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When users post content protected by intellectual property rights, they grant Meta a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to host, modify, distribute, translate, and create derivative works of that content, subject to the user's privacy and application settings. The license terminates when the content is deleted from Meta's systems.
This analysis describes what Meta's agreement states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability and practical outcomes may vary by jurisdiction, enforcement context, and individual circumstances. Read our methodology
This provision establishes the legal basis under which Meta processes, distributes, and modifies user-generated content across its platform and with service providers. The license is transferable and sub-licensable, meaning it extends to third-party service providers supporting Meta products, and the effective duration of the license is tied to deletion completion rather than the moment of deletion request, with deletion timelines subject to multiple carve-outs.
The updated terms establish a jurisdictional change for consumers. Previously, all disputes had to be resolved in California courts; now, if you are a consumer or if your country requires it, disputes must be resolved in courts within your home country under your home country's laws. For Meta's own claims against you, the agreement still requires disputes to proceed exclusively in California courts. The revised terms also now require Meta to notify you at least 30 days in advance before making changes to these Terms, and you will have the opportunity to review them before they take effect, unless changes are required by law.
View change record →Under this clause, content a user posts to Facebook or other Meta products covered by these terms is subject to Meta's license for hosting, modification, distribution, and derivative works creation for as long as that content remains in Meta's systems. The agreement states the license ends upon deletion, but the deletion process may take up to 90 days plus an additional 90-day backup clearance period, with further extensions permitted under specified retention carve-outs.
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"Specifically, when you share, post, or upload content that is covered by intellectual property rights on or in connection with our Products, you grant us a non-exclusive, transferable, sub-licensable, royalty-free, and worldwide license to host, use, distribute, modify, run, copy, publicly perform or display, translate, and create derivative works of your content (consistent with your privacy and application settings). This means, for example, that if you share a photo on Facebook, you give us permission to store, copy, and share it with others (again, consistent with your settings) such as Meta Products or service providers that support those products and services. This license will end when your content is deleted from our systems.Excerpt from Meta's Terms of Service
1) REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: This provision implicates GDPR to the extent user-generated content contains personal data, as processing on the basis of a contractual license must align with lawful processing bases under applicable EU data protection law, enforced by EU supervisory authorities including the Irish Data Protection Commission. CCPA is also relevant for California residents regarding data use and processing permissions asserted under contract. Where the license authorizes sub-licensing to third-party service providers, data processing agreement requirements under GDPR may apply. 2) GOVERNANCE EXPOSURE: Medium. The license is broadly scoped to include modification and derivative works creation, and its sub-licensable and transferable nature means the rights extend beyond Meta's own infrastructure to third-party service providers. The gap between a user's deletion request and the license's actual termination, due to the 90-day plus 90-day backup timeline and retention carve-outs, may require evaluation under data subject erasure rights. 3) JURISDICTION FLAGS: EU and EEA users have heightened exposure because GDPR Article 17 erasure rights may interact with the retention carve-outs stated in the deletion provisions. The Irish Data Protection Commission has primary supervisory authority over Meta's EU operations. California residents retain CCPA rights that may interact with the scope of license-based data use asserted here. 4) CONTRACT AND VENDOR IMPLICATIONS: The sub-licensable nature of the grant means service providers receiving sublicensed rights may require assessment in vendor due diligence workflows, particularly for organizations managing content on behalf of others. Businesses that post content to Meta Pages or products should evaluate whether the content license scope is consistent with their own intellectual property ownership and licensing obligations. 5) COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS: Compliance teams should map how the deletion timeline and retention carve-outs interact with their obligations under GDPR Article 17 and any contractual data deletion commitments made to their own customers or partners. The incorporation of service provider sub-licensing warrants review of data processing agreement structures for any organization using Meta's business or developer products.
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This provision establishes the legal basis under which Meta processes, distributes, and modifies user-generated content across its platform and with service providers. The license is transferable and sub-licensable, meaning it extends to third-party service providers supporting Meta products, and the effective duration of the license is tied to deletion completion rather than the moment of deletion request, with deletion timelines …
Under this clause, content a user posts to Facebook or other Meta products covered by these terms is subject to Meta's license for hosting, modification, distribution, and derivative works creation for as long as that content remains in Meta's systems. The agreement states the license ends upon deletion, but the deletion process may take up to 90 days plus an …
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