Let's hypothetically say that I have a site that has different contests. One of the contests may require a participant to do something illegal in which they could get arrested for. Can I be held responsible in any way if I have a disclaimer? Any way around it if so?
Why even risk it? I mean unless the headache of a threat is worth the gain.....why bother? Why not make them all LEGAL activities for the participants? J
The fact that you believe that will not be a defense - it will only backfire. If you have a contest to see who can steal the most stop signs in a weekend even though a disclaimer might exist, does negate the fact that you're promoting an illegal activity which can lead to a whole string of charges, especially as it crosses state lines, involves minors ... and the list can only get worse. There is no such thing as a victimless crime ....
Here is something you might think of... You don't have to do anything illegal to be found liable for a civil suit. tom
Great point Tom! Millions of dollars are being handed out everyday in suits .... myspace is currently being sued for $30,000,000 because a girl ran off from home to meet her cyber boyfriend.
When I first read this it reminded me of a site kind of locally that was for breaking and entering and things of that sort. They never "stole" anything, just tresspassed. They ran a contest who could get into, and pictures of the most secure location. Taggers, and others participated in this. Sure enough law enforcement got wind, shut the site down, and supeoned information of everyone on the site. Not sure where it went from there, as that's all they supplied on the website until it was completely shut down. But I remember reading in the local paper of a string of people getting arrested for breaking and entering or tresspassing.