Facebook is launching a Patreon-like “Fan Subscription” thing and it’s got red flags all over it already.
One part of the terms is that they get a lifelong, transferable license for your content, which persists even if you stop using their service. They can transfer or sub-license it to third parties, and you can’t stop them, because you agree to that when you sign up.
Another is that once they start taking a cut, which they will once this launches officially, they can take up to 30%. For comparison, Patreon takes 5%. So you sign up, you post content, they raise the fee, you decide it’s no longer worth it and stop using it… and they get to keep using your content anyway.
You can read more about it here. But basically, the takeaway seems to be that this is another example of Facebook trying to make their own version of a good thing, and turn it into a worse thing, and sell it to you as the best thing ever. Don’t buy it. Please, please, do your research before you sign up for anything.
DON’T USE IT. EVEN THE MEDIA KNOWS IT’S FULL OF SHIT!!
listen, if you’re an artist, you need to get the fuck OFF of Facebook. Facebook has done nothing to rectify their terms. Your account could be private, doesn’t matter. Your account could be public, doesn’t matter. If you post art (or images) on Facebook, they own the license to that piece.
But Aery! How will I grow an audience if I’m not on all social media!? You know how if you click water mark on DeviantArt and it covers almost the WHOLE image; do that but make sure it coveres the important bits. Make a box signature with a disclosure on the bottom half “Property of (insert website or common username you use everywhere)”
Redirect your Facebook fans to a different website, be it your own or a site that won’t steal your fucking license in their TOS/TOA (Terms of service/terms of agreement).
Honestly, at some point, make the transition where you HAVE your own site. You can start with cheap alternatives and grow into better options, but don’t feel like you have to rush. Artists aren’t made of money when they start out after all. Only make the transition when your able; but STAY AWAY FROM FACEBOOK IF YOU CAN’T PROTECT YOUR ART.
Don’t have a digital software to put the water mark on? AVOID.
Don’t have the time to inform yourself of the websites shenanigans? AVOID.
If a stranger can’t look at your art and know it’s your art. You need to actively protect your art and start signing shit. I know I’m guilty of never signing my works, but it is a form of claiming a piece. Some sites you have to do the WHOLE image, other sites you have to do partial an image. And if that shit is reposted, YOU GIVE THEM HELL.
Send them a cease and desist (you don’t need a lawyer to type this up. There are plenty of examples online to help give you an idea). If they still don’t, you contact staff of the site and let them know you have sent a cease and desist to stop and they have not. If the staff does nothing, you have two options. Raise hell in the fandom, or take it to court.
Artists are not free content providers for websites or thieves.
Basically all websites have a clause in them about the license so they can legally host your work. That’s normal, and you’ll find that on any site you look at. Things like being allowed to do a transformative work, etc. are so they can produce thumbnails and that kind of stuff without getting hit legally. They’ll also state it’s non-exclusive, meaning they aren’t demanding you only host that work on that website.
When looking at these, you’ll note they stop holding effect when you remove your work from the website. Meaning that if you take it down, you are revoking those rights and they acknowledge and will (theoretically) respect this.
Facebook’s terms include after you leave and/or remove your work. Basically other websites you retain your creator rights and just give them the legally required rights in order that they can host your work. Facebook wants you to sign your rights over to them entirely.
remember when the final boss of super paper mario was a brainwashed luigi combined with an ultimate source of dark energy and a clown
i’m really reaching back a decade with this post but Mr. L is objectively fucking badass and the people who kept modding him into Smash are the real heroes here
