Facing outrage from its users, Facebook has backed off on changes it recently introduced to its Terms of Service (TOS) that claimed ownership of all material in perpetuity, even after users terminated their accounts. But the underlying issues of who controls what your company puts on Facebook aren't going away so easily.

Fredric Paul, Contributor

February 18, 2009

1 Min Read

Facing outrage from its users, Facebook has backed off on changes it recently introduced to its Terms of Service (TOS) that claimed ownership of all material in perpetuity, even after users terminated their accounts. But the underlying issues of who controls what your company puts on Facebook aren't going away so easily.Late last night, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerman blogged that the company would return to its earlier TOS, and promised to re-examine the whole question: "we think that a lot of the language in our terms is overly formal and protective so we don't plan to leave it there for long..."

"Our next version will be a substantial revision from where we are now. It will reflect the principles I described yesterday around how people share and control their information, and it will be written clearly in language everyone can understand."

The social-networking giant also created a group called the Facebook Bill of Rights and Responsibilities "for people to give input on Facebook's terms of use." The group lays out the following 5 principles:

1. You own your information. Facebook does not. This includes your photos and all other content.

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