Is posting submitted pictures illegal?(also Photoshop experts please read this)
 

I am running a contest this month on one of my sites where I ask people to send in pictures of themselves nude displaying my web site address somewhere on their body or in the picture. The most creative entry wins one of my crappy T-shirts at the end of June.

I clearly state the contest is only open to those 18 years of age and older in the U.S. and Canada.

Once someone submits me a picture I ask them to send me another email stating the following:

"I hereby certify I am the person in the picture(s) I emailed to you and that I was 18 years of age or older when the photo was taken."

Am I asking for trouble, or does this cover my butt good enough? How do all those huge amateur sites that accept submitted pictures protect themselves? I realize people that shoot their own content need signed release papers and proof of identification, etc., but there is no way big sites like watchersweb.com, for example, get release papers and proof of ID from everyone that submits pictures of themselves to them.

[This message has been edited by evildick (edited 06-03-2001).]

First of all, you can't mimick watchersweb.com, because a WHOIS reveals they are located outside the US. I assume (am I right?) you are in the US, so you are subject to our legal system, not the one in New South Wales, Australia.

When you receive a submission, you should ask for documentation as well. If they mail submissions in, they can mail in a photocopy of their driver's license (or other acceptable photo ID) and one additional supplementary ID (which need not be a photo ID, though you'll be more comfortable if it is). BTW, make sure to tell them that their face needs to match the one in the photo, so that both the photo and the ID should clearly show the person's face, to establish identity.)

Oh, yeah, and DO check the ID items to make sure that the submitter actually is 18 or older.

If they are sending you submissions electronicall (as e-mail attachments, for example), presumably if they can scan a photo, they can scan ID items as well. Why not ask for what will make you perfectly safe?

Then, there's the matter of a release. You should put a basic one on your site and require that it be filled out and submitted along with the photo and ID items. Feel free to "borrow" this release and discuss it with your attorney, who knows what local laws prevail:
http://www.girlsdotcom.com/nude/release.htm

If you can't do this right, don't do it at all. It's way too risky.

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Producer of truly original teen/young woman-oriented adult content at Wonders of the Unseen World

I'm actually in Canada, but I assume our laws our pretty similar to the U.S. when it comes to this sort of thing.

I think I might scrap the whole idea. I don't feel like going to jail this month for the sake of a measly T-shirt contest.

I've plugged this guy several times but only because he's good. He knows his shit. Go to xxxlaw.com and ask him. Trust me he'll tell you everything you need to know.

Also, I don't consider myself an expert, but I don't think that text was added with a computer. I think it's legit.
It's too hard to add font on a curve, and if they did it on a computer, they would probably not have to scrunch up the "m" in ".com"



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* uSexFan.com
* ICQ : 114683191

Evildick, ever tought of asking the rcmp's? I think it's them who handle this in your province no? They will tell you where to get a liscense, how to, the requirements, everything.

They are very nice and helpful people, that is, until you brake the law http://bbs.gofuckyourself.com/board/wink.gif

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wiZd0m
Fortune Pussy Adult Links

Wow! I'd NEVER ask a US law enforcement officer, local or Federal, a question about what I do. Maybe from a phone booth way in the back of a K-Mart or something. I'd be pretty afraid they'd get drop in (with a warrant) for a look-see. Not that I'm doing anything wrong, but just being investigated can be an inconvenience that can all but shut a business down.


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Producer of truly original teen/young woman-oriented adult content at Wonders of the Unseen World

[This message has been edited by UnseenWorld (edited 06-03-2001).]

Er, I didn't see the original font question.. But I'm assuming it's a question about a picture with some sort of text added to it (like only at www.freeporn.com do you find this girl!)

It is VERY easy to place an image automagically over another image. I can write a perl script in about 30 minutes do "watermark" every image in a directory with another smaller image.

So basicall you have your "font" in a tiny .jpg, and have a program overlay that jpeg onto all the pics you want it done to.


Of course, that may not have been the question at all, but I didn't want to risk the chance that you were mis-informed if it were. http://bbs.gofuckyourself.com/board/smile.gif

-Phil

UnseenWorld, I don't know why people think like that, it's not like we live in a police state you know! I run porn websites, does that makes me a criminal suspect? Gimme a break, we have a charter to protect ourselves and rights as citizens. Remember, the police is there to protect us, not repress us. If you ask them, they will refer you to the right place to know the law. You can even ask an investigator if you really want to know where the line is.

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wiZd0m
Fortune Pussy Adult Links

You live in Montreal? This is what can happen in "the land of the free and the home of the brave":
http://www.greeleytrib.com/article.php?sid=1040

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Producer of truly original teen/young woman-oriented adult content at Wonders of the Unseen World

Where the fuck is that? There is no sheriff in Quebec nor in Montreal. And we are not the USA, don't bring their system as an exemple. In fact, you can't even compare Canada and Quebec for Civil rights either since we have a different system for that too ;-)

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wiZd0m
Fortune Pussy Adult Links

Oh, I just noticed your from Portland, and in USA. You live in a police state man and forget about your rights, they are all being taken away one by one.

Just a quick question, how many death by bullets in your town last year?

We are the second biggest city in Canada and we had less then 50 for the entire year. Things are peacefull around here. Sure we have crime too, but never at the level you guys are at in the USA.

That's why the police mentally is different here. You guy shoot first and ask question later. Thats the american way ...

Here you really have to do bad things to get arrested.


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wiZd0m
Fortune Pussy Adult Links

Honestly, I wouldnt worry about it.

The other guys here dont know dick about adult webmastering and are just worry warts.

Keep up the good work. And dont even worry about any documentation.. Its all bogus hype.. Fuck it, you are untouchable.. Its all propganda and you will be just fine.

Besides, from what my attorney tells me, there is internet usage nowdays for inmates in the minimum security prisons.. You can use the time as quiet time away from home and get some real work done without the distractions of everyday life.

[This message has been edited by boneprone (edited 06-04-2001).]

Why not ask the Watchersweb.com people what they think.They are very approachable and they have there own in house lawyer.I believe the boss 's email addy is [email protected]

Syd

Make the people who submit photos agree to a legal document before posting. This would make them responsible for the content they submit and would ideminfy you of any wrong doing. Gather their IP address, date, time of submission and log it to a file, that way you have some documentation to back.

Sample Document