⚠️An Open Letter to Mark Zuckerberg and Meta!

“Copyright theft of reels and missing protection on social platforms.”

“My Open Letter About Copyright Theft of My Reels and Ongoing Copyright Violations on Meta and the lack of support”

I am writing this as an independent artist, songwriter, and creator who believes in the power of music to support people through difficult times. In recent weeks, I released two albums to stand in solidarity with the Iranian community worldwide — using my voice and my art to encourage hope, unity, and resilience.

For the first time in years, I invested my own money into paid promotion across Europe, North America, Canada, and Australia so that my music could reach people who needed it most. I expected challenges. What I did not expect was the scale of copyright violations I am currently facing across Meta platforms.

Shortly after my reels began reaching audiences, multiple accounts downloaded and re-uploaded my videos without permission. This happened even though my settings do not allow downloads. Since then, I have submitted several copyright reports and provided direct links to the infringing content. While my first reports were processed, more recent ones remain unresolved, leaving my original work circulating without authorization.

Out of respect and professionalism, I also reached out directly to the accounts involved, asking them to remove my copyrighted material. Some ignored the request; others responded dismissively. Publicly addressing the issue has not resolved it either. As an independent creator, this has left me feeling unprotected on the very platforms that encourage us to share our work.

Because of the ongoing violations, I was forced to stop my paid promotions and restrict my own account activity to prevent further misuse of my content. This is counterproductive not only for me as a creator who wants to share her work, but also for Meta — a platform that was already being paid to promote that same content. It should not make more sense for creators to withdraw from sharing than to feel protected while contributing to the platform’s ecosystem.

I applied for account verification in the hope that stronger creator protections would help prevent ongoing misuse of my content. My request was denied within a day. At the same time, many of the tools that appear to offer stronger protection are now part of paid subscription packages. As an independent artist who is not yet generating income from my music and who does not have the backing of a major label, paying for basic protection of my intellectual property is simply not sustainable. Copyright protection should be accessible to all creators, regardless of financial resources.

This letter is not written out of hostility — it is written out of urgency.

Independent creators are the backbone of social platforms. We bring culture, stories, and audiences. We invest our time, creativity, and often our own finances into building communities here. In return, we need reliable and timely enforcement of copyright protection that does not depend on financial status, verification badges, or subscription tiers.

I am asking Meta to:

• Ensure timely review and enforcement of copyright reports submitted by independent creators.

• Provide clearer, accessible tools to prevent unauthorized downloading and reposting of original content.

• Strengthen transparency around verification and protection features so that emerging artists are not left behind.

• Recognize that creative work — regardless of follower count or revenue — deserves equal protection.

I will continue creating, sharing, and standing up for my work and for the rights of independent artists everywhere. I hope Meta will demonstrate that it stands with creators not only in words, but in action.

Sincerely,

An Independent Artist

Lily Amis (Instagram: @LilyAmisMusic)

www.LilyAmis.com

“Respect original creators. Support the source.”