Update, October 22: The touring star has had a word with her team, and your Instagram account is safe.
Jackson now says she is happy for fans to post short snippets, but not longer videos. “I want you to know that I enjoy watching the short clips of how you are Burning It Up at the Unbreakable shows. Please keep posting them,” she wrote in a statement.
“My team is passionate about protecting the intellectual property we are creating for the tour and possible future projects. It was never their intention, acting on my behalf, to have social media accounts removed. Permitting the use of long clips does present a contractual problem for these projects. I hope you understand. I trust the fans will use their short recordings for their own memories and to share on their social media networks of choice.”
If you’re seeing Janet Jackson live, it would be wise not to post videos of her.
Instagram users are reporting they’ve experienced severe consequences for posting videos — and even still photos — of Jackson performing on her comeback tour.
While the shows already have severe photographer policies (they can shoot for 30 seconds of the first song and no more), now regular fans are having their accounts permanently deleted for copyright infringement without any prior warning. Take a look at a few examples below and if you’re seeing Jackson live, maybe just keep your phone in your pocket.
Why are you doing this to your fans, @JanetJackson??? Just a warning & video deletion would’ve sufficed. Why delete our @instagram accts?
— yui (@whyyoueye) October 17, 2015