Fake Facebook ‘Copyright’ Warning Goes Viral Yet Again

A fake Facebook message that claims to protect users with "copyright laws" has been cropping up on the social media site in recent days. It claims to protect users with copyright protection once they share the below status update.

It reads: "In response to the new Facebook guidelines, I hereby declare that my copyright is attached to all of my personal details, illustrations, comics, paintings, professional photos and videos, etc. (as a result of the Berner Convention). For commercial use of the above my written consent is needed at all times..."

  Although the above message sounds a little alarming at first, a Google search will tell you that there is no such thing as a Berner convention. It is thought that the hoax update meant to refer to the Berne convention which protects literary and artistic works. Attorney and blogger Brad Shear, spoke to ABC and said the message was "misleading and not true". "You do not need to make any declarations about copyright issues since the law already protects you.  The privacy declaration [in this message] is worthless and does not mean anything" continued Shear. If you are at all worried about what can be viewed, have a quick check over your privacy settings by clicking on the icon in the upper-right corner of your Facebook profile.