A Social Media Guide
Copyright law is a complex topic, but credit unions need to understand the basics to stay compliant and avoid legal trouble, especially when using social media. This blog post will provide a high-level overview of copyright law, how it applies to credit unions, and some specific tips for credit union employees using social media. Let’s delve a bit into copyright compliance for credit unions.
What is Copyright Law?
Copyright law protects original works of authorship, including literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works. It gives the copyright owner the exclusive right to reproduce, distribute, perform, display, and create derivative works based on the copyrighted work.
How Does Copyright Law Apply to Credit Unions?
Credit unions can create a variety of copyrighted works, such as marketing materials, training materials, and forms. It’s important to note that copyright protection arises automatically upon creation of the work, so there is no need to register the copyright with the U.S. Copyright Office. However, registering the copyright can provide certain benefits, such as the ability to file a lawsuit in federal court if the copyright is infringed.
Copyright Compliance on Social Media
Social media platforms are a great way for credit unions to connect with their members and promote their products and services. However, it’s important to be aware of copyright laws when using social media. Credit unions should avoid using copyrighted materials without permission from the copyright owner. This includes things like images, music, and videos. If you’re not sure whether you have the right to use a copyrighted work, it’s best to err on the side of caution and get permission from the copyright owner.
Here are some specific tips for credit union employees who are using social media:
- Only use copyrighted materials that you have permission to use. This includes getting permission from the copyright owner if you want to use an image from another website or a song from a music streaming service.
- Be careful about using copyrighted materials in your credit union’s social media posts. For example, if you want to share a photo of a member event, be sure to get permission from the people in the photo before posting it.
- Be aware of the “fair use” doctrine. Fair use is a legal doctrine that allows for the limited use of copyrighted material without permission from the copyright owner for certain purposes, such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research. However, the fair use doctrine is complex and there is no bright-line rule for determining whether a particular use is fair. If you’re not sure whether a use is fair, it’s best to consult with an attorney.
- Credit the copyright owner when using copyrighted material. This is especially important if you are using the material in a commercial setting, such as in a credit union’s social media post.
Copyright compliance is important for all businesses, but it’s especially important for credit unions, which are subject to a variety of state and federal regulations. By following the tips above, credit unions can help to ensure that they are using copyrighted materials in a lawful manner on social media.
In addition to the tips above, credit unions should also have a social media policy in place that addresses copyright compliance. This policy should outline the credit union’s expectations for employees when using social media and should provide employees with resources to help them understand and comply with copyright laws. Credit unions should also train their employees on copyright compliance. This training should cover the basics of copyright law, as well as specific tips for avoiding copyright infringement on social media. By following these tips, credit unions can help to ensure that they are using social media in a compliant and responsible manner.
Oak Tree Business Systems, Inc. has helped many credit unions stay compliant by providing forms and disclosures for over 35 years. Our legal staff reviews all forms requiring state and/or federal compliance and issues legal opinion letters for these forms in all 50 states. We also provide marketing compliance support. Copyright can be very complex and it is advisable to always be concerned if you are stealing the intellectual property of others, as well as protecting the properties you create. If there is any doubt, contact a reliable attorney, but when your credit union wants the best forms on the market then check out our products and services for credit unions!
