FB copyright hoax goes viral again

A Facebook hoax warning users about their private photographs and content has gone viral – again. The message, seemingly reposted by thousands of Facebook users, states it offers protection against the social media giant’s claim to users’ photographs, videos and other content.

There is only one problem: Facebook doesn’t own the copyright to users’ posts. According to the company’s own Statement of Rights and Responsibilities they only have the right to distribute and share the things a user posts, subject to their privacy settings.

In the shared message – similar to the one first circulated in 2012 – typically reads: "In response to the new Facebook guidelines, I hereby declare that my copyright is attached to all of my personal details, illustrations, comics, paintings, professional 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!"

Embarrassingly for the individual who started the hoax, they appear to have inadvertently included a typo – the 'Berner' Convention. The Berne Convention does protect literary and artistic work, and is an international agreement covering copyright, first accepted in Berne, Switzerland.

Facebook spokesperson Andrew Noyes told the Mirror that although the social media giant could distribute users’ work (or content) it was dependent on individuals’ security settings. “We have noticed some statements that suggest otherwise and we wanted to take a moment to remind you of the facts - when you post things like photos to Facebook, we do not own them.” Noyes advised users to look at their settings. – The Independent.