Facebook: privacy statement

Here we go again. Sorry if it's a bit tedious to keep banging on about Facebook hoaxes, but this seems a good place to share information.

I've seen several of these postings among my friends (who are intelligent people, I hasten to add) in the last 24 hours. Please note, people, that this is complete rubbish: it first went viral some months ago but is back now. Do not copy and paste it. It won't help you or anybody else.

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!

(Anyone reading this can copy this text and paste it on their Facebook Wall. This will place them under protection of copyright laws. By the present communiqué, I notify Facebook that it is strictly forbidden to disclose, copy, distribute, disseminate, or take any other action against me on the basis of this profile and/or its contents. The aforementioned prohibited actions also apply to employees, students, agents and/or any staff under Facebook's direction or control. The content of this profile is private and confidential information. The violation of my privacy is punished by law (UCC 1 1-308-308 1-103 and the Rome Statute).

Facebook is now an open capital entity. All members are recommended to publish a notice like this, or if you prefer, you may copy and paste this version. If you do not publish a statement at least once, you will be tacitly allowing the use of elements such as your photos as well as the information contained in your profile status updates. Facebook will effectively own the copyright to your photos and images and be allowed to use them in any way they choose to).

Rather than re-invent the wheel, please simply read this very clear article written by the good people at Mashable.com, and similarly the excellent and reliable Snopes.

You will NOT be protected in any way by posting this bit of nonsense; and apart from anything else, if you are really concerned about your photos or text being used unlawfully, (a) don't post them on the internet in the first place, or (b) ensure that your postings are available only to friends - and by that I mean real friends, which is what your facebook contacts should be anyway.

This posting, incidentally, is public, and I lay no claim at all to the information in it... feel free to share it.

PS, much later in the day: a couple of superb retorts to this matter that have appeared today. First, from the superbly-named Facebook correspondent, Scumbag:

- with the comment:

Posting a notification on your Facebook wall that the photos you posted of your boobs are private property, is as effective and legally binding as smoking two packs a day, but writing on your packs of cigarettes that the content of the pack is not allowed to damage your lungs.

And finally, a word from the caped crusader: