Slashdot Mirror
Instagram Wants To Sell Users' Photos Without Notice
DavidGilbert99 writes "Many Instagram users have reacted angrily to a proposed change to the apps terms of service by owner Facebook, which would give the social network 'perpetual' rights to all photos on Instagram, allowing it to sell the photos to advertisers without notice — or payment to the user. The new policy will come into effect on 16 January, just four months after Facebook completed its $1bn acquisition of Instagram. It states that Facebook has a right to distribute any content posted on Instagram without paying the user royalties:"
Also worth reading Declan McCullagh's take on it.
Facebook, Google et al have reached the point where only new government actions of the harshest legal kind can bring these mega companies to heel. One problem- the government is already giving these companies a free hand so that their services can be used by the various security agencies as the ultimate intelligence gathering operations.
With respect to this particular issue of photo stealing, one needs to consider the genesis of the abuse. All Internet companies that operate like Facebook need a 'general distribution' clause covering user content, because this is how the Internet works. However, there is a massive distinction between permission to 'broadcast' user owned data on the Internet, and permission to directly commercially exploit user created data, as if Facebook was the original copyright owner.
Think for a second, and you'll understand why the scummy sharks that work at Facebook think they can exploit user content howsoever they wish by persuading their sucker users that they have already given up ALL rights. Facebook is so powerful, that they can risk the 'take it or leave it' strategy UNLESS there is government interference. However, this situation is not unique to the Internet age. Corporations, by their very nature, are sociopathic, and will continue to develop business methods that are detrimental to the rights of ordinary workers/customers until punished by law.
Selling photo usage rights to third parties crosses a line that even the war mongering regime of Obama cannot ignore. Facebook, Google et al must continue to do their dirtiest work undercover, just as most gangsters do not wish to be publicly associated with the murders they carry out. The mid level sharks in these companies need a regular 'good slapping' to remind them that starting the process that will 'kill the goose that lays the golden eggs' is never their job, no matter how good the short term gains may seem.