STM statement on Meta’s proposed Commercial Terms and Self-Serve Ad Terms

STM is following developments around Meta’s proposed Commercial Terms and their potential implications for scholarly publishers and other organisations that use its platforms.

We share the concerns shared by fellow publisher and news organisations about the breadth of the proposed permissions and the lack of meaningful choice for businesses that rely on Meta’s services. The proposed terms would potentially allow Meta to collect and use content from any website associated with business accounts on its platforms.

Participation on a platform should not require publishers or other rights holders to surrender control over how their content is used. Uses beyond what is needed to provide the relevant service should be subject to appropriate, voluntary agreements between rightsholders and those seeking to use their content.

These concerns relate both to the appropriate treatment of rights and the potential impact of platform power on businesses that depend on these services to reach their audiences.

STM welcomes the scrutiny of the proposed terms in the UK by the Competition and Markets Authority and by the EU Commission and other relevant authorities. We also welcome Meta’s decision to pause implementation and to consult further with rightsholders before making changes. We will continue to monitor developments and engage with members and fellow rights-holder organisations as the situation evolves.

For more information, see statements from The American Publishers Association (AAP), European Publishers Council (EPC) and News/Media Alliance.