Facebook is in the news again for the fake privacy notice being spread by its users to proclaim copyright ownership of all content. But no need to bother, the viral notice is a hoax. As a matter of fact this is a resurgence of an old hoax that many users fell for earlier this year when Facebook became a publicly-traded company. Then the hoax implied that the change from a private company to a public one would change the rules of the privacy agreement and would put your posts and photos at risk unless you posted a copy and paste of a disclaimer establishing your copyright ownership.
This time the notice reads as below.
In response to the new Facebook guidelines I hereby declare that my copyright is attached to all of my personal details, illustrations, graphics, 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 If you do not publish a statement at least once, you will be tacitly allowing the use of elements such as your photos as well as the information contained in your profile status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…
The truth
- You’re already protected by copyright law.
- Second, Facebook’s policy is this: “You retain the copyright to your content. When you upload your content, you grant us a license to use and display that content.
- Third, Berner Convention is an incorrect word. There’s a Berne Convention, which covers literary works.
- Facebook now a publicly traded company has absolutely nothing to do with its copyright or privacy policies.
Clarification form Facebook
Facebook itself has clarified with the following statement: “There is a rumor circulating that Facebook is making a change related to ownership of users’ information or the content they post to the site. This is false. Anyone who uses Facebook owns and controls the content and information they post, as stated in our terms. They control how that content and information is shared. That is our policy, and it always has been.”
Snopes, the anti-misinformation site, has also debunked this hoax.