Instagram to Update Terms of Service; Users Outraged

(CNN) -- Users of Instagram, the popular photo-sharing app owned by Facebook, were up in arms Tuesday over language that appears to give the company ownership of their images.

A new update to Instagram's terms of service states that data collected through the app can be shared with Facebook. That's not a surprising move, considering Facebook paid an estimated $1 billion for the photo-sharing service earlier this year.

But the language that's upsetting some of the app's more than 100 million users says that "a business or other entity may pay" Instagram for the use of user images and may do so "without any compensation to you."

 

That didn't sit well with some -- including Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg's wedding photographer.

"Pro or not if a company wants to use your photos for advertising they need to TELL you and PAY you," Noah Kalina wrote Tuesdayon Twitter.

Kalina stopped short of vowing to quit Instagram, saying he hopes that language will be deleted. The proposed changes are set to go into effect January 16.

The new terms would significantly broaden what Instagram can do with users' content. Currently they say, "Instagram may place such advertising and promotions on the Instagram Services or on, about, or in conjunction with your Content."

 

Wil Wheaton, who parlayed a child-actor stint on "Star Trek: The Next Generation" into becoming one of the Web's earliest star bloggers, wrote that he doesn't use Instagram. But he questions whether other "celebrities to some degree" could be exploited if they do.

 

"If someone Instagrams a photo of Seth Green walking through an Urban Outfitters, does that mean Urban Outfitters can take that image and use it to create an implied endorsement by Seth?" Wheaton wrote. "What if the picture is taken by a complete stranger? Who gets final say in how the image is used? The subject, the photographer, or Instagram?

http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/18/tech/social-media/instagram-terms-users/?hpt=hp_t3

Dave Lozo perfectly captured my take on this earlier:

@DaveLozo:

Who is buying your Instagram photos? Is there a market for out-of-focus pictures of food and shots of your bare legs while you lie poolside?

I'm picturing Instagram founder Bob Instagram rubbing his hands together menacingly as he prints out blurry skyline pics and says CH-CHING!

Here is the backpedaling by Instagram:

http://blog.instagram.com/post/38252135408/thank-you-and-were-listening

Dave Lozo perfectly captured my take on this earlier:

 

@DaveLozo:

There is a pretty big group of people who take great pictures on Instagram though. Their terms wouldn't hurt people who Instagram their meals, their pets or other things like this. It would hurt people who take pictures like this.

That can't be legal. At least I hope it isn't.

Sure can, same as Facebook can sell your photos as well. You agree to these Terms when you sign up, same as everyone else. Of course you don't read them... same as everyone else.