social media and the law - by tom cowling
DESCRIPTION
Social Media Law: Branded content, conversations and the new responsibilities of marketers online Brands are becoming publishers, participants and distributors on the social web. What do they need to bear in mind from a legal perspective? In partnership with Wired Sussex.TRANSCRIPT
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Swan TurtonSwan TurtoniCrossing, Brighton
SOCIAL MEDIA & THE LAW
21 April 2010
Tom CowlingTel: 020 7520 9561
Email: [email protected] Neal Street, London
WC2H 9PA
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Lawyers are human too!
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The Law & Social Media
• Complex, dangerous environment
• Broad legal rights and obligations
• Traps & pitfalls
• Invest in knowledge & understanding:• Cohesive image and brand enhancement• Reduced exposure• Harness the power of Social Media
• Competitive advantage
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The Law & Social Media
• Some useful resources:• www.ipo.gov.uk• www.own-it.org• www.wipo.org• http://www.creativecommons.org.uk/• http://www.ico.gov.uk/• http://asa.org.uk/
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The Law and Social Media
• 4 sections:• Contractual Rights• Laws and regulations• Third party rights• Conclusion
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Contractual Rights
• “Not tonight son…!”
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Contractual Rights
• Prominence & accessibility• Home page & other• Plain English
• Dovetail where appropriate
• 3 main documents:• T&C’s• Privacy Policy• Disclaimer
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T&C’s
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T&C’s
• Identity & contact details
• Participation conditional on acceptance
• Eligibility (eg 18+)
• Term
• Registration
• Acceptable use
• Right to suspend or terminate
• Jurisdiction
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Privacy Policy
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Privacy Policy
• Date of Policy
• Identify yourself as the Data Controller
• Scope & nature of information
• How is the information dealt with:• Published• Moved abroad/outside of EU• Sold to third parties
• Users’ use and access rights
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Disclaimers
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Disclaimers:
• Because shit happens…
• Part of T&C’s or, better, keep separate
• Damage limitation you won’t regret
• Exclude eg loss of profit, damage to reputation
• Indemnity from user (better than nothing)
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Laws & Regulations
• Data Protection Act
• Gambling Act 2005
• Protection from Harassment Act 1997
• Racial, sexual and age discrimination legislation
• Obscenity Publications Act 1959• “…obscene if it is intended to corrupt or
deprave persons exposed to it”
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Laws & Regulations• The Terrorism Acts 2000 & 2006
• Money Laundering Regulations
• CAP Codes & the ASA• Transparency and Honesty• Careful with trans-national campaigns
• Consumer Protection from Unfair Commercial Practices Regulations 2008 (CPR’s)
• Contempt of Court
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Third Party Rights
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Copyright
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Copyright• No Registration• Originality and degree of skill, labour or judgment• No copyright in an idea only in the expression of
that idea• Internet ≠ copyright free!• Life of author plus 70 years for most works• Owned by creator of the work (except employees
in the normal course of their employment duties)• Restricted acts = copying of the whole or any
substantial part of a work
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Copyright
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Copyright
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Trade Marks
GOONER
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Trade Marks• Registration required• 45 classes of goods & services• Infringement but:
• not when used to identify goods etc• Comparative advertising
• Use of ® or ™ symbol• False endorsement / Passing-off
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Defamation
• Words which “lower the plaintiff in the estimation of right-thinking members of society generally”
• Libel v slander
• The rule against repetition
• Godfrey v Demon Internet 1999
• Jurisdictional exposure
• Complaints & take-down procedures
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Conclusion
• Look before you leap:
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Conclusion
• Invest in:• Good, robust contractual protection• Knowledge & understanding of threats
• Know what’s on your and your employees’ platforms
• Implement take-down policies
• Impose sanctions for breaches
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TOM COWLING
Tel: 020 7520 9561Email: [email protected]
68a Neal StreetLondon
WC2H 9PA
LinkedIn: ww.linkedin.com/in/tomcowling