Facebook: Is this your personal property or not?

Within five seconds, you can take a photo on a smart phone and share it with the world. Or the world on Facebook. It cant be denied that Facebook and other social media sites have revolutionised the way we communicate with our friends or our potential customers. However, the question of whether you continue to own your Facebook profile is a matter of debate.
You would assume that you have ownership of your Facebook page. You have possession and control of your Facebook account and profile. The ownership of original work relating to photographs, literary work and videos is covered in New Zealand by section 14 of the Copyright Act 1994. In the common law, a body of case law supports a copyright owner if any entity infringes the rights of a copyright owner. Potentially, with Facebook accounts, each Facebook post is arguably an original work being published and this blurs the lines of the law relating to copyright. On a practical level, its now a case where technology and society has moved light years ahead of the legal rules applying to this area. So what can you do to protect your privacy and information?
At the bottom of the Facebook page theres a link to the Terms and this takes you to another website page detailing the terms you agree to when youre a Facebook user. In using Facebook, youre required to continually abide by their Terms at all times, keeping in mind that Facebook is entitled to change its Terms at any time. If youre a Facebook user, the top three facts you need to know about the content and information that Facebook receives from you are below.
Do I own my Facebook account?
Your account includes your login, the information you provide Facebook and the content you upload and share. The Terms define the words content and information as being separate. Your content is the photos, videos and posts that you make while using your Facebook account, whereas your information is your name, date of birth and any email address or mobile number you supply. For a business, if youre thinking of selling your business then it may mean supplying your Facebook account details as a part of the deal.
Facebook Terms maintain that its your responsibility to understand your account and privacy settings. Therefore if you dont bother to set your own controls, then the risk is on you entirely for any information and content being circulated that you dont want out in the public arena.
Do I own my Facebook content?
Initially, you own the photograph and/or the video you take. You will, most likely, be able to maintain control of the specific photograph or video if you dont email or share in any way. But whats the point in that we hear you ask?
Remember, once you upload your content to your Facebook account, your Friends can share with their Friends and so on.
The best option is to be prepared that once you share a photo then you have lost control of who can use this image. This doesnt impact so much if youre using Facebook on a personal basis. There is, however, more risk if youre using Facebook for business as you can upload content which breaches anothers copyright or another person can more easily set up a business which looks similar to yours at very little or no cost.
What can Facebook do with my information?
Facebook largely uses your information for promotional purposes to target advertising for a specific demographic. Whilst Facebook may promise that it will always be free to the user, this comes at the price of foregoing some of your privacy and being subjected to advertising while trying to see what your Friends are up to on holiday. If you want to avoid a breach of your privacy, then we suggest that you provide as little information as possible to Facebook.
In short, you cant assume that youll always be able to control your content and information once the Facebook platform has received your information and content. Remember you are a Facebook user at your own risk.

Property Briefs

If youre considering buying a house, unit, flat or apartment on a cross lease title, you should acquaint yourself with the implications of what this means for you not only at the time of purchase, but also looking ahead in case you want to make alterations.
Owning a cross lease
A cross lease title consists of two parts; the first is an undivided share of the whole piece of land that the dwelling or flats are built on; the second is a registered lease (Memorandum of Lease) for a fixed year period for each flat owner. Each owner has exclusive possession of their own flat for residential purposes and they are referred to as lessees and lessors.
You will have exclusive use of your flat and any land allocated to that flat. Each owner enters into a covenant agreeing not enter into each others exclusive area. Any land thats outside the covenants (such as a shared driveway) can be used as a common area by all the flat owners.
There are some downsides to cross lease ownership. Each owner may not cause annoyance, grievance or disturbance to each other. You also need the consent of the other owners to make alterations to the outside of your flat theres more on this below.
Cross lease insurance
The Memorandum of Lease states that you must keep your property insured at all times. You may insure your own flat independently or there may be an arrangement where all flats are insured under a single policy and the premium is shared. You must notify your insurer of any changes you make to the footprint of your flat. If your flat is damaged theres likely to be an obligation for you to repair/rebuild your property to the original footprint before the damage occurred. There may also be a standard of repair that has to be met.
Often other interests will be in place on a cross lease title such as a bank as mortgagee; these parties may need to reach an agreement regarding settlement of your claim.
Making alterations to your dwelling on a cross lease title
If your alteration is structural but non-load bearing, youll need consent from the other flat owners. This could include moving internal doors or partitions. Consent cant be unreasonably withheld and, generally, this type of alteration will have little impact on neighbouring owners.
Alterations which involve any movement or replacement of load-bearing beams or that change the exterior shape of the building (including the addition of an extra storey) are structural and must have the consent of other owners.  A cross lease plan shows the flat footprint and where this is changed by alterations, a surveyor will need to complete a new flats plan to show the new dimensions and a new cross lease will need to be completed. If you plan to build any enclosed structure attached to the original flat such as a conservatory or extension you must also follow this procedure.
Often owners who have completed work will have obtained any required building consents and arent aware that a new flats plan is required. Consents granted by the council for any work done will not mention the requirement to update the flats plan and therefore its not picked up until you come to sell your property.
If youve completed your structural alteration but havent completed a new flats plan (where required) you can insert a clause in the Agreement saying that the purchaser accepts the defective flats plan and will waive any right to raise any issues arising from the Certificate of Title.
Cross leases are often not fully understood by real estate agents or purchasers. If youre buying a flat on a cross lease title or making alterations, make sure you talk with us early on so we can explain how it will work best for you.