1. What are your rights?
An explanation of rights you have
given to Facebook every time you use
their service

2. According to Alexa (a company that monitors
internet traffic), Facebook is the second most
accessed web site in the world.
(Alexa, 2010)

3. According to Alexa (a company that monitors
internet traffic), Facebook is the second most
accessed web site in the world.
(Alexa, 2010)
According to the Facebook , there are 500 million
active users of the service.
(Facebook, 2010)

4. So there’s a good chance you have an account.

5. The terms and conditions that govern your use
of Facebook are listed on a “Statement of Rights
and Responsibilities”

6. The terms and conditions that govern your use
of Facebook are listed on a “Statement of Rights
and Responsibilities”
These can be viewed at
www.facebook.com/terms.php

7. It’s not exactly the shortest of documents; there
are 18 sections, and almost 4000 words of small
print to read through. (In addition, there are a
number of other more specific policies).

8. Just by using the service though, you’ve agreed
to these terms and conditions.

9. Just by using the service though, you’ve agreed
to these terms and conditions.
(Which were last updated on October 4, 2010).

10. The entire document might not necessarily be
relevant to you. You mightn’t give a hoot about the
sections relating to payments, advertisers, and
application developers...
So what’s important to the everyday user?

11. Well...
Here are the main things every user should know.

12. First of all, Facebook reserves the right to
change these terms and conditions as often as
they like.

13. First of all, Facebook reserves the right to
change these terms and conditions as often as
they like.
In fact, you’ve agreed to give them this right.

14. The section titled “Amendments” states:
“We can change this Statement if we provide
you notice (by posting the change on the
Facebook Site Governance Page) and an
opportunity to comment. To get notice of future
changes to this Statement, visit our Facebook
Site Governance Page and become a fan”.
(Facebook, 2010)

15. (So to keep track of any changes that occur to
the nature of your agreement with Facebook,
you’re best to click on the ‘Like’ button).

16. The next important thing to know relates to your
intellectual property... I.e., content such as photos,
videos, notes and even status updates that you
share.

17. So who owns your content?

18. So who owns your content?
Well, Facebook aren’t claiming ownership rights to
your intellectual property.
(relieved?)

19. BUT you HAVE agreed to give them a “non-
exclusive, transferable, sub-licensable, royalty-
free, worldwide license to use any IP content
that you post on or in connection with
Facebook”.
Basically, you’ve given Facebook an ‘IP License’.

20. This means....

21. That if Facebook want to, they can give another
organisation or individual the right to use your
content...

22. That if Facebook want to, they can give another
organisation or individual the right to use your
content...
Whether you like it or not.

23. That if Facebook want to, they can use your
content to make money...

24. That if Facebook want to, they can use your
content to make money...
And not give you a cent.

25. That Facebook (or any organisation or individual
that Facebook has given a sub-licence to) can
use your content anywhere in the world.

26. That Facebook (or any organisation or individual
that Facebook has given a sub-licence to) can
use your content anywhere in the world.
And they don’t have to tell you about it.

27. Facebook have claimed a specific right to use
your profile photo and name too, in connection
to the advertisements that appear on the right
hand side of your “news feed”.

28. Facebook gives you an option to opt out of this...

29. Facebook gives you an option to opt out of this...
But you’ll need to change your settings from the
default.

30. But unless you’ve been granted permission by
making an appropriate payment, you can’t use
Facebook for any commercial purposes.
(So Facebook can associate your photo for free
with the advertisements directed towards your
friends, but you can’t create advertisements
that are specifically targeted towards your
friends unless you pay).

31. So where is the line drawn when you want to
send a bunch of messages out letting your
friends know that your band has a gig at the
local pub or a stall at the market over the
weekend?

32. You might want to delete your account, but
clicking on that delete button is a hard thing to
do...

33. You might want to delete your account, but
clicking on that delete button is a hard thing to
do...
Especially when you have on average 130 friends.
(Facebook, 2010)

34. I think it’s safe to assume that you don’t like
what I’ve told you...

35. So what can you do if you want to protect your
content whilst using Facebook?

36. So what can you do if you want to protect your
content whilst using Facebook?
The simple answer is to not share anything whilst
using the service.

37. Kind of defeats the purpose of having a Facebook
account, doesn’t it?

38. There don’t seem to be any reports of Facebook
actively using the IP license you’ve given them.

39. There don’t seem to be any reports of Facebook
actively using the IP license you’ve given them.
So it’s up to you as to whether or not you want to
trust them...

40. At least now that you know where your rights
stand, you’ll at least be able to make more
informed decisions about how you use your
account.