1. Disclosure of Confidential Information
Confidential information such as trade secrets might be disclosed by employees or third parties with knowledge on social media websites such as Facebook, Twitter. Widespread disclosure of trade secrets could result the loss of intellectual property rights in the confidential materials [1]. It is relevant to EventHive, users can purchase with confidential information on EventHive for tickets or other items.
2. Unauthorised Use of Trademarks
Unauthorised use of third party trademarks on social media website would be illegal for trademark infringement, dilution or competition [1]. On EventHive, users, especially organisers, may use some logo or trademark with title to attract more users to look through. Be aware of unauthorised use of trademarks.
3. Unauthorised Use of Copyright-Protected Works
Copyright could be one of common issues in social media, such as music, photographs, videos, and etc. Using these contents without authorising the owner will be an infringement act, because the owner of contents is under the protection of copyright law [1]. Sometimes the owner of these content would charge a license fee, but the cost is certainly less than the value of the content. The same as trademarks, both EventHive users and organisers should be aware of using resources without license conformation.
4. Defamation Issues
Some of the features of social media would attract users, such as real-time interaction and ability to post on the fly. Sometimes users publish or post a statement to a limited group with arguably defaming a third party would result in legal action against the poster [1]. It is common in social media, be careful of what you may post would affect others on EventHive.
5. Dynamic Information
Dynamic information is another forms of social media, such as Wikipedia, which can be edited by anyone online. Nowadays, Wiki has tested a program for entries, which every change from people or third parties must be approved before they are posted [1]. Also companies must be aware that employees or other interested parties may change entries to remove unfavourable information even to add more untrue unfavourable information. EventHive allows every users leave comments behind events without any check. However, if organisers want to create events on EventHive, it should be allowed by EventHive administrator.
6. Securities
Businesses with an Internet presence must be vigilant to ensure that securities laws and regulations are not violated. This applies to company-managed website, and blogs [1]. It also means that executives and employees should be careful about the talking and writing in other social media networks. EventHive aims to have collaboration with companies, which is interested in this technology in the future. At that time, cooperative businesses should pay attention with security issues on their own blogs or events.
7. Privacy/Publicity
The similar as a third party materials posted to a social media website could infringe copyright or trademarks, or posting any sources such as video, photographs without proper releases may violate the privacy and publicity rights of individuals. Moreover, in certain industry companies, especially health care, must ensure that customers’ privacy information is protected [1]. Privacy is always the most important issue in social media, such as EventHive. EventHive has a specific topic about privacy [2].
8. Endorsements
The FTC has recently issued new rules requiring bloggers and other users of social media to disclose any paid endorsements. Thus, bloggers who receive compensation for discussing a product or service must disclose that their comments are paid [1]. On EventHive, only attendees of specific event are allowed to rate and post comments for both event and its organiser.
References
[1] B. Rick, S. Dan & R. Jeremy, Top 10 Legal Issues in Social Media, Intellectual Property & Marketing Attorneys, http://www.nealmcdevitt.com/assets/news/Top_10_Social_Media_Legal_Issues_FINAL.PDF, 2010.
[2] X. Yani, EventHive Privacy Policy, EventHive, http://blog.soton.ac.uk/eventhive/2015/04/26/eventhive-privacy-policy/, 26th April 2015.
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