Is stealing myspace pictures a federal offense?

So, ok my friend he was on my computer.. and i found out he was using this really weird guy's pictures on myspace. and today he was at my house and was talking to the person he stole the pictures from. the guy told him that he called the cops and all..and it's a federal crime. so my friend and i are worried the cops might come over to our door..

question is can this actually happen to the point the cops will come to my house but we live in a different state than the person who called the cops on my friend for stealing his pictures.?

Is stealing myspace pictures a federal offense?

1. Pictures posted on myspace are no longer private. If you can save them to your hard drive from a public space like myspace, they're public.

2. Unless this guy in some strange way KNOWS where your friend lives, it's going to be really difficult for the police to find him even if they wanted to. Have you considered that?

Is stealing myspace pictures a federal offense?

The cops won't even bother.

The only thing the guy could do is take the person to court and sue. But, since your friend isn't making any money from the photo, or claiming it's his....

there is no real point to go to court.

Is stealing myspace pictures a federal offense?

Just relax. The guy is busting on you.

Is stealing myspace pictures a federal offense?

the police would either dismiss the case,

or

if the person charged theft of identity,,,,,

then i have no idea.

Is stealing myspace pictures a federal offense?

It's a violation of the picture owners copyright. Since the use is non-commercial, though, the only recourse is (if the guy wants to pay lawyers and court fees) to have a court order him to take the pictures down.

The guy can also make a copyright violation report to MySpace, who will take them down.

EDIT - To farien and Magnus - publishing a copyright image on a public forum like MySpace does NOT somehow make it non-copyright.

Richard

Is stealing myspace pictures a federal offense?

It's not stealing if you're posting them a public forum. And it's certainly not a felony. If you don't want people using your images, don't allow others to view them, or just stop using myspace. Simple as that.

Is stealing myspace pictures a federal offense?

No,

not unless they are actual pictures of the guy himself or maybe his very own artwork, then there is the copyright infringements.

and not where cops can come to your door, maybe he would get something in the mail, but they wouldnt know where to go, unless your friend gave the guy hes home address which would have been stupid.

Is stealing myspace pictures a federal offense?

Rawbert is right. there is also the entanglement in the US Constitution, Article 4 Section one that says

"Full Faith and credit shall be given each state to the public acts, records and judicial proceedings of every other state."

Look up what it means, it's kinda complicated, but also, look at the warning sighns underneath or on top of every picture on the profile warning about the pictures being able to be copied. it's a simple and easy answer. you guys are either being threatened by a retard, or are just ignorant of how much the federal government will do.

Is stealing myspace pictures a federal offense?

Pictures posted on a public domain site become open to use such as what your friend did. The pictures have to have a copyright stamp on them, or clearly be noted on the web page that they are copyrighted for this to be a crime.

You did, however, do somethign that is unethical and you should discontinue the practice.

With that said, no police agency has the time and funds to pursue this and investigate it.

I would recommend you and your friend discontinue using someone else's photos. Yo should not worry about the other person's claims.

Is stealing myspace pictures a federal offense?

It's copyright violation, but you need to have the photos registered before you can bring an action.

Is stealing myspace pictures a federal offense?

Relax. What he's trying to say is that because the photos were from another state, your alleged "theft" is now "interstate" and hence a "federal" crime.

But there are all kinds of excuses you have to cover your butt for that.

for example:

"I have an unprotected wireless network, and someone was leeching my network."

"I'm in an apartment complex, and I have some ****** who lives downstairs from Cuba who doesn't understand these things, I'll got talk to him about that."

... and so on.