As kids return to schools throughout the country, Ancestry.com won a potentially critical ruling in a case alleging the website’s use of old yearbook photos violated a former student’s right to publicity.
On Aug. 27, U.S. District Judge Edmund Sargus granted summary judgment after concluding that Ancestry.com had not used plaintiff John Wilson’s photos for a commercial purpose. Sargus, of the Northern District of Ohio, specifically found that Wilson had not provided evidence that a user sought to “view records” related to him, generating a “pop-up” ad that would show his photos.