A recent case shows how important it is to make sure that your keep control of the social networking channels created by your employees
It involved a company some of whose employees created LinkedIn groups to promote the business. When they left and set up in competition, they took control of the groups with them. The High Court was called upon to consider the question of who should have ownership and control over the LinkedIn groups they had created.
The question of ownership could have been decided easily had the issue been dealt with in the employees’ contracts of employment, and the employer’s failure to have appropriate contractual terms in place led to the cost of a hearing in the High Court.
The Court ruled in the employer’s favour, granting it an injunction against the former employees, prohibiting them from use of the LinkedIn groups.