With all the legal issues surrounding blogging I was happy to see this WIRED article last week.  Aimed towards photo bloggers it does address some common questions on respecting the subjects privacy as well as rules across various US and European regions for what is published legally safe.. In a nutshell, if you feel the shot is "risky" - it probably is... so keep these tips in mind before hitting your "upload" button.

From Wired's "Stalker or Shutterbug" article on photo blogging and privacy:

"Privacy issues aside, your little habit could still land you in hot water, but the circumstances of your snapshot would have to be pretty weird. For example, if you happen to catch a couple of underage teens having sex in the park, don't shoot or you'll effectively be a child pornographer. Taking a picture of public art can theoretically violate copyright law, though only the most dim-witted artist would object to the free publicity. And, of course, some parts of military installations and nuclear plants are off-limits, too, for national security reasons.

Also, rules vary from state to state, and some have "really goofy laws," notes Bert Krages, an Oregon lawyer who specializes in photography issues. In Texas, for example, it's illegal to take someone's picture if it's "for the purpose of another's sexual gratification" - which could include, say, a candid shot at a nude beach. Outside the US, it's best to ask permission. In Québec, a teenage girl successfully sued a photographer for $8,000 after he took her picture without her knowledge, even though she was sitting on the front steps of a public building.

If you post pictures of strangers on your blog, watch for other legal traps. Don't write a caption that misidentifies someone or is unduly mocking - your subject could sue you for placing him in a "false light." Or let's say you've started a blog, and you take a snapshot of someone at a bus stop, then Photoshop it into a banner ad promoting your site. This implies the subject endorses your work, and she could file suit for publicity rights - a cut of the enormous revenues from your vast blog empire. That's unlikely, though. In general, only big celebs with bankable images are rich and self-important enough to hire a lawyer to sue your ass. So don't worry about the man on the street. But think twice before using that shot of Madonna. She is the Material Girl." 

I was happy to see this article published especially since discovering Plagiarism Today a few days ago.  Such information is essential for amateur and professional bloggers today and I expect to see more sites like this find themselves in peoples feeds and bookmarks. Remember, just because you have a "right" to publish it, doesn't mean you cannot get in trouble over it - so be careful.

Have your blogging habits changed in the past year due to issues with privacy and plagiarism? Are you posting more or less and how has the content changed? Drop us a line and let us know.  We know blogging and social networking is driving present web growth but how and where do you fit into it?

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