AOL Network Picture Usage Reminder

AOL

AOL Network Picture Usage Reminder

IMPORTANT REMINDERS WHEN USING PICTURES:

Remember that pictures posted within products (Member Directory, AOL® Journals, etc.) or shared through e-mail (and saved to an AOL® Pictures album) can be downloaded from those products and saved by other members. Other members may then distribute your picture to others, or may order prints or other merchandise containing your image through the AOL® Pictures service.

While it may violate copyright, rights of publicity, or privacy rights for others to share posted pictures or otherwise reproduce them, keep in mind some members may do so regardless. If you do not wish others to be able to download, save, distribute, or order merchandise containing your picture, please do not share or post your picture in this manner.

Most of the text, graphics, and other information you'll find on the Internet is copyrighted. The person or company that created that work (whether it's a picture, book, song or home page) owns it and has the exclusive right to reproduce and distribute it.

Copying someone's copyrighted information or content without permission is not allowed and can result in your being sued. Unless it says otherwise, any content probably is copyrighted. The moment someone creates an original picture, image, writing, piece of music, home page, or other material, it is copyrighted automatically.

Copyright extends to pictures, graphics, e-mail messages, text files, sound files, computer programs, Web pages and database files. Don't assume that something isn't copyrighted if there isn't a copyright notice -- no notice is required.

You shouldn't assume material is available for your re-use unless it is specifically labeled as being in the "public domain."

Privacy

Privacy is the right to be left alone from unwanted publicity. Be careful, when posting pictures not to violate anyone's right to privacy. Publicly posting someone else's image or personal information without their permission could violate their privacy. You should also be careful when posting your own pictures as well; once you have done so it may be difficult to control the download and use of your pictures by others, which could compromise your own privacy. Before posting pictures of your child, consider if there is any information contained in the picture (name of child’s school for example) that you would rather be kept private. We encourage parents to keep their children’s safety in mind when sharing any information about them online.

If you want to use pictures you've seen posted by other members, you generally need both the permission of the photographer (who owns the copyright) and the people in the photograph (for privacy reasons). People, particularly famous people, also have a right not to have their images used for commercial or promotional purposes without authorization. That's called a right of publicity.

Whenever you use the name or image of a person in your photographs, you need to consider whether you're violating their privacy or right of publicity.

Defamation

You can also find yourself in legal trouble if you publish something about a person that is false and hurts their reputation. Defamation, or libel, is the result of an untrue statement that damages a person's (or even a company's) good name.

Even if you didn't know your statement was false, you could be liable if the injured person is not considered a "public figure." If the person is a public figure, you could be liable if you make the false statement with reckless disregard for the truth.

If you have any questions about your own situation, consult a lawyer.

By posting or sharing your picture on the AOL® service, you are representing to AOL and to other AOL® members that you own the copyrights to the picture and that posting or sharing the picture will not violate anyone else’s rights, including publicity and privacy rights. By posting or sharing your picture on the AOL service, you are also representing that your use of the picture will not constitute defamation or libel. View the complete for posting your images at AOL® Pictures Guidelines.

Of course, your use of pictures is also subject to the AOL Network Registered User Terms of Service.