Has anyone here read about this new law? It's completely ridiculous but it has been made law. I was just wondering if this would have an impact on Renderosity since it is based out of TN.

Any link for us out-of-state people ? ( as in way over in another hemisphere )

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1265457

Interesting, and probably stupidly unworkable.

Renderosity's TOS already declines "unsuitable" images so I wouldn't see this having any bearing.

Attached Link: http://yro.slashdot.org/story/11/06/09/2053245/Tennessee-Bans-Posting-Offensive-Images-Online

Here's one.

wow - that's almost a gag (as in not allowing expression, not as in joke) law.  It probably is even more extreme censorship than in many places outside the USA.

LOL this sounds a lot like the movie Equilibrium... a dystopian and iper-rational future society where the emotional content was banned and citizens used to take daily injections of medicines to suppress their emotions

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equilibrium_(film)

That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.  It makes you wonder what idiot thought to do that in the first place.

That's hilarious. Horror movies are now presumably banned in Tennessee, since they are deliberately intended to frighten the viewer.

I'm neither an American nor a lawyer, but I very much admire the 1st amendment to the US constitution. I imagine this law will survive for about a microsecond when it hits (as it inevitably will) the supreme court.

So stand back and laugh while you can.

dang! so much for my mohammed cartoons!  but the TOS here already protects us from offensive images like that.  they don't need another law for it IMVHO.

I'm for the 1st amendment all the way! Gotta find a copy of "Equalilbrium" sounds interesting. Another movie that comes to mind is "Pleasantville".

The last thing we need is more Government control.

The law has some HUGE constitutional issues. The language of the actual law is at best vague. 

I do suggest that you read the actual language of the law.

http://state.tn.us/sos/acts/107/pub/pc0362.pdf

"The offense described in  subdivision  (a)(4)  shail  not apply to an  entity providing  an  electronic communications service to the  public acting  in  the normal course of  providing that service. "

***"Communicates with another person  or transmits or displays an  image in  a manner in which there is a reasonable expectation that the image will  be viewed by the victim." ***

I see the biggest loop hole is the language of "legitimate purpose"

Social/political/religous commentary is a legitimate purpose. 

Probably the most disturbing section is 

"** **In a manner the defendant knows, or reasonably should know, would frighten, intimidate or cause emotional distress to a similarly situated person of reasonable sensibilities;"

Bottom line,  this is a poorly written piece of legislation, and the "intent" is directed at individual communication. I'm sure the team at Renderosity will look into the legal implications of how this may or may not effect the daily opperations here..

Until then, I wouldn't worry too much about it..

BUT, if you libe in Tennessee, I'd think twice about who you forward a joke or picture to..

Q: Does that mean they'll stop allowing cousins to marry, too?

no, but it means no more tweets of naughty fotos being sent by politicians to girls.  unless all 250,000 of said politician's followers get the same tweet, then it's a party political broadcast.  the law may have been intended to prevent any single person from getting targetted by that stuff, as mentioned above.

Well, I think he made a big mistake by sending them only to the young girls.  Us older women love free peeks!(tongue in cheek) lol q-:

o.k., somebody send them an IM - tweets of their stuff are o.k., but mature audiences only.  and not during dinner hours.

I 'seriously' doubt that law will stand....by the language used in it, any image could have the potential to be cited as being offensive....

Someone with any kind of phobia for example could really launch into someone for posting images of spiders, snakes, dogs, water for heavens sake  and  they could potentially become a target for a hefty fine and jail time. {cuz they 'should have known' there are peeps out there who are frightened of those things}...

I heard about this law awhile back and sent off to my fellow admins about it..I don't think Rendo has any worries about it..but if something comes up we'll def. keep you all informed :)