Can any DU lawyer aswer my question?

[Meshuga]

There is a group Marranos in the northeast of Brazil (marranos are the decendents of the Jews who were forced to convert during the iquisition) who opened a community.

These are very poor people who live in an area that does not have electricity or running water. I read about them online, and being a webmaster I wrote to the email address of one of the people who were helping the community to offer my services (to create a website for them, free of cost, so the community in the US would know more about the marranos and offer help).

The person accepted the offer and sent a bunch of material for the website.

So I created an educational website with a couple of pictures that were sent to me by this person.

The person who took the pictures got in a fight with the person who sent me the pictures and now the author of the picture wants to sue for the improper use of his pictures on the website.

I removed the entire website this past weekend because I was pretty pissed for joining this project in good faith, using my free time, and paying for the domain name and other costs from my own pocket and then getting a threat.

Today he entered a petition to register the pictures as copyright.

Can this guy who is trying to get money out of this situation really go after me for violating copyright when I used the pictures thinking I had his blessing (although he never answered any of the emails, he was included in EVERY email exchange I had with the person I fisrt contacted when I offered my help but know he claims he did not know anything about it).

Thanks in advance!

It sucks to get sued for trying to help people!

[riderinthestorm]

1. Wow! Kick for an answer.

I'm not a lawyer so I can't answer your question, but what's happening really sucks.

[Meshuga]

4. Thanks! n/t

[LSdemocrat]

2. Honestly, you should make an actual appointment with a lawyer

If you get sued you're going to need an attorney anyway (even if the lawsuit is frivolous). You should be able to find one who will do a consultation for free or relatively low cost.

[Meshuga]

3. I will look for one

I think the guy is bluffing but I will call a lawyer to find out. Thanks for the responses guys!

I volunteered with good intentions and now I might get sued. This situation taught me a lesson. :-)