When users post intellectual property-protected content on Meta Products, they grant Meta a transferable, sub-licensable, royalty-free worldwide license to host, modify, distribute, and create derivative works of that content, consistent with the user's privacy settings. The license terminates when the content is deleted from Meta's systems, subject to the retention exceptions described in Section 3.3.3.
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 a broad operational license that permits Meta to sub-license user content to third-party service providers supporting Meta Products, and to create derivative works. The license scope, combined with the retention exceptions in Section 3.3.3, means the license may persist beyond a user's deletion request in specified circumstances.
The updated terms apply unconditionally to all users regardless of residence. Meta removed the requirement to provide 30 days' advance notice before changing terms, replacing it with notification 'before' changes go into effect without specifying a notice period. More materially, the company consolidated all disputes to exclusive resolution in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California or San Mateo County state court under California law, removing the prior option for consumers to pursue claims in competent courts in their home countries. Meta also introduced an explicit $100 liability cap (or amount paid in prior 12 months, whichever is greater) and expanded damages exclusions to cover all consequential, special, indirect, exemplary, punitive, and incidental losses 'even if we have been advised of the possibility of such damages', without the qualifying language 'to the fullest extent permissible by law' that previously applied.
View change record →The updated terms establish several operational changes affecting how disputes are handled and how the Terms themselves can be modified. For consumers, the revised dispute resolution language states that consumer claims will be resolved under the laws of the consumer's own country in courts located in that country, rather than exclusively in California courts. Meta reserves the right to pursue claims against consumers in California courts. For users employing automated data collection, the updated terms require compliance with separate Automated Data Collection Terms and explicitly state that Meta may restrict or revoke permission at any time. The Terms now require Meta to provide at least 30 days' advance notice before making changes, except when changes are required by law.
View change record →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 →⚠ The license applies to all content posted on Meta Products for the duration it remains on Meta's systems, including during applicable retention periods following deletion requests.
Cross-platform context
See how other platforms handle Royalty-Free Worldwide Content License and similar clauses.
Compare across platforms →"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.
Enforcement risk, jurisdiction flags, contract triggers, and due diligence action items.
Get the research letter
Companies change their terms quietly. We read every version and catch what actually changed. One email a week on the changes that matter and what they mean.
This provision establishes a broad operational license that permits Meta to sub-license user content to third-party service providers supporting Meta Products, and to create derivative works. The license scope, combined with the retention exceptions in Section 3.3.3, means the license may persist beyond a user's deletion request in specified circumstances.
No. ConductAtlas is an independent monitoring service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Meta.