Summary: Is Your Social Media Content Infringing on Copyright Law ?

          Rapid proliferation of social media content on the Internet put its users at risk of infringing the Copyright law. There are various copyright issues pertaining to usage of social media content by personal users and businesses. The article highlights the importance for participants of social media to be aware of common misuses and to be educated of possible solution of this issue.

          Many are alluded to thinking that materials without copyright trademark are not copyrighted, which can especially detrimental towards businesses with reputations at stake. Furthermore, social media website's user agreements made the users liable and responsible for their posts. Muckensturm states that the common misuses of social media content involve unauthorized use of trademark, unauthorized use of content without attribution and sharing of content without proper linkage.

 

           It is recommended to use Creative commons licensed work to avoid copyright infringement; database of Creative commons works can be found on Google, Flickr or Soundcloud. Besides that, understanding of the regulations related to copyright such as The Digital Millennium Act, concept of fair use and give credit to owner of the contents. Lastly, it is advisable to create your original content as copyright is awarded to its owner upon creation.