Content Copyrights and Social Media Sharing

In the digital age, creating and sharing content has become a ubiquitous part of our lives – from both a personal and professional perspective. Today, content creation and sharing across social media platforms is a part of the everyday for businesses. However, it’s important to understand content copyright laws to ensure you can respect other creators while producing creative and authentic content for your success.

How does Content Copyright work?

Copyright laws vary by country – so keep that in mind while reading, as these regulations are exclusive to the US. However, across countries, social media platforms function off of User Generated Content (UGC). While you own the copywrite to the content you produce on social media, the platform you post this content on does oftentimes require you to grant them license to use and distribute it – meaning they can display it for others within the platform.

However, it’s important to note that, in the US, there is a legal doctrine titled Fair Use. Fair use allows use of copyrighted material without permission for certain contexts. This includes education, criticism, news reporting, or educational purposes.

Lastly, while you and other users have ownership of the content you create – and therefore legal rights over that content depending on the platform’s licensing agreements – there are still some creators who choose to share their work under licenses like Creative Commons. This makes that content open to the public domain.

In order to ensure any content is not at risk of content copyright infringement, consider the following points before posting.

Create Original Content

Creating your own, completely original content is the easiest way to avoid copyright infringement across platforms. Even better, it encourages creativity and provides a way for you to build your brand uniquely – without producing repetitive content for your audience.

Attribute Credit Properly

When using another user’s content, it’s important to give proper credit to the creator by mentioning them in your caption. In terms of UGC, oftentimes creators will describe how to give credit in their post. Or, simply sending them a direct message is a safe way to ask permission on how to provide credits. On some platforms, like Instagram, gaining permission from the creator can be handled securely through the app.

Note Platform Guidelines

The copyright policies are maintained at a legal level and do not vary by platform. But, information related to copyright and intellectual property should be included in the platform’s terms of service and community guidelines. Keep this in mind when sharing or reposting content. How users may share content may differ according to the platform’s guidelines.

Keep Up to Date

But remember, it’s possible for copyright laws to change overtime and according to the platform you’re using. Be sure to stay in the know about changes in these policies.

Navigating social media copyright laws may appear intimidating. However, simply gaining a basic understanding of these laws will help you to better your online presence. For both your consumers and your own success across platforms, keeping these points in mind will ensure best practice on social media, so you can be your most creative self while respecting the work of other content creators.