Screenshot from Instagram on Lumia by @topgold.
ALL THE IMAGES in the screenshot from this post belong to Instagram forever, even if those posting them delete all their collateral and close their Instagram accounts. That is the biggest reason I use Flickr much more frequently than Instagram.
I'm also not a big fan of short videos of cats, something facilitated by Instagram.
The Terms of Use give Instagram perpetual use of photos and videos as well as the nearly unlimited right to license the images to any and all third parties. The American Society of Media Photographers explains, "After granting this broad license to Instagram, users also relinquish the right to terminate the agreement. Once uploaded, they cannot remove their work and their identity from Instagram. Additionally, in the event of litigation regarding a photo or a video, it is the account holder who is responsible for attorney and other fees, not Instagram."
The big problem with Instagram's terms is how easily they could become the industry standard. After all, Instagram is Facebook. And to many, Facebook is the internet.
[Bernie Goldbach teaches third level students about terms and conditions of creative multimedia content while engaged at the Limerick School of Art & Design.]
