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legal issues with interactive websites
Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 5:35 pm
by egg82
Now, i've done a bit of research online and nothing seems to be an area of concern for me, but better to be safe than sorry.
I recently watched a "cops and robbers" show where a company was contacted for their chat logs. This got me thinking:
1. Do I need to keep logs of all active chat rooms?
2. If so, how long? And who may and must I release these "chat logs" to?
3. What information is considered "public" and "private"?
4. Again, who may and must I release this information to, and under what circumstances?
5. Is my website/games really my own?
6. Who must I release information pertaining to code to? (say the gov't asks for the source of one of my games. Can I say no?)
Probably a few more questions, but they're all pretty much alike.
If anyone has any answers or sources, it would be appreciated. I would like some kind of answer to all of these. Finding nothing and assuming a yes or no can lead to problems down the road.
Re: legal issues with interactive websites
Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 5:43 pm
by Benjamin
You aren't obligated to provide anything you have without a subpoena. You aren't obligated to provide anything you don't have regardless.
Re: legal issues with interactive websites
Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 5:46 pm
by pickle
I think the only group who are required to keep logs of any sort are ISPs. Just don't bother keeping anything and you won't have to ever worry about providing it.
Re: legal issues with interactive websites
Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 5:48 pm
by egg82
Hm, okay. That eliminates half the problems. The other half is who MAY I release information to.
Say, for example, someone wants to know someone else's account name on my website. Would I be able to give the information to them?
Or perhaps a more practical example: Moderators on my website can view and change anything about a normal user's profile. That includes, e-mail, IP address, hashed password, etc. If I start promoting "random" people to moderators (which will happen), would that be an issue?
Re: legal issues with interactive websites
Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 6:37 pm
by Benjamin
You should NEVER provide information not public regarding a user to anyone. Moderators must have access to this data as part of their job, but they must be instructed in no uncertain terms to never provide information regarding a user to anyone for any reason. The only exception is if you receive a subpoena from law enforcement. You are then legally obligated to provide the information you have.
Re: legal issues with interactive websites
Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 6:55 pm
by egg82
Thanks for the reply. By account name I meant username which is publicly displayed.
I assumed this would be okay (as it works like facebook in the respect that a user can search for another user)
The thing I wasn't counting on was the "they must be instructed in no uncertain terms to never provide information regarding a user to anyone for any reason." I assume if they can provide valid information regarding the account, then the information should be given (exaple is WoW. Lose your password, call help support, provide a few details, and they give you requested information)
I have one moderator, but I forgot to tell them never to give any information. I'll put them back down as a user until I can pass that information along.
Re: legal issues with interactive websites
Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 7:17 pm
by Benjamin
Well it would be similar to someone sending me a PM and asking for your personal email address. I would never do it. I think this is common sense. If you had to reset your password, that's another issue. I could email your new password to the email address on file for you.
Re: legal issues with interactive websites
Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 7:33 pm
by egg82
I agree with the common sense.
I just want to be 100% sure because A) i've been wrong before, and B) I don't want someone registering on my site and then successfully suing the crap out of me.
At least, I don't want them to be successful. I'm broke

(which is what i'm hoping the site will help me with)
Re: legal issues with interactive websites
Posted: Sat Dec 24, 2011 5:45 am
by social_experiment
egg82 wrote:I don't want someone registering on my site and then successfully suing the crap out of me
Write down a few 'Terms of usage' conditions which the user automatically agrees to by signing up to use your site; indemnify yourself. Most users will probably not give a hoot about reading it all but that's not your problem: ignorance of the law is no excuse
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ignorantia ... on_excusat