Tweeting has largely replaced “talking” in many forms. Companies communicate with clients and potential clients through Twitter, and employees often rely work-related stress to friends and follower through their constant Tweets. But in this jump into social media, no one has stopped to think: this is social media, but it’s still media. How can this effect me, my business, or my job? That’s why lawyers are called in by companies – to assess the risk before it develops.
There is no question that social media outlets such as Twitter are dominating the online community. A 2009 study conducted by Nielson found that two thirds of the world’s Internet users partake in some form of social media, spending more time on these sites than on e-mail. So what are some of the risks associated to popular social media such as Twitter?
Before putting your thoughts – especially your company’s thoughts – on the Internet, consider these factors:
Negative Publicity. Not all publicity is good publicity and negative publicity reaches customers and potential investors/employees much faster. And those negative comments also get re-tweeted! What can you do as a company: develop a comprehensive policy as to what employees can say on behalf of the company.
Intellectual Property Exposure without NDAs. When you introduce your idea to a person or an investor, the first though should be: how do I protect my idea? Most companies/entrepreneurs do this through the use of an NDA – a “Non Disclosure Agreement.” By putting your ideas and details about your product online, you are risking your trade secrets and intellectual property!
Investigations. Think of it this way, if employers do online searches to check out potential employees – regulatory agencies use tools such as Twitter to keep tabs on companies that can be potentially investigated. Many cases are won and lost through a simple statement made by an employee, a manager, or a company representative. And Tweets count as a “simple statement.”
by: Benish Shah, Esq. & Sheheryar Sardar, Esq., Sardar Law Firm LLCFor more information on social media law, contact: Sardar Law Firm at sardar@sardarlawfirm.com.
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