What do I put on Facebook to avoid copyright?

When posting content on Facebook, it’s important to be mindful of copyright laws to avoid infringing on someone else’s intellectual property rights. Here are some quick tips to keep in mind:

Use Your Own Original Content

The safest way to avoid copyright issues on Facebook is to only share content you have created yourself. This includes your own photos, videos, illustrations, writings, recordings, and other creative works. As long as you are the original creator and copyright holder, you have the right to share your content on your Facebook profile or Page.

Share Content with Proper Attribution

If you want to share someone else’s content on Facebook, make sure you provide proper attribution. For example, if you share an article or photo that originally appeared somewhere else, include a link back to the original source. Give credit to the author, photographer, publication, website, etc. Proper attribution shows you are making a good faith effort to comply with copyright law.

Obtain Permission When Necessary

For some types of content, providing attribution may not be enough – you also need explicit permission from the copyright holder. This includes material from books, magazines, newspapers, movies, TV shows, music, and other commercially produced works. Before sharing this type of copyrighted content on Facebook, reach out to the publisher or creator and get written confirmation that they allow it. Having a permission statement protects you in case of a copyright dispute.

Be Careful with Long Excerpts

As a general rule, avoid posting long excerpts of other people’s work on Facebook. Stick to short quotes and key passages. The legal principle of fair use does allow for some limited reproduction of copyrighted material for purposes like commentary, criticism, news reporting, and education. But longer excerpts push the boundaries of fair use and could still get you in trouble. When in doubt, keep it short or don’t post it.

Don’t Share Illegal Copies

Never share illegal copies of copyrighted material on Facebook, such as pirated movies, music, books, or software. It doesn’t matter if you give proper credit – distributing unauthorized copies is still illegal. Facebook will remove this type of illegal content if detected, and you could face legal consequences. Only share legally acquired copies obtained directly from the copyright holder.

Review Facebook’s Terms of Service

Make sure you thoroughly review Facebook’s Terms of Service, Community Standards, and other guidelines around intellectual property and copyright. These policies explain what types of content are permitted on Facebook, proper attribution methods, and consequences for violations. Knowing the rules will help you ensure your posts don’t cross the line into copyright infringement.

Use Caution with Memes

Internet memes can pose copyright challenges because they often use images, video clips, or other content from media properties. There are valid fair use defenses for memes that clearly transform the original material for parody purposes. But memes that just reuse content without substantive transformation could get you in trouble. When creating or sharing memes, use your best judgment and be prepared to defend why it qualifies as fair use.

Don’t Rely on Privacy Settings

Don’t assume that using Facebook’s privacy settings such as “Friends Only” will shield you from copyright liability. Copyright law still applies even if the infringing content is not publicly visible. The copyright holder can still take action if they become aware of the unauthorized use on your profile. Make sure you have the rights to any material before you post it, regardless of the audience.

Watch Out for Fraudulent Takedown Notices

In some cases, you may receive a takedown notice from Facebook for content you have the rights to post. This can occur if someone falsely claims copyright on your original work in order to have it removed. If you believe a takedown notice is fraudulent, you can file a counter-notice explaining that you are the actual copyright holder. Make sure you understand Facebook’s dispute process in case you need to use it.

Consult an Attorney If Unsure

Copyright law can be nuanced, and determining fair use requires careful balancing of different factors. If you are ever unsure whether your planned Facebook post might cross a legal line, consult an intellectual property attorney. An expert can review the specifics and provide guidance tailored to your situation.

Avoid Infringing Music Copyrights

Music deserves special caution because songs, recordings, and music videos are often aggressively enforced by copyright holders. Never upload full copies of copyrighted songs to Facebook unless you have permission from the artist and label. Even posting your own covers or remixes could be an issue if you use a significant portion of the original recording. Leave music sharing to licensed streaming platforms.

Don’t Share Bootleg Live Performances

Just like studio recordings, live performances are protected by copyright as well. It’s illegal to record and share footage of concerts, plays, comedy shows, or other live events without permission from the artist or venue. Bootleg recordings of live shows commonly get removed from Facebook for copyright violation. Respect the artist’s rights and only share official authorized recordings.

Using Copyrighted Images and Videos

Images and videos are also covered by copyright, both professional productions and amateur content. Avoid simply downloading and reuploading others’ photos or videos to Facebook without permission. Fair use only allows limited reuse for commentary, not wholesale redistribution. Screenshots from movies, TV shows and other visual media typically don’t qualify as fair use either. Use original images you create or properly license.

Remember Public Domain and Creative Commons

Not everything online is protected by copyright. Works in the public domain or released under Creative Commons licenses can be freely reused in many cases. Research the copyright status of older works before assuming they are still restricted. Look for Creative Commons symbols indicating content you can share with attribution. Both public domain and Creative Commons offer more flexibility than full copyright.

How to Tell if Something is Copyrighted

Figuring out if something is protected by copyright can sometimes be tricky. Here are a few tips:

Look for copyright notices like “Copyright 2023 John Smith” or the copyright symbol ©. These indicate the work is copyrighted (though absence does not automatically mean public domain).
Assume professionally produced works like books, music, movies, TV shows, artwork, etc. are copyrighted.

For photographs, look for watermarks, website tags, metadata, or artist signatures that may identify the copyright holder.
Search online to see if the work is licensed under Creative Commons or has known public domain status.
Contact the website owner, artist, photographer, or publisher directly to inquire about copyright status if unsure.

How to Get Copyright Permission

If you want to use a copyrighted work on Facebook beyond the limits of fair use, you need to get permission from the copyright holder. Here are some tips for securing those rights:

Look for licensing or contact information on the original work to reach out to the copyright holder.
On YouTube, click the “Show More” button to reveal licensing and commercial reuse options for videos.

Use a licensing directory like Getty Images to obtain rights for stock photos.
For books or publications, reach out to the publisher’s permissions department.
Artist and brand websites may have licensing portals or instructions for obtaining permission.

Explain exactly how you intend to use the work on Facebook. Licenses are often limited to specific uses.

Fair Use Best Practices

When relying on fair use for posting copyrighted material, keep these best practices in mind:

Use only small portions of the work – a single photo, short music clip, one paragraph excerpt, etc.

Transform the original content by adding commentary, parody, illustrations, etc. Don’t just reshare verbatim.
Add proper attribution for the source work and copyright holder.
Use for purposes like education, journalism, commentary, not promotion or entertainment.

Don’t impact the commercial market for the original work by replacing its value.
Create your own supporting content around the excerpt rather than letting it stand alone.

Copyright Infringement Penalties

Statutory fines of up to $150,000 per work infringed.
Lost profits damages to reimburse the copyright holder.
Court injunctions barring the infringing content.

Impoundment and destruction of infringing articles.
Criminal charges for willful infringement, punishable by jail time.
Termination of your Facebook account for repeat violations.

Negative impact on reputation and credibility as a content creator.

Avoiding Accidental Infringement

It’s easy to accidentally overstep copyright limits without intending to infringe. Here are some tips to avoid inadvertent violations:

Don’t assume all material on Facebook is free to reuse – always verify rights.

Double check attributions before sharing to ensure they are complete and accurate.
Err on the side of asking permission if you have any doubt about repurposing content.
Don’t rely on “sharing” buttons as those are for sharing the link, not content itself.

Disable auto-saving of images and videos which could store unauthorized copies.
Be wary of “free” clip art and stock media sites which may be pirated works.

When in Doubt, Leave it Out

If you are unsure about whether a planned Facebook post might infringe copyrights, the safest approach is simply not to use that questionable material. Using only original content that you have full rights to eliminates any risk of copyright violation. While fair use does allow limited reuse of copyrighted works, it involves gray areas that are open to interpretation. When in doubt, just leave it out.

Key Takeaways

Stick to posting your own original content to avoid copyright worries.
Always provide attribution when sharing others’ content.
Get permission before using long excerpts or commercially produced works.

Don’t upload illegal copies of songs, videos, books, etc.
Make sure memes and other remixes qualify as fair use.
Stay under fair use limits when using small portions of copyrighted works.

Consult an attorney if you have any doubts or receive a takedown notice.

Conclusion

Copyright laws exist to protect creators and encourage innovation, but also allow for some reasonable reuse under fair use. By sticking to your own original works, providing proper attribution, limiting excerpts, and avoiding illegal copies, you can feel confident posting on Facebook without infringing on copyrights. Double check any questionable uses, and when in doubt, leave it out or get permission. With some common sense and care, you can avoid copyright headaches on Facebook and focus on creating great original content to share.