It isn’t uncommon for people to share creators’ images, videos, and other forms of media on their social channels.
A lot of the time, this is done without much thought put into the potential of copyright infringement. However, these issues shouldn’t be taken lightly.
If the content you are sharing includes original work created by someone else, then they most likely own the copyright.
A common pitfall is assuming that giving credit to the author of the work will be enough to avoid a potential breach, but this is not always the case.
How can you protect your work on social media?
By sharing your original work on social media, you have granted a license to the site to use the content.
Although you do still own the copyright, the site in question can utilise it for a range of purposes, such as displaying it, altering it, or duplicating it.
If you are worried about somebody infringing your copyright, there are a few things you can do. For example, you can add a watermark to an image/video or mark your posts with a copyright notice.
It is important to check each social media platform’s terms and conditions so that you understand how your content is being used.
What do you do if your copyright is infringed on social media?
The first logical step when encountering this would be to contact the party in question.
If you are unable to do this, or this approach simply does not work, social media platforms will typically provide an online form that you can fill out to report such instances.
Most social media channels will act by removing the content and/or suspending the account of the person who posted it.
If you find that your copyright has been breached, it is crucial to seek advice from a legal professional before taking your next steps.
Need further advice on intellectual property matters? Contact us today.