Facebook – Blue Hour Photo Workshops

«If you’re not paying for something, you’re not a customer; you’re the product being sold», some smart guy has said.

Instagram now changes its terms to include sub-licensing. Hard to swallow, but it pretty much mirrors what Facebook already has as its own native terms. No wonder maybe after Facebook bought Instagram. With the latest move, though, the question is how long it will take before Facebook/Instagram becomes the world’s biggest commercial stock photo agency – not paying its photographers a single dime?

The deal is very simple. In the new terms taking effect as of January 16th Instagram opens up for selling your photos without paying you anything. In addition Instagram disclaims from informing you about this, asking permission and needed to tell you what is an advertisement or purchase content (which may violate both U.S. and European law).

These are part of the terms in Facebook: «You grant us a non-exclusive, transferable, sub-licensable, royalty-free, worldwide license to use any IP content that you post on or in connection with Facebook (IP License).» And in Instagram: «You hereby grant to Instagram a non-exclusive, fully paid and royalty-free, transferable and sub-licensable, worldwide license to use the Content that you post on or through the Service.»

The only way to avoid the new terms is to completely delete your account with Instagram. Wired has already written an article explaining exactly how to do so. It’s time to take action. It’s time to show Mark Zuckerberg that he has gone to far, once again.