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Using IP rights to protect human rights: copyright for ‘revenge porn’ removal

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 June 2020

Aislinn O'Connell Open the ORCID record for Aislinn O'Connell [Opens in a new window]  and
Ksenia Bakina
Aislinn O'Connell*
Affiliation:
Royal Holloway University of London, London, UK
Ksenia Bakina
Affiliation:
Royal Holloway University of London, London, UK
*
*Corresponding author. Email: aislinn.oconnell@royalholloway.ac.uk
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Abstract

‘Revenge pornography’ is a concept which embraces a broad spectrum of the non-consensual distribution of private sexual images. Acknowledging the harms that arise from this practice and the human rights implications of ‘revenge pornography’, this paper focuses on the difficulty of removing those images from the Internet. It considers the legal vehicles which can be employed to force websites and third-party operators to remove private sexual images, including privacy law and copyright notice and takedown systems. It concludes that the piecemeal approach to image removal is insufficient, and that a more cohesive and appropriate approach to image removal is required to ensure that victim-survivors’ rights to private and family life are properly protected.

Keywords

human rights lawintellectual property lawrevenge pornimage-based sexual abuseprivacy
Type
Research Article
Information
Legal Studies , Volume 40 , Issue 3 , September 2020 , pp. 442 - 457
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press

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117 Online Copyright Infringement Liability Limitation Act 1998 17 US Code §512(c)(3).

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122 Online Copyright Infringement Liability Limitation Act 1998 17 US Code §512(c)(3).

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