How copyright works on social media

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Please note: The information provided in this article does not, and is not intended to, constitute formal legal advice. Please review our full disclaimer before reading any further.

Before we dive into the nitty gritty, here are a few definitions you need to know to make sense of copyright regulations and legal jargon:

Commercial intent: When a brand uses products, tools, content or other intellectual property with the intent to make a profit. For example, reposting and promoting UGC as part of an ad campaign is usually business owner data considered commercial intent.
Fair use: US legal doctrine that allows for circumstances when copyrighted material can be copied and/or used without permission. Common examples include reporting news, teaching and researching.
Fair dealing: Laws that allow for circumstances when copyrighted material can be copied and/or used without permission in countries outside of the US (including the UK, Australia, India, Singapore and more). These laws tend to be stricter and offer fewer allowances than US regulations, so stay alert to the specific restrictions of the countries you operate in.
Ownership of content posted: Refers to the original owner and/or creator of content. Even though social media networks have rights to content on their platforms per their licensing agreements, social media users are the legal owners of the content they post.
Of course, this isn’t an exhaustive list of legal terms, and you should consult with your legal team to find out if there are any other relevant topics you should be familiar with.

6 tips to help avoid copyright infringement on social media
Violating copyright policies and laws can have serious consequences. Brands might have their accounts deleted, face a lawsuit or be required to pay steep statutory damages (fees reach up to $150,000). With such high stakes, it’s important to minimize risks and stay up to date with the latest best practices.