How do you write a copyright disclaimer on Facebook?

In an age when sharing interesting and amusing photos is as simple as clicking a button, it can be difficult to source the original author of a creative work. Adding a copyright to your Facebook photos is one method to ensure that anyone who enjoys your work knows that you're the author.

1. 1.

   Download or purchase photo editing software that fits within your budget and photography needs. Some photo editing software, such as Adobe Photoshop, is tailored for professionals while other, cheaper alternatives are made for amateur photographers. Choose a program appropriate for your needs. Photo editing software prices can range from zero (open source) to a few hundred dollars.

2. 2.

   Download any pictures from Facebook that need your copyright mark. If you haven't uploaded the pictures to Facebook yet, organize the photos into a single folder that you can easily find on your computer. In the main folder for your pictures, create two subfolders. Title one folder "Originals" and the other folder "Modified." The two folder types will ensure that you have original copies of the pictures without your copyright. Place your pre-modified photos in the "Originals" folder.

3. 3.

   Open your photo editing software and create a new project. In the menu bar, select "Import" or "Open" to import your original Facebook photo into the program. Once the photo is imported, save the project as a new photo. Choose a filename that's different from the original name and save it in the "Modified" folder of your computer.

4. 4.

   Find the text tool in your photo editing program, select it and click on your photograph. Clicking on your photograph will bring up a cursor. Type a copyright symbol followed by the year you created the picture and your name. The copyright symbol can be a "c" with a circle around it (available to copy and paste from the U.S. Copyright Office) or a "c" in parentheses. After typing the symbol and your name, click outside of the text box.

5. 5.

   Choose the opacity and location of your copyright symbol. The opacity is the transparency of the text on the image. A low opacity makes the text see-through and a high opacity makes the text solid. The opacity option is typically contained within the menu options of your photo editing software. Choose the spot in the picture you want your copyright notice to appear.

   A disclaimer is a legal document of great importance. Your disclaimer for your Facebook fan page will need to cover some basic areas regardless of the jurisdiction you reside in or the type of content you will be displaying on your fan page. However, because each state has different considerations worth exploring, you should perform thorough legal research or contact an attorney prior to proceeding.

   Step 1

   

   i Jupiterimages/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images

   Provide a link to your disclaimer at the top of your Facebook fan page. Your disclaimer should be immediately visible to anyone visiting your Facebook fan page.

   Step 2

   Provide your contact information in your disclaimer, including your name, address, email address, phone number and any other necessary information so that third parties can contact you.

   Step 3

   Disclaim all rights to the information provided within your Facebook fan page. Any pictures, descriptions or other information related to the subject of your fan page may be the property of a third party. To avoid liability, state clearly on the page that you are hosting the information only as a fan.

   Step 4

   State that information provided on your Facebook fan page by third parties is not your responsibility and that anyone posting content to your fan page is solely responsible for their own content.

   Step 5

   Thank the owner or subject of your Facebook fan page. Notify visitors that they should respect the owner's rights and only post content that is not protected under copyright law.

   Step 6

   Draft standard boilerplate legal language at the bottom of your disclaimer, including a choice of venue clause and a general disclaimer as to all information posted on the fan page. Have an attorney review your disclaimer for validity within your jurisdiction.

   References

   • Free Business Forms: How to Write a Disclaimer
   • Easy Web Tutorials: Lesson 15: Website Disclaimers, Terms and Privacy Policies
   • Facebook: Facebook Pages Terms
   • Mashable; How To: Set Up a Winning Facebook Fan Page; Susan Payton; September 2009

   Tips

   • Reposting content such as public Twitter posts or other public material from the subject of your fan page is fair game -- always post material that is not protected by copyright law. Consider adding standard language from the Digital Millennium Copyright Act if you are worried that third parties are going to post protected material on your fan page.

   Warnings

   • Do no post copyrighted pictures, lyrics, video or other content to your website without the copyright holder's consent.

   Writer Bio

   Louis Kroeck started writing professionally under the direction of Andrew Samtoy from the "Cleveland Sandwich Board" in 2006. Kroeck is an attorney out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania specializing in civil litigation, intellectual property law and entertainment law. He has a B.S from the Pennsylvania State University in information science technology and a J.D. from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.

   How do you write a copyright disclaimer statement?

   How to write a copyright disclaimer.

   the copyright symbol (©);.

   Your name as author and your website's name. It can also be the name of an organization, a business, or a corporate name;.

   a current year or year range;.

   a statement of ownership (“All Rights Reserved”)..

   How do I post on Facebook without violating copyright?

   It's generally a good idea to get written permission from the author of the work before posting content on Facebook. You might be able to use someone else's content on Facebook if you've gotten permission from them, such as through obtaining a license.

   What should I write in description to avoid copyright?

   You can write a disclaimer to avoid being accused of copyright infringement when you upload content to YouTube. You should do that if your content incorporates portions or the entirety of someone else's work. The fair use disclaimer explains why you used someone else's creation in your video.

   Can I post a video on Facebook with copyrighted music?

   There needs to be a visual component to your post, and the music should not be the sole focus. Longer clips of music that is copyrighted will need to be properly licensed for use on Facebook. Using music in Facebook Live posts, ads, or on a commercial or influencer page will require permission from the creator.