Bethesda-Rockville-DC Social Media Law Attorney
Maryland Business and Social Media Lawyer
As social media plays an ever-increasing role in the daily life of individuals, it has become an intriguing advertising outlet for businesses intent on reaching a younger and wider audience for their products and services. It has also become a robust forum for complaints against companies and for employees to dish about their jobs. As a business owner and employer, you must decide what role social media will play in your marketing strategies and how you will diffuse complaints about your company on the web.
Are you considering using social media — such as Facebook, Twitter, or a blog product — as a business advertising tool? Do you wish to implement a social media policy for your employees? Montgomery County social media law attorney Barbara Berschler advises companies that market through social media as to the development of best practices for social media policies and employee involvement. Since 1985, she has provided knowledgeable business advice to clients throughout Washington, D.C., and Maryland.
Now is the time to think about how social media impacts your business. For more information, contact Barbara Berschler at 301-761-4097.
Legal Implications of Using Social Media in Your Business
Once you have decided to use social media as part of your business' marketing campaign, you should be aware of the legal implications which can follow so as to avoid trouble such as divulging confidential information, improperly using third party content, and circulating disparaging comments about others.
Ms. Berschler can help you develop and adopt effective best practices that reduce the risks and will make your program more successful.
Responding to Defamation on Social Media Websites
By now, your company has probably already dealt with negative comments on a social media website. However, developing a social media marketing campaign can open your company up to even more disparaging comments. How do you address these comments? Will your company reply to the comments or ignore them?
Under anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) legislation in many U.S. states, businesses cannot bring a lawsuit against an individual they believe to have slandered/defamed them. While anti-SLAPP legislation encourages the public's right to free speech, it reduces a business' ability to protect itself. Therefore, businesses must be aware of the criticisms that may appear on the Internet and develop strategies to address them.
Developing Social Media Policies for Employees
To what extent should your employees be allowed to use social media at work? How can you protect your company from negative employee posts on Facebook, Twitter or blogs? How do you prevent trade secrets from getting out into the social networks?
Bethesda-Rockville social media law attorney Barbara Berschler can help you develop strong corporate social media strategies to address these questions and more. It could mean a combination of adopting internal policies and procedure, including appropriate language in any employment or independent contractor agreements, periodically reminding your employees about your social medial policy.
Other Considerations of Social Media
When a company uses social media, it must be aware of a large number of potential legal implications, including:
- Who owns the intellectual property content that appears on the website?
- If you use a third party marketing company, is there an agreement and what are your legal
obligations? - Do you have a right to use the pictures or other art that may appear on your website?
Barbara Berschler Is Ready to Address Your Social Media Concerns
Call Bethesda-Rockville social media law attorney Barbara I. Berschler today at 301-761-4097, or fill out the online form. Attorney Berschler is committed to resolving your legal problems and helping your businesses succeed.
Attorney Barbara Berschler represents clients in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia, including Rockville, Chevy Chase, Silver Spring, Baltimore, Columbia, Frederick, Upper Marlboro, Montgomery County, Prince George's County, Howard County, Baltimore County, Frederick County, Alexandria, Fairfax County, Arlington County and Loudoun County, as well as clients throughout the United States.
