Facebook Copyright Hoax: Posting A Status Won’t Protect Your Online Privacy

Have you noticed some strange and rather professional looking status updates coming from some of your friends lately? You’re not the only one and it’s all because the Facebook copyright hoax is back and making people believe they can protect their own privacy by posting the status and encouraging others to do the same.

Imagine that. Thinking you can keep something private on the Internet.

AllFacebook.com has once again debunked the myth of these Facebook copyright hoax attempts, and let people know that just because they “hereby declare” their information to be private doesn’t mean it will be.

This isn’t the first time that people have been tricked into believing this sort of thing. It actually happened a few times back in 2012 and then once again in 2013. It all happened after Facebook changed some guidelines and made some data usage policy updates.

The latest version of the Facebook copyright hoax going around actually sounds quite technical and even has some law codes thrown in.

“I do declare the following: on this day, December 1, 2014, in response to the new Facebook guidelines and under articles L.111, 112 and 113 of the Code of Intellectual Property, I declare that my rights are attached to all my personal data, drawings, paintings, photos, texts etc… published on my profile since the day I opened my account. For commercial use of the foregoing my written consent is required at all times.

“Those reading this text can copy it and paste it on their Facebook wall. This will allow them to place themselves under the protection of copyright. By this release, I tell Facebook that it is strictly forbidden to disclose, copy, distribute, broadcast, or to take any other action against me on the basis of this profile and/or its contents. The actions mentioned above apply equally to employees, students, agents and/or other staff under the direction of Facebook.

“The contents of my profile include private information. The violation of my privacy is punished by the law (UCC 1 1-308 – 308 1 -103 and the Rome Statute). Facebook is now an open capital entity.

“All members are invited to post a notice of this kind, or if you prefer, you can copy and paste this version. If you have not published this statement at least once, you will tacitly allow the use of elements such as your photos as well as the information contained in your profile update. (DO NOT SHARE. You MUST copy and paste)”

As you can see, it only works if you copy and paste it, but sharing it does no good. KRTV let it be known that sharing this Facebook status serves absolutely no purpose, and they’re right. It does nothing to help protect your privacy anymore than it already is or isn’t.

You can’t go back in time and negate any of Facebook copyright or privacy terms that you agreed to when signing up for an account. Also, you can’t speak out against any changes or new privacy terms from Facebook just by posting this message.

A Facebook status update on your wall isn’t necessarily legally binding.

Facebook has publicly let it be known that, “Yes, you retain the copyright to your content. When you upload your content, you grant us a license to use and display that content.” That means that if you already have an account, you’ve already agreed to that fact.

The Facebook copyright hoax is happening again and it likely won’t be the last time. Simple enough, if you don’t want something out there for the world to see, then don’t put it on the Internet.

[Image via Facebook]