I watch a website online and on this website, they post local gossip and, if the pictures have been submitted, nude pictures of local celebrities in our city. I’ve seen that a lot of the people on this site threaten to sue or do other similar kinds of legal actions against the site that posts such material. None of these images used on the site are copy-written and are submitted to the site by either readers or the people in the pictures themselves (shameless self promotion). The site clearly says that they’ll post any information passed their way (think WikiLeaks) but the site always says if it is detrimental, they will remove the picture/posts/comments and the like. Also, they have an opt-out ability so that the site doesn’t talk about you.

My real question is: what rights does the site have posting these non-copyrighted pictures of people freely who have freely sent out such pictures to people who have posted to the site?

My understanding is that since the picture is not copy-written, it can be posted on the site. If the picture is of adult nature (nudity), it comes with a short disclaimer of the adult nature of the content, and can be posted. Now, if someone requests that their picture not be on this website, they should remove. I just want more legal grounds to find out what this site’s rights are.

Also: I know that one can only sue for slander if the FALSE information leads to financial or personal detriment.

Please help me understand these rights. Thanks.
Thanks for the information regarding copyright.

I was using copywritten because it sounds funny to say copyrighted to me. My bad :P

I’ll look at the RIGHT OF PUBLICITY for the state (Utah).

Thanks for your information :D

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