Ever click on an “I Agree” button on a website? Of course. Ever actually read what you’re agreeing to? Well…. You’re not alone, many of us don’t. But if you’re using a site that allows you to upload photos, you may want to start reading a little more carefully. Website terms of service define what the website is allowed to do with content or information you bring to the table, and, conversely, what you’re allowed to do.

The truth of the matter is that almost anything that you can see or hear online can be copied – whether or not it should is a different matter. You probably won’t be too surprised to learn that most copyright infringement today takes place online. Add to that the relatively new phenomenon of using social media sites as business marketing tools, and you have some trouble brewing.

The “Terms of Service” on a website generally address the activity that takes place on that site, but sometimes the language is vague about what happens to material once it’s posted. Some terms of service actually encourage copyright infringement, and some social media sites actually disable the protections that authors and creators have tried to put in place for their works. Here are some examples....

Article authored by McAfee & Taft attorney: Rachel Blue