WWE Clarifies New Social Media Ban On Third Parties
WWE provides clarification on yesterday's reports of a new policy banning third parties.
Following yesterday’s report that WWE was looking to dish out “violations” for talent referencing third party platforms on Twitter and Instagram, now comes an update on this situation.
The initial story on this was that WWE would dish out a warning, then a fine, then a suspension for anybody naming a third party business, brand or charity on their social media outlets – with this being down to a contract clause where WWE has exclusive use of a talent’s likeness.
Speaking about this on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez claimed that an example of a violation would be a talent taking a photo in front of a restaurant or car.
Moving to clarify this matter, WWE reached out to F4WOnline to state how such examples would not be punishable offences unless a talent was making money from promoting the restaurant or car in question.
Vince McMahon’s sports entertainment machine also explained how this new policy is no different from the policy already in place where unauthorised third party content – such as Twitch and Cameo – is a no-go.
From WWE’s viewpoint, they have contractual ownership of the likeness of talent, which includes social media accounts regardless of whether said accounts use a performer’s ‘stage name’ or their real name.