Does Instagram Now Have The Right To Sell Your Photos?

Black Tie Digital Marketing has encouraged you to use Instagram as a way to connect with your customers and give them an inside look into your company. However, when Facebook bought Instagram things were bound to change and with the start of a new year, we see a new company with new Terms of Service. These new terms have sparked questions and anger regarding what rights Instagram does and does not have to your personal photos.

Social Media Today shared Instagram’s positive spin and notes that “‘nothing has changed about your photos’ ownership or who can see them,’ and the update privacy policy and terms of service help ‘protect you, and prevent spam and abuse as we grow.’ It also notes that the photo-sharing platform will more easily function as part of Facebook, and information will be shared between the two groups.”

Some of Instagram’s Terms of Use that have changed and are causing discussion are as follows:

Advertising: “You acknowledge that we may not always identify paid services, sponsored content, or commercial communications as such.”

Rights: “Some or all of the Service may be supported by advertising revenue. To help us deliver interesting paid or sponsored content or promotions, you agree that a business or other entity may pay us to display your username, likeness, photos (along with any associated metadata), and/or actions you take, in connection with paid or sponsored content or promotions, without any compensation to you. If you are under the age of eighteen (18), or under any other applicable age of majority, you represent that at least one of your parents or legal guardians has also agreed to this provision (and the use of your name, likeness, username, and/or photos (along with any associated metadata)) on your behalf.”

Proprietary Rights in Content on Instagram:
“Instagram does NOT claim ANY ownership rights in the text, files, images, photos, video, sounds, musical works, works of authorship, applications, or any other materials (collectively, “Content”) that you post on or through the Instagram Services. By displaying or publishing (“posting”) any Content on or through the Instagram Services, you hereby grant to Instagram a non-exclusive, fully paid and royalty-free, worldwide, limited license to use, modify, delete from, add to, publicly perform, publicly display, reproduce and translate such Content, including without limitation distributing part or all of the Site in any media formats through any media channels, except Content not shared publicly (“private”) will not be distributed outside the Instagram Services.”

Since Facebook bought Instagram it was only a matter of time before things started to change. Facebook is constantly trying to monetize their site and do away with our privacy. So let us know whether or not you will continue to use this site and how you feel about these terms of service.

If you ever need help managing your Social Media Marketing in Melbourne, Florida then give our team at Black Tie Digital Marketing a call and see how we can help you!