legal issue

[jliveston]

I have a legal issue. My client is selling images of local sports athletes and some of the images feature minors. They are not associating names, address or email to give out any information linking the photo so people could find who the athletes are.

I know there is the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act that is geared for sites that are aimd at Children, but this site really isn't. It's more for parents, grand parents etc. Does anyone have any information I could get to my Client about this issue? I've told my Client to be prepared to contact a lawyer to deal with this but for now I'm trying to find out a little information.

Thanks,
Jason

[asbrins]

Jason,

Your client is into a legal mine field there. From my own experience of publishing pictures featuring minors on our website we had to be very careful.

Our site, www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk has pictures of children with learning difficulties riding donkeys as part of their therapy. Before we could even consider taking their picture we had to get the parents written permission.

We made up our own 'model release form' which we passed through our solicitors. This form allows us to reproduce pictures (not just minors) on our website and/or on our litrature.

My advice would be to seek legal advice first before taking any pictures.

Andy.