Online photo copyright infringement?

[Britxnee]

Washington State-
One of my self portrait photos was taken off of a dating website and used on a website about Herpes. I do not have herpes, nor did I give them permission to use my photo. Do I have any rights as my online profile is public? I also have a network marketing business online and am very concerned about my image and defamation of character. Thanks

 

[quincy]

Washington State-
One of my self portrait photos was taken off of a dating website and used on a website about Herpes. I do not have herpes, nor did I give them permission to use my photo. Do I have any rights as my online profile is public? I also have a network marketing business online and am very concerned about my image and defamation of character. Thanks

Yes you have rights, in the form of a copyright in your photo and a publicity right in your image. You also have a right to protect and defend your reputation from harm caused by false statements about you.

You will want to check the terms and conditions of the dating website, however, to make sure you did not sign away your right to control what you posted to the site.