[LINK] Instagram forced to revise user rules after boycott

[Bernard Robertson-Dunn]

<brd>
As I said earlier, re the Cloud, it's a matter of trust.
</brd>

Instagram forced to revise user rules after boycott
December 19, 2012 - 1:02PM
Miles Godfrey
http://www.watoday.com.au/digital-life/smartphone-apps/instagram-forced-to-revise-user-rules-after-boycott-20121219-2bmsh.html

As many Instagram users threaten to farewell the filter-fun application 
over photo privacy fears, the company founder has come out saying "legal 
documents are easy to misinterpret".

Instagram will revise two controversial new policies after denying a 
plot to start selling users' images royalty free.

The popular app sparked threats of a boycott after publishing the new 
privacy and user policies, parts of which were widely interpreted as a 
move to market images for commercial use.

Instagram's new policy says it can sell your photos without payment or 
notification. Photo: AFP

"To be clear: it is not our intention to sell your photos," he wrote on 
the company's blog on Wednesday.

Mr Systrom conceded users were "confused and upset" by the new rules and 
said they would be updated to make the company's intentions clear.

The clarification appeared to placate some Australian Instagram users 
who had threatened to close their accounts if their images were sold 
royalty free.

Dave Holmes, who runs the popular Australia Instagram account, told AAP: 
"I don't think it will turn out to be as bad as people think."

But there are still question marks over how user data and images will be 
managed in future.

Instagram, which is free to use, is under increasing pressure to make 
money, having been bought by the now publicly-traded Facebook for $US740 
million ($703 million).

Mr Systrom suggested one way would be for the company to allow 
individuals and businesses to pay and promote their accounts - with user 
data and images to tailor those promotions.

Twitter and Facebook both have similar promotional facilities.

Sydney-based intellectual property lawyer Anny Slater said Instagram 
users may have grounds to sue if they feel photographs are misused. Any 
case would hinge entirely on the circumstances and the shape of 
Instagram's finalised rules. "Like most things it's dictated by money 
and value," Ms Slater told AAP. "If it was a professional photographer's 
valuable photograph for what might have been Playboy or Zoo Weekly then 
it might be an issue they could sue about."

University of Melbourne social media expert Dr Lauren Rosewarne agreed 
that any further backlash among users would be shortlived.

-- 

Regards
brd

Bernard Robertson-Dunn
Sydney Australia
email: brd at iimetro.com.au
web:   www.drbrd.com
web:   www.problemsfirst.com