”

It used to be that when you left and closed your account you took your content with you… that too has changed.

“You may remove your User Content from the Site at any time. If you choose to remove your User Content, the license granted above will automatically expire, however you acknowledge that the Company may retain archived copies of your User Content.”

The Bottom line is the web has great benefits, but also may pitfalls. Proceed with caution.
A Quick Tip for sharing work with your friends –
use your facebook page just to post links to YOUR domain and/or YOUR website where copyright is clearly indicated & you have control over it.
Remember, whatever you publish elsewhere on the web runs the risks of copyright violation.

For a comparison of widely used social media sites TOS policies here’s an analysis for further study — Facebook TOS compared