Janet Jackson Tells Fans She Didn’t Want Instagram Accounts Suspended
Janet Jackson addressed her fans after some of them found their Instagram accounts were suspended or their uploaded media content removed. Several fans complained of being deleted from the social app after posting photos and videos taken during Jackson’s Unbreakable tour, according to New York Post. Fans reported receiving several warning emails from the social media app that said “a third party reported that the content violates their copyright.”
Instagram’s application programming interfaces (APIs) terms of use includes prohibiting using Instagram APIs “in any manner or for any purpose that violates any law or regulation, or any rights of any person, including but not limited to intellectual property rights, rights of privacy, or rights of personality.” An Instagram rep told New York Post that some of the media deletions that occurred following fans’ Jackson posts were not intentional and that there was “a bug that resulted in the removal of accounts that shouldn’t have been removed” and those accounts should be restored. Though the rep added that “repeat infringers” accounts will be deleted
In a Twitter statement, Jackson explained that she is not against fans sharing video clips from her concerts, but that the length is an issue. “I want you to know that I enjoy watching the short clips of how you are Burning It Up at the Unbreakable shows. Please keep posting them,” she wrote. “My team is passionate about protecting the intellectual property we are creating for the tour and possible future projects. It was never their intention, acting on my behalf, to have social media accounts removed.
“Permitting the use of long clips does present a contractual problem for these projects. I hope you understand,” she explained. “I trust the fans will use their short recordings for their own memories and to share on their social media networks of choice.”
Jackson added that she has instructed her team to “change their approach and allow you to engage socially with these videos.”
Jackson is currently on her Unbreakable Tour, which wraps in June 2016. Unbreakable, her first LP in seven years, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.