Going to a festival is a big deal. It’s the chance to hang out with friends seeing the bands and singers that you love. For many people it also seems like a great opportunity to film some cool video content.

Facebook Live has been giving people the opportunity to do this since it was first introduced across India in 2016. So how does Facebook Live work and should it be used while attending a festival?

How Facebook Live is used in India

Across India, people use Facebook Live for an array of different reasons. Sports fans can use it to capture teams in action. They can take a look at the players in form, study the latest odds on sites such as Comeon odds and place a bet online. Business people can live stream events using Facebook Live, so that they can increase interaction with their brand.

Fans also use Facebook Live to capture their attendance at music concerts and festivals. After all, part of the fun of being there is sharing the experience with others. However, posting this type of content on Facebook can be a breach of copyright laws, depending on the circumstances.

Issues with copyright on Facebook Live

There is certain content that can potentially be flagged up to be removed if it’s posted to Facebook. This can include Facebook Live videos. This content includes:

  • Filming of a live movie viewing without permission.
  • Filming of a live performance without permission.
  • Filming when music is playing in the background and there is no permission to use the music.

If someone repeatedly posts this type of content on Facebook their account can be blocked. They can also be faced with large fines and potential jail time. It’s clear to see that this could potentially include Facebook Live content that is filmed at a festival. However, this is only part of the story.

Some live music events embracing Facebook Live

Some festival promoters have begun to embrace the use of Facebook Live at their events. They understand the value of having thousands of different people posting live videos from their event. It’s basically free marketing for the brand which is likely to inspire more people to attend the festival the following year.

Many promoters use their own Facebook Live videos to get the party started. Then they ask others to join in by posting great video content and by encouraging comments using relevant hashtags. Using Facebook Live in this case is totally legitimate.

In basic terms, Indian festival goers who are attending events like Chandigarhh in Chandigarh need to check what the situation is with regard to live video streaming. In some cases it may be encouraged and in some it may be prohibited. However, it’s worth saying that having one Facebook Live video removed due to copyright issues is unlikely to have serious consequences. It will probably only result in a warning. It’s only when more videos are posted that real issues start to happen.