Legal Question in Civil Rights Law in Texas

Law regarding public distribution of webcam images with/without consent

I viewed a webcam of a male Yahoo chat room user, upon my viewing his cam he exposed himself, proceeding to masturbate. I took a screen image and immediately ceased viewing. I messaged him and informed him that his actions were deplorable and stated that I had a screen image of him masturbating. He became irate and stated that he didn't care what I did with the picture, even suggesting that I should make the picture public. I took this picture as a means of reporting him. As he gave me express permission to do whatever I wanted with the picture I created a profile, attaching picture to profile, then sent him the link. I then deleted the profile immediately. He is now threatening to sue me, stating that I have committed an offense by making his picture public and that he did not give me permission in the first place to take the picture of him masturbating. I have stated that he also committed an offence by exposing himself and then proceeding to fondle his genitalia in a highly sexual manner WITHOUT having warned me in advance so that I may discontinue viewing him. Does this man have a case against me?


Asked on 2/01/02, 10:31 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Charles Aspinwall Charles S. Aspinwall, J.D., LLC

Re: Law regarding public distribution of webcam images with/without consent

Unless you use his image for commercial purposes [money], he has no case against you. When one puts a photograph on the net it becomes public property immediately and the subject retains no rights to it.

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Answered on 2/02/02, 10:45 am


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