Flickr updates user terms and privacy as ownership changes hands

With photography platform SmugMug agreeing to buy Flickr from erstwhile Yahoo!, Flickr users have until May 25 to agree to new usage terms arising from the ownership change. While the transition will be automatic for current users of the site, it might be a good idea to revisit the new terms set by SmugMug.

According to the Flickr team, the acquisition has resulted in the accounts being governed by SmugMug’s terms of service and privacy policy for the platform.

Before SmugMug, Flickr was owned by Oath, the umbrella organization under Verizon (VZ) that looks after its units Yahoo! and AOL.

If you have a Flickr account, you might have received an e-mail that outlines the change in privacy and terms

Last month, many outlets reported that Yahoo mail also updated its terms. Yahoo told users that their mail would undergo additional scanning for advertising purposes. The new terms of service also brought changes to the company’s mutual arbitration clause – including the class action waiver – thereby bringing Yahoo’s policies in line with the Oath family of sites (AOL, Engadget, Huffington Post and Techcrunch.)

Coming back to photosharing, the Flickr team has assured that “nothing will change immediately with regard to your Flickr account.” SmugMug is looking to keep itself and Flickr as separate brands, thereby retaining the free and Pro Flickr accounts.

If you have a Flickr account, you might have received an electronic mail that outlines the change in terms, with links to the new ones as well.

After the May 25 deadline, Flickr accounts will automatically transition to SmugMug-determined terms of service and privacy policy. According to the update, “if you do not consent to SmugMug’s Terms and Privacy Policy, you will need to delete your Flickr account through your Account Settings.” However, Flickr does allow you to download a copy of your photos from your Camera Roll before that.