{
  "batch": "187-pennsylvania-privacy-and-image-law-for-creators",
  "articles": [
    {
      "id": "learn_r187_pennsylvania_privacy_and_image_law_for_creators_187_pennsylvania_anchor_pacode_index",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Identity and index of Pennsylvania's official statute code",
      "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Pennsylvania's official statutory code is the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, published by the Legislative Reference Bureau, and each title's official index is published on the Pennsylvania General Assembly website at legis.state.pa.us.",
      "body": "Pennsylvania's official statutory code is the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, published by the Legislative Reference Bureau, and each title's official index is published on the Pennsylvania General Assembly website at legis.state.pa.us.\n\nWhat Pennsylvania General Assembly - Legislative Reference Bureau actually says:\n\n“Title 1 - GENERAL PROVISIONS”\n\nNote: Anchor record. Official page heading of the Title 1 index ('Title 1 - GENERAL PROVISIONS'). Section 101 states the code's name: 'This act shall be known and may be cited as the \"Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes.\"' Titles relevant to this batch live on the same site, e.g. 18 Pa.C.S. (Crimes and Offenses), 42 Pa.C.S. (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure), 54 Pa.C.S. and 15 Pa.C.S.",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/01/01.HTM",
      "last_verified": "2026-09-12",
      "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "Pennsylvania General Assembly - Legislative Reference Bureau",
      "evidence_quote": "Title 1 - GENERAL PROVISIONS",
      "volatility": "low",
      "from_batch": "187-pennsylvania-privacy-and-image-law-for-creators",
      "subject": "Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes (Pa.C.S.)",
      "topic": "identity and index of Pennsylvania's official statute code",
      "applies_to_country": "us",
      "applies_to_scope": "Pennsylvania state law",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "choosing",
        "region": [
          "us-pa"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "safety.legal"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      },
      "verification": {
        "status": "unverified",
        "label": "Unverified - being checked",
        "reasons": [
          "legal_fetch_over_cap"
        ],
        "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r187_pennsylvania_privacy_and_image_law_for_creators_187_pennsylvania_ncii_civil_damages_42_8316_1",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "42 Pa.C.S. § 8316.1: civil damages available for non-consensual dissemination of an intimate image",
      "summary": "Pennsylvania gives a private civil cause of action for unlawful dissemination of intimate image (as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 3131) with damages of the actual loss or $500, whichever is greater, up to three times actual damages but not less than $500.",
      "body": "Pennsylvania gives a private civil cause of action for unlawful dissemination of intimate image (as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 3131) with damages of the actual loss or $500, whichever is greater, up to three times actual damages but not less than $500.\n\nWhat Pennsylvania General Assembly - Legislative Reference Bureau actually says:\n\n“Actual damages arising from the incident or $500, whichever is greater. Damages include loss of money, reputation or property, whether real or personal. The court may, in its discretion, award up to three times the actual damages sustained, but not less than $500.”\n\nNote: Explicitness tagged explicit_solo only because the underlying offense concerns intimate/sexual depictions; the remedy itself applies to any depicted person. Attorney-fee entitlement is a separate record with its own quote (42 Pa.C.S. § 8316.1(c)(2)).",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/htm/42/00.083.016.001..htm",
      "last_verified": "2026-09-12",
      "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "Pennsylvania General Assembly - Legislative Reference Bureau",
      "evidence_quote": "Actual damages arising from the incident or $500, whichever is greater. Damages include loss of money, reputation or property, whether real or personal. The court may, in its discretion, award up to three times the actual damages sustained, but not less than $500.",
      "volatility": "medium",
      "from_batch": "187-pennsylvania-privacy-and-image-law-for-creators",
      "subject": "42 Pa.C.S. § 8316.1",
      "topic": "civil damages available for non-consensual dissemination of an intimate image",
      "applies_to_country": "us",
      "applies_to_scope": "Pennsylvania",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "trouble",
        "region": [
          "us-pa"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "safety.harm"
        ],
        "explicitness": "explicit_solo"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r187_pennsylvania_privacy_and_image_law_for_creators_187_pennsylvania_ncii_civil_attorney_fees_42_8316_1",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "42 Pa.C.S. § 8316.1: attorney fees and court costs recoverable in the civil intimate-image action",
      "summary": "A prevailing civil plaintiff under 42 Pa.C.S. § 8316.1 may recover reasonable attorney fees and court costs.",
      "body": "A prevailing civil plaintiff under 42 Pa.C.S. § 8316.1 may recover reasonable attorney fees and court costs.\n\nWhat Pennsylvania General Assembly - Legislative Reference Bureau actually says:\n\n“Reasonable attorney fees and court costs.”",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/htm/42/00.083.016.001..htm",
      "last_verified": "2026-09-12",
      "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "Pennsylvania General Assembly - Legislative Reference Bureau",
      "evidence_quote": "Reasonable attorney fees and court costs.",
      "volatility": "low",
      "from_batch": "187-pennsylvania-privacy-and-image-law-for-creators",
      "subject": "42 Pa.C.S. § 8316.1",
      "topic": "attorney fees and court costs recoverable in the civil intimate-image action",
      "applies_to_country": "us",
      "applies_to_scope": "Pennsylvania",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "trouble",
        "region": [
          "us-pa"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "safety.harm"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r187_pennsylvania_privacy_and_image_law_for_creators_187_pennsylvania_ncii_civil_who_may_sue_42_8316_1",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "[Unverified - being checked] 42 Pa.C.S. § 8316.1: who may bring the civil intimate-image action",
      "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] The civil action may be brought by a natural person or, if the person is incompetent, by the person's guardian.",
      "body": "The civil action may be brought by a natural person or, if the person is incompetent, by the person's guardian.\n\nWhat Pennsylvania General Assembly - Legislative Reference Bureau actually says:\n\n“An action may be brought by a natural person or a guardian of the natural person, if the person is incompetent.”",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/htm/42/00.083.016.001..htm",
      "last_verified": "2026-09-12",
      "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "Pennsylvania General Assembly - Legislative Reference Bureau",
      "evidence_quote": "An action may be brought by a natural person or a guardian of the natural person, if the person is incompetent.",
      "volatility": "low",
      "from_batch": "187-pennsylvania-privacy-and-image-law-for-creators",
      "subject": "42 Pa.C.S. § 8316.1",
      "topic": "who may bring the civil intimate-image action",
      "applies_to_country": "us",
      "applies_to_scope": "Pennsylvania",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "trouble",
        "region": [
          "us-pa"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "safety.harm"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      },
      "verification": {
        "status": "unverified",
        "label": "Unverified - being checked",
        "reasons": [
          "thin_body",
          "source_unverifiable:fetch_failed:budget"
        ],
        "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r187_pennsylvania_privacy_and_image_law_for_creators_187_pennsylvania_ncii_criminal_18_3131",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "[Unverified - being checked] 18 Pa.C.S. § 3131: criminal offense and penalty class for unlawful dissemination of intimate image",
      "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Disseminating, with intent to harass, annoy or alarm another, a visual depiction of a current or former sexual or intimate partner in a state of nudity or engaged in sexual conduct, or an artificially generated sexual depiction of an individual, is a criminal offense graded as a misdemeanor of the first degree (minor depicted) or second degree (adult depicted).",
      "body": "Disseminating, with intent to harass, annoy or alarm another, a visual depiction of a current or former sexual or intimate partner in a state of nudity or engaged in sexual conduct, or an artificially generated sexual depiction of an individual, is a criminal offense graded as a misdemeanor of the first degree (minor depicted) or second degree (adult depicted).\n\nWhat Pennsylvania General Assembly - Legislative Reference Bureau actually says:\n\n“An offense under subsection (a)(1) shall be: (i) A misdemeanor of the first degree, when the person depicted is a minor. (ii) A misdemeanor of the second degree, when the person depicted is not a minor.”\n\nNote: Defense available where the actor disseminated the visual depiction with the consent of the person depicted (subsection (b)). The 2024 amendment added artificially generated (AI) sexual depictions. Explicitness tagged explicit_solo because the offense concerns intimate sexual depictions.",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/18/00.031.031.000..htm",
      "last_verified": "2026-09-12",
      "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "Pennsylvania General Assembly - Legislative Reference Bureau",
      "evidence_quote": "An offense under subsection (a)(1) shall be: (i) A misdemeanor of the first degree, when the person depicted is a minor. (ii) A misdemeanor of the second degree, when the person depicted is not a minor.",
      "volatility": "low",
      "from_batch": "187-pennsylvania-privacy-and-image-law-for-creators",
      "subject": "18 Pa.C.S. § 3131",
      "topic": "criminal offense and penalty class for unlawful dissemination of intimate image",
      "applies_to_country": "us",
      "applies_to_scope": "Pennsylvania",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "trouble",
        "region": [
          "us-pa"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "safety.harm",
          "safety.legal"
        ],
        "explicitness": "explicit_solo"
      },
      "verification": {
        "status": "unverified",
        "label": "Unverified - being checked",
        "reasons": [
          "legal_fetch_over_cap"
        ],
        "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r187_pennsylvania_privacy_and_image_law_for_creators_187_pennsylvania_harassment_cyber_child_18_2709",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "[Unverified - being checked] 18 Pa.C.S. § 2709: cyber harassment offense for electronic conduct toward a child",
      "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Pennsylvania's harassment statute includes a dedicated 'cyber harassment of a child' offense covering electronic communications directed to a child, including seriously disparaging statements about the child's sexuality or sexual activity and threats of harm.",
      "body": "Pennsylvania's harassment statute includes a dedicated 'cyber harassment of a child' offense covering electronic communications directed to a child, including seriously disparaging statements about the child's sexuality or sexual activity and threats of harm.\n\nWhat Pennsylvania General Assembly - Legislative Reference Bureau actually says:\n\n“(a.1)  Cyber harassment of a child.-- (1)  A person commits the crime of cyber harassment of a child if, with intent to harass, annoy or alarm, the person engages in a continuing course of conduct of making any of the following by electronic means directly to a child or by publication through an electronic social media service: (i)  seriously disparaging statement or opinion about the child's physical characteristics, sexuality, sexual activity or mental or physical health or condition; or (ii)  threat to inflict harm.”\n\nNote: This is the only offense in Title 18 named 'cyber harassment'; it applies only to child victims. Harassment involving an adult victim is covered by the general 'communicates' provisions of § 2709(a)(4)-(7), which the companion records quote.",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/18/00.027.009.000..htm",
      "last_verified": "2026-09-12",
      "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "Pennsylvania General Assembly - Legislative Reference Bureau",
      "evidence_quote": "(a.1)  Cyber harassment of a child.-- (1)  A person commits the crime of cyber harassment of a child if, with intent to harass, annoy or alarm, the person engages in a continuing course of conduct of making any of the following by electronic means directly to a child or by publication through an electronic social media service: (i)  seriously disparaging statement or opinion about the child's physical characteristics, sexuality, sexual activity or mental or physical health or condition; or (ii)  threat to inflict harm.",
      "volatility": "low",
      "from_batch": "187-pennsylvania-privacy-and-image-law-for-creators",
      "subject": "18 Pa.C.S. § 2709",
      "topic": "cyber harassment offense for electronic conduct toward a child",
      "applies_to_country": "us",
      "applies_to_scope": "Pennsylvania",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "trouble",
        "region": [
          "us-pa"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "safety.harm",
          "safety.legal"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      },
      "verification": {
        "status": "unverified",
        "label": "Unverified - being checked",
        "reasons": [
          "legal_fetch_over_cap"
        ],
        "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r187_pennsylvania_privacy_and_image_law_for_creators_187_pennsylvania_harassment_communicates_def_18_2709",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "[Unverified - being checked] 18 Pa.C.S. § 2709: electronic-communication reach of Pennsylvania's harassment crime",
      "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] 'Communicates' is expressly defined to include electronic means - telephone, electronic mail, Internet, facsimile, telex, wireless communication or similar transmission - so Pennsylvania's harassment crime reaches online conduct.",
      "body": "'Communicates' is expressly defined to include electronic means - telephone, electronic mail, Internet, facsimile, telex, wireless communication or similar transmission - so Pennsylvania's harassment crime reaches online conduct.\n\nWhat Pennsylvania General Assembly - Legislative Reference Bureau actually says:\n\n“\"Communicates.\"  Conveys a message without intent of legitimate communication or address by oral, nonverbal, written or electronic means, including telephone, electronic mail, Internet, facsimile, telex, wireless communication or similar transmission.”",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/18/00.027.009.000..htm",
      "last_verified": "2026-09-12",
      "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "Pennsylvania General Assembly - Legislative Reference Bureau",
      "evidence_quote": "\"Communicates.\"  Conveys a message without intent of legitimate communication or address by oral, nonverbal, written or electronic means, including telephone, electronic mail, Internet, facsimile, telex, wireless communication or similar transmission.",
      "volatility": "low",
      "from_batch": "187-pennsylvania-privacy-and-image-law-for-creators",
      "subject": "18 Pa.C.S. § 2709",
      "topic": "electronic-communication reach of Pennsylvania's harassment crime",
      "applies_to_country": "us",
      "applies_to_scope": "Pennsylvania",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "trouble",
        "region": [
          "us-pa"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "safety.harm",
          "safety.legal"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      },
      "verification": {
        "status": "unverified",
        "label": "Unverified - being checked",
        "reasons": [
          "thin_body",
          "source_unverifiable:fetch_failed:budget"
        ],
        "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r187_pennsylvania_privacy_and_image_law_for_creators_187_pennsylvania_harassment_grading_18_2709",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "[Unverified - being checked] 18 Pa.C.S. § 2709: penalty class of harassment by electronic/obscene communication",
      "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Communicating lewd, threatening or obscene words, anonymous or repeated communications (subsections (a)(4)-(7)), and cyber harassment of a child, are graded a misdemeanor of the third degree in Pennsylvania.",
      "body": "Communicating lewd, threatening or obscene words, anonymous or repeated communications (subsections (a)(4)-(7)), and cyber harassment of a child, are graded a misdemeanor of the third degree in Pennsylvania.\n\nWhat Pennsylvania General Assembly - Legislative Reference Bureau actually says:\n\n“An offense under subsection (a)(4), (5), (6) or (7) or (a.1) shall constitute a misdemeanor of the third degree.”",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/18/00.027.009.000..htm",
      "last_verified": "2026-09-12",
      "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "Pennsylvania General Assembly - Legislative Reference Bureau",
      "evidence_quote": "An offense under subsection (a)(4), (5), (6) or (7) or (a.1) shall constitute a misdemeanor of the third degree.",
      "volatility": "low",
      "from_batch": "187-pennsylvania-privacy-and-image-law-for-creators",
      "subject": "18 Pa.C.S. § 2709",
      "topic": "penalty class of harassment by electronic/obscene communication",
      "applies_to_country": "us",
      "applies_to_scope": "Pennsylvania",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "trouble",
        "region": [
          "us-pa"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "safety.harm",
          "safety.legal"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      },
      "verification": {
        "status": "unverified",
        "label": "Unverified - being checked",
        "reasons": [
          "thin_body",
          "source_unverifiable:fetch_failed:budget"
        ],
        "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r187_pennsylvania_privacy_and_image_law_for_creators_187_pennsylvania_stalking_offense_18_2709_1",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "[Unverified - being checked] 18 Pa.C.S. § 2709.1: criminal stalking covering repeated communication and online conduct",
      "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Pennsylvania's stalking crime covers a course of conduct or repeated acts toward another, including repeatedly communicating to another person under circumstances showing intent to place the person in reasonable fear of bodily injury or to cause substantial emotional distress, and 'communicates' is defined to include electronic means.",
      "body": "Pennsylvania's stalking crime covers a course of conduct or repeated acts toward another, including repeatedly communicating to another person under circumstances showing intent to place the person in reasonable fear of bodily injury or to cause substantial emotional distress, and 'communicates' is defined to include electronic means.\n\nWhat Pennsylvania General Assembly - Legislative Reference Bureau actually says:\n\n“A person commits the crime of stalking when the person either: (1)  engages in a course of conduct or repeatedly commits acts toward another person, including following the person without proper authority, under circumstances which demonstrate either an intent to place such other person in reasonable fear of bodily injury or to cause substantial emotional distress to such other person; or (2)  engages in a course of conduct or repeatedly communicates to another person under circumstances which demonstrate or communicate either an intent to place such other person in reasonable fear of bodily injury or to cause substantial emotional distress to such other person.”\n\nNote: Definition of 'Communicates' in § 2709.1(f) is: 'To convey a message without intent of legitimate communication or address by oral, nonverbal, written or electronic means, including telephone, electronic mail, Internet, facsimile, telex, wireless communication or similar transmission.' Venue: an offense may be deemed committed where the communication was made or where received.",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/18/00.027.009.001..htm",
      "last_verified": "2026-09-12",
      "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "Pennsylvania General Assembly - Legislative Reference Bureau",
      "evidence_quote": "A person commits the crime of stalking when the person either: (1)  engages in a course of conduct or repeatedly commits acts toward another person, including following the person without proper authority, under circumstances which demonstrate either an intent to place such other person in reasonable fear of bodily injury or to cause substantial emotional distress to such other person; or (2)  engages in a course of conduct or repeatedly communicates to another person under circumstances which demonstrate or communicate either an intent to place such other person in reasonable fear of bodily injury or to cause substantial emotional distress to such other person.",
      "volatility": "low",
      "from_batch": "187-pennsylvania-privacy-and-image-law-for-creators",
      "subject": "18 Pa.C.S. § 2709.1",
      "topic": "criminal stalking covering repeated communication and online conduct",
      "applies_to_country": "us",
      "applies_to_scope": "Pennsylvania",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "trouble",
        "region": [
          "us-pa"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "safety.harm",
          "safety.legal"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      },
      "verification": {
        "status": "unverified",
        "label": "Unverified - being checked",
        "reasons": [
          "legal_fetch_over_cap"
        ],
        "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r187_pennsylvania_privacy_and_image_law_for_creators_187_pennsylvania_stalking_grading_18_2709_1",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "[Unverified - being checked] 18 Pa.C.S. § 2709.1: penalty class of criminal stalking",
      "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] A first stalking offense in Pennsylvania is a misdemeanor of the first degree; a second or subsequent offense, or a first offense after a prior conviction of a crime of violence against the same victim, family or household member, is a felony of the third degree.",
      "body": "A first stalking offense in Pennsylvania is a misdemeanor of the first degree; a second or subsequent offense, or a first offense after a prior conviction of a crime of violence against the same victim, family or household member, is a felony of the third degree.\n\nWhat Pennsylvania General Assembly - Legislative Reference Bureau actually says:\n\n“Except as otherwise provided for in paragraph (2), a first offense under this section shall constitute a misdemeanor of the first degree.”",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/18/00.027.009.001..htm",
      "last_verified": "2026-09-12",
      "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "Pennsylvania General Assembly - Legislative Reference Bureau",
      "evidence_quote": "Except as otherwise provided for in paragraph (2), a first offense under this section shall constitute a misdemeanor of the first degree.",
      "volatility": "low",
      "from_batch": "187-pennsylvania-privacy-and-image-law-for-creators",
      "subject": "18 Pa.C.S. § 2709.1",
      "topic": "penalty class of criminal stalking",
      "applies_to_country": "us",
      "applies_to_scope": "Pennsylvania",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "trouble",
        "region": [
          "us-pa"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "safety.harm",
          "safety.legal"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      },
      "verification": {
        "status": "unverified",
        "label": "Unverified - being checked",
        "reasons": [
          "thin_body",
          "source_unverifiable:fetch_failed:budget"
        ],
        "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r187_pennsylvania_privacy_and_image_law_for_creators_187_pennsylvania_acp_establishment_23_6703",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "23 Pa.C.S. Ch. 67 § 6703: establishment and administration of Pennsylvania's address confidentiality programme",
      "summary": "Pennsylvania operates an Address Confidentiality Program (23 Pa.C.S. Ch. 67, the Domestic and Sexual Violence Victim Address Confidentiality Act) administered by the Office of Victim Advocate, which certifies eligible applicants and issues them a confidential substitute address.",
      "body": "Pennsylvania operates an Address Confidentiality Program (23 Pa.C.S. Ch. 67, the Domestic and Sexual Violence Victim Address Confidentiality Act) administered by the Office of Victim Advocate, which certifies eligible applicants and issues them a confidential substitute address.\n\nWhat Pennsylvania General Assembly - Legislative Reference Bureau actually says:\n\n“The Office of Victim Advocate shall establish a program to be known as the Address Confidentiality Program. Upon application and certification, persons eligible under section 6704 (relating to persons eligible to apply) shall receive a confidential substitute address provided by the Office of Victim Advocate.”\n\nNote: Section 6701 gives the short title: 'This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the Domestic and Sexual Violence Victim Address Confidentiality Act.'",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/23/00.067..HTM",
      "last_verified": "2026-09-12",
      "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "Pennsylvania General Assembly - Legislative Reference Bureau",
      "evidence_quote": "The Office of Victim Advocate shall establish a program to be known as the Address Confidentiality Program. Upon application and certification, persons eligible under section 6704 (relating to persons eligible to apply) shall receive a confidential substitute address provided by the Office of Victim Advocate.",
      "volatility": "low",
      "from_batch": "187-pennsylvania-privacy-and-image-law-for-creators",
      "subject": "23 Pa.C.S. Ch. 67 § 6703",
      "topic": "establishment and administration of Pennsylvania's address confidentiality programme",
      "applies_to_country": "us",
      "applies_to_scope": "Pennsylvania",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "setting_up",
        "region": [
          "us-pa"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "safety.privacy",
          "safety.legal"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r187_pennsylvania_privacy_and_image_law_for_creators_187_pennsylvania_acp_eligibility_23_6704",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "[Unverified - being checked] 23 Pa.C.S. Ch. 67 § 6704: who qualifies for the Address Confidentiality Program",
      "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Victims of domestic violence, victims of sexual assault, and victims of stalking (as defined by 18 Pa.C.S. § 2709.1) qualify for Pennsylvania's Address Confidentiality Program if they file an affidavit with the Office of Victim Advocate describing the abuse or course of conduct and stating that they fear future violent acts by the perpetrator.",
      "body": "Victims of domestic violence, victims of sexual assault, and victims of stalking (as defined by 18 Pa.C.S. § 2709.1) qualify for Pennsylvania's Address Confidentiality Program if they file an affidavit with the Office of Victim Advocate describing the abuse or course of conduct and stating that they fear future violent acts by the perpetrator.\n\nWhat Pennsylvania General Assembly - Legislative Reference Bureau actually says:\n\n“(1)  A victim of domestic violence who files an affidavit with the Office of Victim Advocate stating the affiant's eligibility for a protection from abuse order and further stating that the affiant fears future violent acts by the perpetrator of the abuse. (2)  A victim of sexual assault who files an affidavit with the Office of Victim Advocate describing the perpetrator's violent actions or threatened violent actions toward the affiant and further stating that the affiant fears future violent acts by the perpetrator of the sexual violence. (3)  A victim of stalking who files an affidavit with the Office of Victim Advocate describing the perpetrator's course of conduct or repeated actions toward the affiant meeting the criteria enumerated in 18 Pa.C.S. § 2709.1 (relating to stalking) and further stating that the affiant fears future violent acts by the perpetrator of the stalking.”\n\nNote: Full eligibility list also covers other household members (per. 4), renewing participants (per. 5), kidnapping victims (per. 6) and human trafficking victims (per. 7).",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/23/00.067..HTM",
      "last_verified": "2026-09-12",
      "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "Pennsylvania General Assembly - Legislative Reference Bureau",
      "evidence_quote": "(1)  A victim of domestic violence who files an affidavit with the Office of Victim Advocate stating the affiant's eligibility for a protection from abuse order and further stating that the affiant fears future violent acts by the perpetrator of the abuse. (2)  A victim of sexual assault who files an affidavit with the Office of Victim Advocate describing the perpetrator's violent actions or threatened violent actions toward the affiant and further stating that the affiant fears future violent acts by the perpetrator of the sexual violence. (3)  A victim of stalking who files an affidavit with the Office of Victim Advocate describing the perpetrator's course of conduct or repeated actions toward the affiant meeting the criteria enumerated in 18 Pa.C.S. § 2709.1 (relating to stalking) and further stating that the affiant fears future violent acts by the perpetrator of the stalking.",
      "volatility": "low",
      "from_batch": "187-pennsylvania-privacy-and-image-law-for-creators",
      "subject": "23 Pa.C.S. Ch. 67 § 6704",
      "topic": "who qualifies for the Address Confidentiality Program",
      "applies_to_country": "us",
      "applies_to_scope": "Pennsylvania",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "setting_up",
        "region": [
          "us-pa"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "safety.privacy",
          "safety.harm"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      },
      "verification": {
        "status": "unverified",
        "label": "Unverified - being checked",
        "reasons": [
          "legal_fetch_over_cap"
        ],
        "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r187_pennsylvania_privacy_and_image_law_for_creators_187_pennsylvania_acp_certification_23_6705",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "[Unverified - being checked] 23 Pa.C.S. Ch. 67 § 6705: how ACP certification is obtained and how long it lasts",
      "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] ACP certification: an applicant files with the Office of Victim Advocate on the OVA's form (electronically, by mail or in person), must designate the OVA as agent for service of process and give the applicant's actual address, and certification is valid for three years.",
      "body": "ACP certification: an applicant files with the Office of Victim Advocate on the OVA's form (electronically, by mail or in person), must designate the OVA as agent for service of process and give the applicant's actual address, and certification is valid for three years.\n\nWhat Pennsylvania General Assembly - Legislative Reference Bureau actually says:\n\n“A person must file an application with the Office of Victim Advocate on a form prescribed by the Office of Victim Advocate. An application and any supporting documentation may be filed electronically, by mail or in person. The Office of Victim Advocate shall certify eligible applicants as program participants in accordance with the procedures outlined in subsection (b). Certification shall be valid for a period of three years following the date of certification unless the certification is withdrawn or canceled before the expiration of that period.”\n\nNote: Certification requirements in subsec. (b) include designating the OVA as agent for receiving service of process and supplying the actual address and telephone number; cancellation (s 6706) can follow false information, failure to notify OVA of a name or address change within five days, or nondeliverable mail.",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/23/00.067..HTM",
      "last_verified": "2026-09-12",
      "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "Pennsylvania General Assembly - Legislative Reference Bureau",
      "evidence_quote": "A person must file an application with the Office of Victim Advocate on a form prescribed by the Office of Victim Advocate. An application and any supporting documentation may be filed electronically, by mail or in person. The Office of Victim Advocate shall certify eligible applicants as program participants in accordance with the procedures outlined in subsection (b). Certification shall be valid for a period of three years following the date of certification unless the certification is withdrawn or canceled before the expiration of that period.",
      "volatility": "low",
      "from_batch": "187-pennsylvania-privacy-and-image-law-for-creators",
      "subject": "23 Pa.C.S. Ch. 67 § 6705",
      "topic": "how ACP certification is obtained and how long it lasts",
      "applies_to_country": "us",
      "applies_to_scope": "Pennsylvania",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "setting_up",
        "region": [
          "us-pa"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "safety.privacy"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      },
      "verification": {
        "status": "unverified",
        "label": "Unverified - being checked",
        "reasons": [
          "legal_fetch_over_cap"
        ],
        "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r187_pennsylvania_privacy_and_image_law_for_creators_187_pennsylvania_acp_use_of_substitute_address_23_6707",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "[Unverified - being checked] 23 Pa.C.S. Ch. 67 § 6707: whether agencies (including business filings) must accept the ACP substitute address",
      "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Pennsylvania State and local government agencies - which include the Department of State for business filings - must accept an ACP participant's substitute address as the participant's address, subject to only two exceptions: the agency obtained a waiver, or the participant is a released offender on probation/parole or a convicted sexual offender required to register a residence.",
      "body": "Pennsylvania State and local government agencies - which include the Department of State for business filings - must accept an ACP participant's substitute address as the participant's address, subject to only two exceptions: the agency obtained a waiver, or the participant is a released offender on probation/parole or a convicted sexual offender required to register a residence.\n\nWhat Pennsylvania General Assembly - Legislative Reference Bureau actually says:\n\n“State and local government agencies shall accept the substitute address designated on a valid program participation card issued to the program participant by the Office of Victim Advocate as the program participant's address except as follows: (1)  when the State or local government agency has been granted a waiver pursuant to section 6709 (relating to waiver process); or (2)  when the program participant is any of the following: (i)  a released offender complying with State or county probation or parole requirements; or (ii)  a convicted sexual offender who has fulfilled the offender's sentence but must register the offender's community residence as required under 42 Pa.C.S. Ch. 97 Subch. H (relating to registration of sexual offenders) or I (relating to continued registration of sexual offenders) or any similar registration requirement imposed by any other jurisdiction.”\n\nNote: Whether the Department of State's filing forms accept the substitute address in the street-address field specifically is not confirmed on an official DOS page (see could_not_verify). The OVA forwards mail and its records are exempt from the Right-to-Know Law (s 6703(d)); disclosure of the actual address is limited by s 6708.",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/23/00.067..HTM",
      "last_verified": "2026-09-12",
      "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "Pennsylvania General Assembly - Legislative Reference Bureau",
      "evidence_quote": "State and local government agencies shall accept the substitute address designated on a valid program participation card issued to the program participant by the Office of Victim Advocate as the program participant's address except as follows: (1)  when the State or local government agency has been granted a waiver pursuant to section 6709 (relating to waiver process); or (2)  when the program participant is any of the following: (i)  a released offender complying with State or county probation or parole requirements; or (ii)  a convicted sexual offender who has fulfilled the offender's sentence but must register the offender's community residence as required under 42 Pa.C.S. Ch. 97 Subch. H (relating to registration of sexual offenders) or I (relating to continued registration of sexual offenders) or any similar registration requirement imposed by any other jurisdiction.",
      "volatility": "low",
      "from_batch": "187-pennsylvania-privacy-and-image-law-for-creators",
      "subject": "23 Pa.C.S. Ch. 67 § 6707",
      "topic": "whether agencies (including business filings) must accept the ACP substitute address",
      "applies_to_country": "us",
      "applies_to_scope": "Pennsylvania",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "running",
        "region": [
          "us-pa"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "safety.privacy",
          "ops.shipping"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      },
      "verification": {
        "status": "unverified",
        "label": "Unverified - being checked",
        "reasons": [
          "legal_fetch_over_cap"
        ],
        "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r187_pennsylvania_privacy_and_image_law_for_creators_187_pennsylvania_business_filing_address_required_15_135",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "[Unverified - being checked] 15 Pa.C.S. § 135(c): what address a Pennsylvania business filing must state",
      "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Pennsylvania business documents filed with the Department of State must state an actual street address or rural route box number; the Department must refuse to file a document that gives only a post office box address, and a filed registered office address must also state the county.",
      "body": "Pennsylvania business documents filed with the Department of State must state an actual street address or rural route box number; the Department must refuse to file a document that gives only a post office box address, and a filed registered office address must also state the county.\n\nWhat Pennsylvania General Assembly (palegis.us) actually says:\n\n“(c)  Addresses.-- (1)  Whenever any provision of this title requires that any person set forth an address in any document, such provision shall be construed to require the submission of an actual street address or rural route box number, and the department shall refuse to receive or file any document that sets forth only a post office box address. (2)  Whenever any provision of this title requires the statement of a registered office address in any document filed in the department, such provision shall be construed to require the statement also of the county in which the registered office address is located.”\n\nNote: The registered office address need not be a residence; by s 1507(a) a registered office 'may, but need not, be the same as its place of business.' The practical answer to 'must a home address go on a public filing' is that the surrogate mechanisms (Commercial Registered Office Provider, see s 109 record) allow keeping a home address off the record.",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://www.palegis.us/statutes/consolidated/view-statute?iFrame=true&txtType=HTM&ttl=15&div=0&chpt=1&sctn=35&subsctn=0",
      "last_verified": "2026-09-12",
      "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "Pennsylvania General Assembly (palegis.us)",
      "evidence_quote": "(c)  Addresses.-- (1)  Whenever any provision of this title requires that any person set forth an address in any document, such provision shall be construed to require the submission of an actual street address or rural route box number, and the department shall refuse to receive or file any document that sets forth only a post office box address. (2)  Whenever any provision of this title requires the statement of a registered office address in any document filed in the department, such provision shall be construed to require the statement also of the county in which the registered office address is located.",
      "volatility": "low",
      "from_batch": "187-pennsylvania-privacy-and-image-law-for-creators",
      "subject": "15 Pa.C.S. § 135(c)",
      "topic": "what address a Pennsylvania business filing must state",
      "applies_to_country": "us",
      "applies_to_scope": "Pennsylvania",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "setting_up",
        "region": [
          "us-pa"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "safety.privacy"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      },
      "verification": {
        "status": "unverified",
        "label": "Unverified - being checked",
        "reasons": [
          "legal_fetch_over_cap"
        ],
        "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r187_pennsylvania_privacy_and_image_law_for_creators_187_pennsylvania_business_filing_crop_substitute_15_109",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "[Unverified - being checked] 15 Pa.C.S. § 109: using a Commercial Registered Office Provider's address for a business filing",
      "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] In any Department of State filing that requires a registered office address, the filer may substitute the term 'c/o' followed by the name of an association that has filed a statement of address of commercial registered office and the name of a county, so an agent-provided street address may take the place of the filer's own registered office address.",
      "body": "In any Department of State filing that requires a registered office address, the filer may substitute the term 'c/o' followed by the name of an association that has filed a statement of address of commercial registered office and the name of a county, so an agent-provided street address may take the place of the filer's own registered office address.\n\nWhat Pennsylvania General Assembly (palegis.us) actually says:\n\n“(a)  General rule.--Where any provision of this title authorizes or requires the inclusion of a registered office address in any document filed in the Department of State, the person filing the document may substitute in lieu thereof the term \"c/o\" followed by: (1)  The name of an association or a division thereof that has filed in the department, and not withdrawn, a statement of address of commercial registered office. (2)  The name of any county of this Commonwealth and a statement that the registered office of the association represented shall be deemed for venue and official publication purposes to be located in the county so named. For venue and official publication purposes, the county so named shall control over the address contained in the currently applicable statement filed under subsection (b).”\n\nNote: This is the statutory substitute for a 'registered agent' (which Pennsylvania does not use by that name). The Department of State's CROP page adds that Commercial Registered Office Providers 'may not be used for filings in which a principal place of business is required (e.g. Fictitious Name registrations).'",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://www.palegis.us/statutes/consolidated/view-statute?iFrame=true&txtType=HTM&ttl=15&div=0&chpt=1&sctn=9&subsctn=0",
      "last_verified": "2026-09-12",
      "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "Pennsylvania General Assembly (palegis.us)",
      "evidence_quote": "(a)  General rule.--Where any provision of this title authorizes or requires the inclusion of a registered office address in any document filed in the Department of State, the person filing the document may substitute in lieu thereof the term \"c/o\" followed by: (1)  The name of an association or a division thereof that has filed in the department, and not withdrawn, a statement of address of commercial registered office. (2)  The name of any county of this Commonwealth and a statement that the registered office of the association represented shall be deemed for venue and official publication purposes to be located in the county so named. For venue and official publication purposes, the county so named shall control over the address contained in the currently applicable statement filed under subsection (b).",
      "volatility": "low",
      "from_batch": "187-pennsylvania-privacy-and-image-law-for-creators",
      "subject": "15 Pa.C.S. § 109",
      "topic": "using a Commercial Registered Office Provider's address for a business filing",
      "applies_to_country": "us",
      "applies_to_scope": "Pennsylvania",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "setting_up",
        "region": [
          "us-pa"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "safety.privacy"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      },
      "verification": {
        "status": "unverified",
        "label": "Unverified - being checked",
        "reasons": [
          "legal_fetch_over_cap"
        ],
        "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r187_pennsylvania_privacy_and_image_law_for_creators_187_pennsylvania_business_filing_dos_crop_guidance",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Agency guidance on listing a commercial registered office provider",
      "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Pennsylvania's Department of State states that any association without a physical location or mailing address in Pennsylvania may list a Commercial Registered Office Provider (CROP) in lieu of a registered office address under 15 Pa.C.S. § 109, but must first contract with the provider, and a CROP may not be used for filings that require a principal place of business such as Fictitious Name registrations.",
      "body": "Pennsylvania's Department of State states that any association without a physical location or mailing address in Pennsylvania may list a Commercial Registered Office Provider (CROP) in lieu of a registered office address under 15 Pa.C.S. § 109, but must first contract with the provider, and a CROP may not be used for filings that require a principal place of business such as Fictitious Name registrations.\n\nWhat Pennsylvania Department of State actually says:\n\n“Listing a Commercial Registered Office Provider (CROP) in lieu of providing a registered office address is an option for any association that does not have a physical location or mailing address in Pennsylvania. 15 Pa.C.S. § 109. Prior to listing a CROP address, the association should enter into a contract for the services of the Commercial Registered Office Provider. Listing a CROP address without having entered into a contract with the CROP could subject a filer to civil and criminal penalties. Commercial Registered Office Providers may not be used for filings in which a principal place of business is required (e.g. Fictitious Name registrations).”\n\nNote: Same page also states (paragraph 1): 'Associations registering with the Department of State are required to have a registered office address, which must be an actual street address or rural route box number in Pennsylvania. Post office box addresses alone are not acceptable. 15 Pa.C.S. § 135(c)(1).' and that Pennsylvania does not require Registered Agent designation.",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dos/programs/business/information-services/commercial-registered-office-providers",
      "last_verified": "2026-09-12",
      "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "Pennsylvania Department of State",
      "evidence_quote": "Listing a Commercial Registered Office Provider (CROP) in lieu of providing a registered office address is an option for any association that does not have a physical location or mailing address in Pennsylvania. 15 Pa.C.S. § 109. Prior to listing a CROP address, the association should enter into a contract for the services of the Commercial Registered Office Provider. Listing a CROP address without having entered into a contract with the CROP could subject a filer to civil and criminal penalties. Commercial Registered Office Providers may not be used for filings in which a principal place of business is required (e.g. Fictitious Name registrations).",
      "volatility": "medium",
      "from_batch": "187-pennsylvania-privacy-and-image-law-for-creators",
      "subject": "Department of State Commercial Registered Office Providers (CROP) guidance",
      "topic": "agency guidance on listing a commercial registered office provider",
      "applies_to_country": "us",
      "applies_to_scope": "Pennsylvania",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "setting_up",
        "region": [
          "us-pa"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "safety.privacy"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      },
      "verification": {
        "status": "unverified",
        "label": "Unverified - being checked",
        "reasons": [
          "legal_fetch_over_cap"
        ],
        "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r187_pennsylvania_privacy_and_image_law_for_creators_187_pennsylvania_business_filing_dos_faq_registered_office",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Department of State business FAQ: whether a Pennsylvania address is required and whether registered agents exist",
      "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] The Department of State says every business must have a Pennsylvania address (only trademarks and fictitious names are exempt), that Pennsylvania does not use registered agents but keeps a registered office address on record, and service of process may be sent to the registered address appearing on the Department's records.",
      "body": "The Department of State says every business must have a Pennsylvania address (only trademarks and fictitious names are exempt), that Pennsylvania does not use registered agents but keeps a registered office address on record, and service of process may be sent to the registered address appearing on the Department's records.\n\nWhat Pennsylvania Department of State actually says:\n\n“Yes, the only entities not required to have a Pennsylvania address are trademarks and fictitious names.”\n\nNote: Second FAQ on the same page (verbatim): 'No. Our records indicate a registered office address. Service of Process may be sent to the registered address of the entity that appears on our records. The Secretary of the Commonwealth may accept service as ordered by a Pennsylvania judge. The court order accompanied by the complaint should be sent certified mail to the Department of State; return receipt requested. The statutory fee is $70 for each defendant to be served.' The answer about registered agents is the direct evidence that a 'registered agent's address' as such does not stand in - the CROP mechanism at 15 Pa.C.S. § 109 does.",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dos/resources/business-resources/frequently-asked-questions",
      "last_verified": "2026-09-12",
      "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "Pennsylvania Department of State",
      "evidence_quote": "Yes, the only entities not required to have a Pennsylvania address are trademarks and fictitious names.",
      "volatility": "medium",
      "from_batch": "187-pennsylvania-privacy-and-image-law-for-creators",
      "subject": "Department of State business FAQ",
      "topic": "whether a Pennsylvania address is required and whether registered agents exist",
      "applies_to_country": "us",
      "applies_to_scope": "Pennsylvania",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "setting_up",
        "region": [
          "us-pa"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "safety.privacy"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      },
      "verification": {
        "status": "unverified",
        "label": "Unverified - being checked",
        "reasons": [
          "legal_fetch_over_cap"
        ],
        "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r187_pennsylvania_privacy_and_image_law_for_creators_187_pennsylvania_publicity_cause_of_action_42_8316",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "42 Pa.C.S. § 8316: statutory right of publicity / unauthorized use of name or likeness",
      "summary": "Pennsylvania statute 42 Pa.C.S. § 8316 gives a cause of action to any natural person whose name or likeness has commercial value and is used for a commercial or advertising purpose without written consent, entitling them to enjoin the use and recover damages for loss or injury.",
      "body": "Pennsylvania statute 42 Pa.C.S. § 8316 gives a cause of action to any natural person whose name or likeness has commercial value and is used for a commercial or advertising purpose without written consent, entitling them to enjoin the use and recover damages for loss or injury.\n\nWhat Pennsylvania General Assembly - Legislative Reference Bureau actually says:\n\n“Any natural person whose name or likeness has commercial value and is used for any commercial or advertising purpose without the written consent of such natural person or the written consent of any of the parties authorized in subsection (b) may bring an action to enjoin such unauthorized use and to recover damages for any loss or injury sustained by such use.”\n\nNote: 'Commercial value' is defined as a 'Valuable interest in a natural person's name or likeness that is developed through the investment of time, effort and money.' News, expressive works, original fine art, non-identified public appearances and authorship/performance identifications are excluded from 'commercial or advertising purpose' (subsec. (e)(2)).",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/42/00.083.016.000..HTM",
      "last_verified": "2026-09-12",
      "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "Pennsylvania General Assembly - Legislative Reference Bureau",
      "evidence_quote": "Any natural person whose name or likeness has commercial value and is used for any commercial or advertising purpose without the written consent of such natural person or the written consent of any of the parties authorized in subsection (b) may bring an action to enjoin such unauthorized use and to recover damages for any loss or injury sustained by such use.",
      "volatility": "low",
      "from_batch": "187-pennsylvania-privacy-and-image-law-for-creators",
      "subject": "42 Pa.C.S. § 8316",
      "topic": "statutory right of publicity / unauthorized use of name or likeness",
      "applies_to_country": "us",
      "applies_to_scope": "Pennsylvania",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "trouble",
        "region": [
          "us-pa"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "safety.harm",
          "safety.legal"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r187_pennsylvania_privacy_and_image_law_for_creators_187_pennsylvania_publicity_postmortem_42_8316",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "[Unverified - being checked] 42 Pa.C.S. § 8316(c): whether the right of publicity survives death and for how long",
      "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Pennsylvania's right of publicity survives death for the decedent's successors, but no action may be commenced more than 30 years after the natural person's death, and the statute's definition of 'natural person' includes a deceased person who was domiciled in Pennsylvania at death.",
      "body": "Pennsylvania's right of publicity survives death for the decedent's successors, but no action may be commenced more than 30 years after the natural person's death, and the statute's definition of 'natural person' includes a deceased person who was domiciled in Pennsylvania at death.\n\nWhat Pennsylvania General Assembly - Legislative Reference Bureau actually says:\n\n“No action shall be commenced under this section more than 30 years after the death of such natural person.”\n\nNote: 'Natural person' definition quoted in value is from the same section, subsec. (e). Immunity for media businesses without actual knowledge of the unauthorized use is in subsec. (d).",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/42/00.083.016.000..HTM",
      "last_verified": "2026-09-12",
      "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "Pennsylvania General Assembly - Legislative Reference Bureau",
      "evidence_quote": "No action shall be commenced under this section more than 30 years after the death of such natural person.",
      "volatility": "low",
      "from_batch": "187-pennsylvania-privacy-and-image-law-for-creators",
      "subject": "42 Pa.C.S. § 8316(c)",
      "topic": "whether the right of publicity survives death and for how long",
      "applies_to_country": "us",
      "applies_to_scope": "Pennsylvania",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "trouble",
        "region": [
          "us-pa"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "safety.legal",
          "safety.harm"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      },
      "verification": {
        "status": "unverified",
        "label": "Unverified - being checked",
        "reasons": [
          "legal_fetch_over_cap"
        ],
        "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r187_pennsylvania_privacy_and_image_law_for_creators_187_pennsylvania_publicity_who_sues_after_death_42_8316",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "42 Pa.C.S. § 8316(b)(3): who may bring the right-of-publicity action after the person's death",
      "summary": "After a person's death, the 42 Pa.C.S. § 8316 action may be brought by whoever the decedent authorized in writing (or by will) to license the name or likeness, an executor named in a will or by a court, the deceased's surviving spouse (until the spouse's death), or, absent a spouse, heirs with at least a 50% interest in the estate.",
      "body": "After a person's death, the 42 Pa.C.S. § 8316 action may be brought by whoever the decedent authorized in writing (or by will) to license the name or likeness, an executor named in a will or by a court, the deceased's surviving spouse (until the spouse's death), or, absent a spouse, heirs with at least a 50% interest in the estate.\n\nWhat Pennsylvania General Assembly - Legislative Reference Bureau actually says:\n\n“If such natural person is deceased, any person, firm or corporation authorized in writing to license the commercial or advertising use of the natural person's name or likeness by the natural person during the natural person's lifetime or by will or other testamentary device; an executor named in a will or designated by a court of competent jurisdiction; or where there is no such authorization, then by the deceased person's surviving spouse at the time of death until the surviving spouse's death or, in a case where there is no surviving spouse, then any other heir or group of heirs having at least a 50% interest in the deceased person's estate as provided for under law.”\n\nNote: The related common-law misappropriation-of-likeness tort is judge-made; its continuing status alongside the 2002 statute is unsettled, and no official state page quoted in this batch addresses it, so it is not recorded here.",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/42/00.083.016.000..HTM",
      "last_verified": "2026-09-12",
      "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "Pennsylvania General Assembly - Legislative Reference Bureau",
      "evidence_quote": "If such natural person is deceased, any person, firm or corporation authorized in writing to license the commercial or advertising use of the natural person's name or likeness by the natural person during the natural person's lifetime or by will or other testamentary device; an executor named in a will or designated by a court of competent jurisdiction; or where there is no such authorization, then by the deceased person's surviving spouse at the time of death until the surviving spouse's death or, in a case where there is no surviving spouse, then any other heir or group of heirs having at least a 50% interest in the deceased person's estate as provided for under law.",
      "volatility": "low",
      "from_batch": "187-pennsylvania-privacy-and-image-law-for-creators",
      "subject": "42 Pa.C.S. § 8316(b)(3)",
      "topic": "who may bring the right-of-publicity action after the person's death",
      "applies_to_country": "us",
      "applies_to_scope": "Pennsylvania",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "trouble",
        "region": [
          "us-pa"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "safety.legal"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      }
    }
  ]
}