Ounique... what the hell?!

**hdkbill** · 03-23-2005, 09:59 AM

basschick,

After looking at the link you sent, it is just an online electronic signatue and the user has to also type in his date of birth. We've been told by our attorney that electronic signatures aren't legal is they are signed by a minor since minors can't sign or make legal obligations.

I'd be interested in hearing what advise other webmasters have received from their attorneys regarding the legalilty of the use of online signatures as a way to prevent minors from accessing hardcore sites.

Bill

dalimili · 03-23-2005, 11:13 AM

I don't get quite, what kind of form are you two "arguing" about, but I have to say that any additional fax sending (not all people have fax - kinda outdated in the world of mobiles and emails), or sending it by post (if I live in Europe?) is just a waste of time.

It would be much easier to have a signup form, in which you put your phone number, and in order for you to verify this information, you just call back, set up the password and that's all. You can even record the conversation if you need to have some evidence...

Do what photo agencies like Everett or Zuma do...

**citiboyz** · 03-23-2005, 12:01 PM

Under federal law, if a minor falsifies a name and/or birthdate to obtain access, he or she committed perjury, which is just as illegal for a minor as it is for an adult. Courts take a dim view on perjury, and minors have been sentenced to detention and fines because of it. While age-verification systems are yet untested in court, they nevertheless demonstrate a site's intention to do something to discourage minors from entry. The "click here if over 18" method of age-verification will not hold up in court any longer. Sites need to be more pro-active about the issue, and it sounds like you are doing that. You might be going to far, though, but it's better to err on the side of safety. That's my opinion for what it's worth :-)

dalimili · 03-23-2005, 12:18 PM

Thankfully at this point, this kind of nonsense is taken to absurdity only in United States of Absurdia....

I can imagine why you do have such strict entry rules...

Top Cat · 03-23-2005, 01:12 PM

Originally Posted by dalimili

Thankfully at this point, this kind of nonsense is taken to absurdity only in United States of Absurdia....

I can imagine why you do have such strict entry rules...

And of course it's all so much silliness since I'm sure millions of horny under-18 boys spend much of their free time cruising the Internet for porn and "certifying" they are 18 by clicking the "Enter" link. Imagine teenage boys being interested in sex and lying to get it! I am seriously shocked :honest:

Hey if the Interent had been around when I was 16 I would have been like a pig in slop. Now when I see online porn I'm way too interested in stuff like image file size and upsell text. Unless the boy is really, really pretty...