u/ThePostwoman

Hey all! I'm a social media manager, and I love a good brand meme. But since I'm the one responsible for what goes out on our accounts, I know the rules are a lot stricter for commercial use. That covers copyright on the image and the right of publicity for anyone who appears in it.

Some companies I've worked with have had strict legal policies around memes, and others have had none at all. I'm curious where everyone else lands:

• Does your company have a meme policy? What does it cover?
• Have you ever faced legal or financial consequences for posting a viral meme format that used a photo, video or person's likeness the brand didn't own? What happened? A takedown, a demand letter, a fine?
• If you do post memes, how do you decide which ones are safe?

I've been a social media manager for a few years, and I always advise clients against using images pulled from Pinterest or random corners of the internet. I know brands do this all the time so it feels like "everyone" is doing it but... Nobody's licensed them, so it's a copyright risk.

One of my clients keeps pushing to use these images across their marketing and social channels. When I raised the copyright issue, the Marketing Director suggested we just credit Pinterest.

I know crediting isn't the same as having permission, and Pinterest doesn't own most of what's posted there anyway. Still, I want to handle this without damaging the relationship. It also is hard to hold the line when so many other brands out there are doing this same thing.

So, WWYD?

• How have you pushed back on this with a client before?
• Have you found an argument that actually worked, like real takedown or fine examples?
• Would you put it in writing and leave it up to them, or hold firm?

Thanks!