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 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 →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.
Cross-platform context
See how other platforms handle Worldwide Royalty-Free Content License and similar clauses.
Compare across platforms →"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 …
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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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