Recent statistics show that OnlyFans has over 170 million users registered on the platform. This huge customer base consumes independent content produced by 1.5 million creators, making the website one of the fastest-growing social media platforms in 2022.Ā
What happens if someone steals content from an OnlyFans account? Read on to find out.
What is OnlyFans?
Launched in 2016, OnlyFans is a web platform where users can access exclusive content upon the payment of a subscription fee. As of 2022, streaming and other subscription-based services associated with exclusive content are booming.
Unlike many content platforms, OnlyFans allows creators to share images and videos on the explicit side. This element attracts the curiosity of a large share of the public willing to pay for videos and pictures showing intimate content.
As expected, it is not rare to find cases of misappropriation or leaks involving content posted on OnlyFans. The platform’s growing popularity also attracted many content creators that rely on it as their main source of income.
Does OnlyFans Offer Intellectual Property Protection? – Taking a Closer Look
The Terms of Service outlined in the OnlyFans platform state that users “must not reproduce, distribute, modify, create derivative works of, publicly display, publicly perform, republish, download, store, or transmit any of the material on the website.”
The only exceptions to this rule are the storage of files in the form of an automatic cache in a web browser or downloads/screenshots taken exclusively for non-commercial use. OnlyFans strictly prohibits any type of “reproduction, publication, or distribution” of private content posted by content creators.
If any user decides to trespass this barrier and unlawfully appropriate OnlyFans content for publication or distribution elsewhere, the action is an express violation of the platform’s terms of service.
In such cases, the infringer’s right to use the platform will be immediately suspended. If applicable, the infringer must also return or destroy any copies of the materials obtained unlawfully.
Depending on the type of infringement, the misappropriation of OnlyFans content may not only create financial damage, but also emotional and psychological harm for content creators.
Someone Stole My OnlyFans Content – What Are the Next Steps?
There are several possible grounds to sue someone for stealing content on OnlyFans. The owner of the content may file a lawsuit for copyright infringement or invasion of privacy.Ā
For example, an injured content creator filing a lawsuit against an infringing party may argue that he or she did not expect that the content posted on OnlyFans would be stolen or distributed elsewhere.
Hence, the perpetrator’s action harmed the content owner’s reasonable expectation to be left alone. Depending on each case’s circumstances, filing a lawsuit may not be the first reaction to the misappropriation of OnlyFans content.
If a piece of private content is being posted elsewhere without the owner’s consent, it is possible to send a DMCA takedown notice to the infringing party to compel the removal of the content.
A cease-and-desist letter also allows the injured party to request the perpetrator to stop breaching one’s exclusive ownership rights to the content. For more complex cases, a civil or criminal lawsuit may be filed in court.
Have You Suffered Copyright Infringement or Invasion of Privacy on OnlyFans? – Immediately Seek Expert Legal Guidance
An experienced legal advisor in intellectual property law, Attorney Romy B. Jurado willingly wants to help protect your interests on OnlyFans. Contact us today by calling (305) 921-0976 or emailing [email protected] to schedule a consultation.
