Is a Facebook Page Public Domain?

[booya30]

I would like to add posts from a Facebook page into an app. From what I've read, when users post on a page, their post is public and can be accessed from the Facebook Graph API (which I'm using). I'm not trying to steal their content and I haven't altered it in any way. The section in the app still contains the page's name.

I couldn't find any articles stating the specific case online, but what would your take on it be? Can I display the content?

Thanks

 

[bwana]

Doesn't every page say "Facebook © 2013"?

 

[marine1]

I would think if a profile if private then no

 

[quovadis]

I would like to add posts from a Facebook page into an app. From what I've read, when users post on a page, their post is public and can be accessed from the Facebook Graph API (which I'm using). I'm not trying to steal their content and I haven't altered it in any way. The section in the app still contains the page's name.

I couldn't find any articles stating the specific case online, but what would your take on it be? Can I display the content?

Thanks

Just because content is public doesn't mean copyright doesn't exist on the material. It really depends what and how the content is being used. I would advise that if the app you are referring to is in any way commercial to get a legal opinion if you are worried about it.

 

[booya30]

Just because content is public doesn't mean copyright doesn't exist on the material. It really depends what and how the content is being used. I would advise that if the app you are referring to is in any way commercial to get a legal opinion if you are worried about it.

The app isn't in any way commercial. The page is simply anonymous posts that users have submitted in a google form

 

[booya30]

Doesn't every page say "Facebook © 2013"?

Yes, it does. So all the content on Facebook has copyright?

The method of getting the data is by using the Facebook Graph API and we haven't broken any developer rules. As far as I know there is no copyright on the work posted on the page, all the posts are anonymous posts submitted on a google form. We just want to make it easier for the users of our app that access this page frequently to be able to do it from within the app.

 

[icyrus]

https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms

Have a look at sections 2 and 5.

IP posted on facebook remains the property of its owner, but posting it on facebook grants Facebook themselves a license to use it how they see fit. The content is certainly under copyright and you will need to get permission from its owners.

 

[ChocolateBadger]

Slippery slope.

 

[MKFrost]

Just another fact to consider in regards to copyright. Just because you provide a link to the original does not mean that you may quote whole sections of that original post/article.

This becomes even more of an issue should you derive any form of income through the use of that information. If you for example publish quoted posts/articles on your blog, even with links back to the original, and you derive an income from said blog then you can run into trouble as you are using the work of others to derive an income from.

Might not be specific to your question but though I'll post it here to point it out. Google copyright and check what they have to say.

 

[booya30]

Just another fact to consider in regards to copyright. Just because you provide a link to the original does not mean that you may quote whole sections of that original post/article.

This becomes even more of an issue should you derive any form of income through the use of that information. If you for example publish quoted posts/articles on your blog, even with links back to the original, and you derive an income from said blog then you can run into trouble as you are using the work of others to derive an income from.

Might not be specific to your question but though I'll post it here to point it out. Google copyright and check what they have to say.

Thanks for that. No money is being made whatsoever, but thanks for the heads-up. Is anything posted on Facebook the IP of the publisher then? To shed a bit of light on the matter, the page in question is UCT Confessions, we have a UCT student app and we'd like to add the page to the app.

Edit:

For content that is covered by intellectual property rights, like photos and videos (IP content), you specifically give us the following permission, subject to your privacy and application settings: 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).

So then can a post have copyright?

When you publish content or information using the Public setting, it means that you are allowing everyone, including people off of Facebook, to access and use that information, and to associate it with you (i.e., your name and profile picture).