UPDATED: A rash of Tweets about people deserting Instagram are just one sign of the trouble the company may be causing itself with a just announced policy shift.
The company, acquired by Facebook three months ago, is claiming the right to sell or license any public Instagram photos without paying for them or even informing the photographers.
Instagram posted a response to all this saying “We’re listening.” It says it is not its intention to sell user photos and plans to update the policy language to make that clear. It also says it has no plans for using posted photos in ads.
Here’s the language of the new policy causing consternation:
“Some or all of the Service may be supported by advertising revenue. To help us deliver interesting paid or sponsored content or promotions, you agree that a business or other entity may pay us to display your username, likeness, photos (along with any associated metadata), and/or actions you take, in connection with paid or sponsored content or promotions, without any compensation to you.”
It’s number 2 under the Rights section.
If Instagram users don’t delete their photos and account by January 16, they may be giving Facebook the rights to sell their photos pretty much forever.
Blogger, author and software developer Reginald Braithwaite wrote and posted a funny “translation” of the new policy.
It reads, in part:
“Dear Users:
You are not our customers, you are the cattle we drive to market and auction off to the highest bidder. Enjoy your feed and keep producing the milk.”
We suspect Instagram/Facebook may alter the policy if the Internet storm that’s brewing creates some cyber gale force winds.
If you don’t want to take any chances of the company selling your photos, however, Wired published this handy guide on how to download your Instagram photos and delete your account.
Here’s what CNET has to say about it all. — Allan Maurer
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Tags: delete Instagram account, facebook, Instagram, intellectual property policy, photo licensing rights
