# Does the legalish mumbo jumbo going around Facebook actually mean anything? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 13, 2012, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-legalish-mumbo-jumbo-going-around-facebook-actually-mean-anything/637581 "2012-10-13T01:24:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2012, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-legalish-mumbo-jumbo-going-around-facebook-actually-mean-anything/637581/1 "2012-10-13T01:24:33Z")
I see something like this pop up on my feed every once in a while: > [@](#): > > This probably wouldn’t actually work, right? Nevertheless, ~ Just In Case ~ You are hereby notified that you are strictly prohibited from disclosing, copying, distributing, disseminating, or taking any other action against me with regard to this profile and the contents herein, including, but not limited to my photos, and/or the comments made about my photos or any other “picture” art posted on my profile. The foregoing prohibitions also apply to your employee, agent, student or any personnel under your direction or control. The contents of this profile are private and legally privileged and confidential information, and the violation of my personal privacy is punishable by law. UCC 1-103 1-308 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED WITHOUT PREJUDICE > > For those of you who do not understand the reasoning behind this posting, Facebook is now a publicly traded entity. Unless you state otherwise, anyone can infringe on your right to privacy once you post to this site. It is recommended that you and other members post a similar notice as this, or you may copy and paste this version. If you do not post such a statement once, then you are indirectly allowing public use of items such as your photos and the information contained in your status updates. > Copy & paste, everyone! I’m inclined to think this is on the same legal ground as sovereign citizenship, but I’m not a lawyer, so I can’t be sure. So, does this have any basis in reality? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2012, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-legalish-mumbo-jumbo-going-around-facebook-actually-mean-anything/637581/2 "2012-10-13T01:34:06Z")
Nope. Look up that UCC code on Snopes; can’t get there from work. Short answer is, in order to post on Facebook you entered into an agreement which says people have a right to read what you put on Facebook. If you don’t want them to read it, don’t post it. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2012, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-legalish-mumbo-jumbo-going-around-facebook-actually-mean-anything/637581/3 "2012-10-13T02:25:55Z")
I’d say sovereign citizenship is on firmer legal ground. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2012, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-legalish-mumbo-jumbo-going-around-facebook-actually-mean-anything/637581/4 "2012-10-13T03:15:33Z")
[Snopes link](http://www.snopes.com/computer/facebook/privacy.asp) ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2012, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-legalish-mumbo-jumbo-going-around-facebook-actually-mean-anything/637581/5 "2012-10-13T03:20:13Z")
I don’t think it works when companies do it either. Do disclaimers in general really have any legal effect? I think it’s a CYA move by companies with more lawyers and legal budgets than brains. At least companies can hire lawyers. It’s even less effective when you’re Joe Blow on the Facebox. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2012, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-legalish-mumbo-jumbo-going-around-facebook-actually-mean-anything/637581/6 "2012-10-13T03:35:52Z")
This reply is private and confidential and may not be used by or disclosed to any police officer, Federal agent, bartender, Mormon, Amish person, person who possesses more than 5 cats, your mother, or my mother. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. UCC 4-112. ALL OBJECTIONS REFUSED FOR FRAUD WITHOUT DISHONOR. UCC 3-221 ---
**Author:** ![blindboyard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blindboyard/32/2833_2.png) [@blindboyard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blindboyard)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2012, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-legalish-mumbo-jumbo-going-around-facebook-actually-mean-anything/637581/7 "2012-10-13T07:15:01Z")
Related: > **["Online Thug" DMCAs Critic's Site Off The Internet Over 16-Word Quote \*...](https://torrentfreak.com/online-thug-dmcas-critics-site-off-the-internet-over-16-word-rant-121011/)** > > Just how easy is it to silence your critics on the Internet by using the DMCA? Apparently, very easy indeed. Yesterday, a writer who reports on religion and current affairs had his entire website taken offline after he allegedly breached the... A disreputable individual posted a “disclaimer” type of thing demanding that no-one quote or take screenshots of his facebook group’s page, the had the page taken down when someone did so. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2012, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-legalish-mumbo-jumbo-going-around-facebook-actually-mean-anything/637581/8 "2012-10-13T11:37:24Z")
> [@DrCube](#): > > I don’t think it works when companies do it either. Do disclaimers in general really have any legal effect? I think it’s a CYA move by companies with more lawyers and legal budgets than brains. At least companies can hire lawyers. It’s even less effective when you’re Joe Blow on the Facebox. Depends. The disclaimer about not forwarding an email if it’s isn’t addressed to you (common in business) had no legal force because you never agreed to it (unless you’re an employee). You cannot force legal restrictions (other than actual laws) without the consent of both parties. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2012, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-legalish-mumbo-jumbo-going-around-facebook-actually-mean-anything/637581/9 "2012-10-13T12:15:36Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Depends. The disclaimer about not forwarding an email if it’s isn’t addressed to you (common in business) had no legal force because you never agreed to it (unless you’re an employee). You cannot force legal restrictions (other than actual laws) without the consent of both parties. Exactly. By the time you understand the terms. it’s too late you’ve already seen the content, if it’s on their profile page. They or facebook already hold copyright, but “fair use” (a whole topic in itself) applies - specifically, quotes for the purpose of criticism, etc. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2012, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-legalish-mumbo-jumbo-going-around-facebook-actually-mean-anything/637581/10 "2012-10-13T16:35:34Z")
Any disclaimer has to have an opt out clause, as the courts ruled when dealing with EULAs (which is why applications now tell you that you can immediately quit the installation or immediately uninstall to avoid the contract terms, and why Facebook has to include a way to delete your content.) I can’t think of any way you could make these people opt out of the contract that wouldn’t completely defeat the entire purpose of these disclaimers. Whether there’s more legal reason they won’t work, I don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2012, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-legalish-mumbo-jumbo-going-around-facebook-actually-mean-anything/637581/11 "2012-11-26T14:38:52Z")
[Just in case there was any lingering doubt…](http://gizmodo.com/5963210/that-facebook-copyright-notice-is-worthless) ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2012, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-legalish-mumbo-jumbo-going-around-facebook-actually-mean-anything/637581/12 "2012-11-26T14:58:32Z")
Jesus christ, I have such idiot friends. In the past 2 days, 7 people have posted that crap. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2012, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-legalish-mumbo-jumbo-going-around-facebook-actually-mean-anything/637581/13 "2012-11-26T15:50:55Z")
Inner Stickler, post on your Facebook account the notice that their notice has no legal force and that by posting their notice they have given up all rights to be considered an intelligent person and will now be considered an idiot. ---
**Author:** ![ctnguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@ctnguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ctnguy)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2012, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-legalish-mumbo-jumbo-going-around-facebook-actually-mean-anything/637581/14 "2012-11-26T16:19:57Z")
Facebook should just honour their demands and delete the account of everyone who posted this bit of legal nonsense. See how long it’d last then. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2012, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-legalish-mumbo-jumbo-going-around-facebook-actually-mean-anything/637581/15 "2012-11-26T17:29:38Z")
I’ve gotten a couple of emails that were not meant for me with disclaimers about unintended recipient, etc. I always forward the email to a long list of people, including the sender. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2012, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-legalish-mumbo-jumbo-going-around-facebook-actually-mean-anything/637581/16 "2012-11-26T17:43:26Z")
You can’t reserve rights that you surrendered to Facebook when you signed up.