Other people's pictures

SlowHabit · #1 12-23-2006, 12:41 AM

Hi,

Does anyone know if websites such as hot-or-not.com can get sued by hosting pictures of other people? What if I create an account and use someone's else picture? Would hot-or-not.com get in trouble? If not, how do they protect themselves?

Also, do I get in trouble for posting another person's picture (such as a celebrity)?

If anyone knows where I can learn more about internet regulations, please let me know!

Thanks.

rjp · #2 12-23-2006, 12:55 AM

I'm no lawyer, but here's how it works: the site requires that the user legally claims to be the person in the picture, and that the user won't upload pictures of people without their permission. Any cease and dissist lettors are taken seriously, and the offending content is removed. Kinda like copyrighted music in YouTube videos. Not the same, but you get the idea.

Shoe · #3 12-23-2006, 01:34 AM

Exactly like rjp says. Sites aren't requried to monitor everything that is posted on their site. But they are required to investigate any complaints and remove any illegal content after being notified.

Freakin · #4 12-23-2006, 03:39 PM

and regardless, you can take pictures of whatever you want if you're standing on public property when you do it...

SlowHabit · #5 12-23-2006, 05:31 PM

[ QUOTE ]
and regardless, you can take pictures of whatever you want if you're standing on public property when you do it...

[/ QUOTE ]
So let say I see Tiger Woods in the street. I take a picture of him and sell it for $. Can he sue me if he wants a piece of what I make from the picture and I decline?

Would it make a difference if he was standing next to a nice building?

captZEEbo · #6 12-23-2006, 05:49 PM

[ QUOTE ]
and regardless, you can take pictures of whatever you want if you're standing on public property when you do it...

[/ QUOTE ]you can take them, but you can't post them publicly or sell them necessarily.

alec2927 · #7 12-23-2006, 07:49 PM

i'm almost positive you can post and sell them if it is not used in advertising

WildDan · #8 12-23-2006, 11:42 PM

You absolutely can sell pictures taken of other people (at least here in the US). It's how paparazzi make money.

Freakin · #9 12-24-2006, 03:01 AM

yup. they're reflecting photons of light into public space. It's why the gov't can use infrared technology to spy on peoples homes without their knowledge, but they can't use something like sonar or other resonance because it would be sending something into their house that could affect something (in a very vague sense)