How does copyright work on Instagram?

In the United Kingdom, copyright protection is automatically granted to original works. Therefore, when you upload something to Instagram, that work is legally yours.

However, this also means that you grant a licence to Instagram, allowing them to use your content in certain ways.

According to Instagram's terms of use, this includes the ability to transfer your rights over your content to a third party without your permission.

If you're looking to protect your intellectual property (IP) on Instagram, it's advisable to consider registering a trade mark. This offers you additional legal protection and prevents other parties from using your creative works, as they will be exclusively yours. For more information on registering a trade mark in the UK, visit the UK Intellectual Property Office website.