How can facebook or flicker own your photos?

[bcnu]

They don't own the copyright, they don't WANT to own the copyright, they don't NEED to own the copyright. They UNIVERSALLY state that you continue to own the copyright. All they want is a license to reproduce, distribute, modify, publicly display or publicly perform things you upload.

Show me any terms of service that you think state otherwise. We will show you that you are wrong.

Also, why on EARTH would anyone "send a document to the copyright office"?? The copyright office doesn't hand out copyrights. You already owned your copyright from the moment you created the first draft of your creative works of original authorship. You would only register your ownership in the US copyright office if you need a certificate to attach to a federal lawsuit. 17 USC 511. Most countries don't even HAVE anyplace in which to register because it is completely unnecessary for ownership of copyright in over 160 countries (including the USA).