Copyright issues relating to use of social media network sites such as Twitter

Introduction

Twiter is a fun application for young and old alike.  However, you can do some things on twitter that could get you into trouble.  This blog talks about a few of those things.

Top 10 things you can do on twitter that could get you sued

Here is my top 10 list of things you can do that can get you into legal trouble when using TWITTER as a social media platform.

1. Engage in acts constituting hate speech (intentionally offending someone because of their race for example)
2. Engage in acts constituting online stalking (a repeated course of conduct that results in credible personal threats
3. Tarnish or Blur the reputation of a famous trademark (See 15 U.S.C. 1125 – “Subject to the principles of equity, the owner of a famous mark that is distinctive, inherently or through acquired distinctiveness, shall be entitled to an injunction against another person who, at any time after the owner's mark has become famous, commences use of a mark or trade name in commerce that is likely to cause dilution by blurring or dilution by tarnishment of the famous mark, regardless of the presence or absence of actual or likely confusion, of competition, or of actual economic injury.
4. Commit acts of defamation (libel) (ex. false and injurious rumors about a classmate having herpes, aids, or a sexual disease)
5. Use headers, images or avatars that infringe someone else's copyrighted works (ex. using a photo, art work, illustration without permission)
6. Linking to material on the dark web which may be illegal (porn, sex trafficking)
7. Disclose trade secrets of your company or a competitor (ex. linking to plans for a new software mobile application)
8. Using twitter to pull off a scam or a fraud (ex. pimping a false diet pill)
9. Making terrorist threats online (ex. going to take out the airport or power grid)
10. Use twitter to privately aid and abet a fugitive
11. Inciting panic (telling people they need to switch banks immediately)
12. Obstructing justice (ex. posting DUI checkpoints)
13. Leaving a job and taking your twitter followers with you (the followers might be the property of your company)
14. Agreeing to buy alcohol for underage minors
15. Sexting with minors with the intent to engage in sexual intercourse
16. Impersonating another person with the intent to cause them damage, humiliation, injury.

Watch Attorney Steve explain these 16 Twitter Issues

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Twitter's copyright policy

If someone feels you might be infringing their copyright, they could send Twitter a copyright infringement notice.  Here is what the Twitter terms of use policy has to say.

Twitter respects the intellectual property rights of others and expects users of the Services to do the same. We reserve the right to remove Content alleged to be infringing without prior notice, at our sole discretion, and without liability to you. We will respond to notices of alleged copyright infringement that comply with applicable law and are properly provided to us, as described in our Copyright policy (https://support.twitter.com/articles/15795).

If you believe that your Content has been copied in a way that constitutes copyright infringement, please report this by visiting our Copyright reporting form (https://support.twitter.com/forms/dmca) or contacting our designated copyright agent at:

Twitter, Inc. Attn: Copyright Agent

1355 Market Street, Suite 900

San Francisco, CA

94103

Bad faith takedown notices

If you received a DMCA take-down notice submitted to Twitter in “Bad Faith” contact our lawyer to discuss your case.  You may be the victim of a DMCA take-down bully and in some cases this could trigger a case for money damages.  We wrote about this DMCA take-down bully here.

Can you COPYRIGHT register a Tweet?

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Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University v Trump

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Twitter Legal Services

We offer the following legal services:

1. Copyright (How to legally use copyright symbol) (copyright infringement embedding photos on Twitter)

2. Trademark

3. Trade Secret disputes

4.  Fair Use Defense

(Fair Use Disclaimer for Youtube Videos)

5.  Free Speech

6.  Anti-SLAPP

7.  Reporter's Privilege

8.   Fake News / False light

9.   Podcasting law

10.  Internet parody

11. Internet defamation/trade libel

12.  Account reinstatement petition - appeal a lockout (no guarantees as they make and enforce their own rules and community guidelines)

Watch Attorney Steve® explain copyright photo embedding liability on Twitter

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Contact a Tweet Lawyer

If you are facing any legal issues due to the use of Twitter, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, or other social media websites, contact Vondran Legal® and our internet and social media law firm.  We can assist with internet law and intellectual property issues such as trademark, trade secrets, right of publicity (celebrity endorsement), and copyright legal isses.  Call us at (877) 276-5084 or fill out our contact form and we will contact you.