Instagram has backed down on a policy plan that appeared to clear the way for the mobile photo sharing service to sell pictures without compensation following complaints from users.
Kevin Systrom, the co-founder of Instagram, which is owned by Facebook, said in a blog post: "The language we proposed also raised questions about whether your photos can be part of an advertisement.
"We do not have plans for anything like this and because of that we're going to remove the language that raised the question. To be clear: it is not our intention to sell your photos."
Changes to the Instagram privacy policy and terms of service set to take effect January 16 had included wording that appeared to allow people's pictures to be used by advertisers at Instagram or Facebook worldwide, royalty-free.
Systrom did not specify how the terms of service wording would be changed.
Original portions of the new policy that rankled users included "You hereby grant to Instagram a non-exclusive, fully paid and royalty-free, transferable, sub-licensable, worldwide licence to use the content that you post on or through the service."
The terms also stated that "a business or other entity may pay us to display your username, likeness, photos, and/or actions you take, in connection with paid or sponsored content or promotions, without any compensation to you."