USING THE RELEASE FOR USE OF PHOTOS AND LIKENESS

UWM and its staff may wish to use pictures, video, and audio of students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors for educational and promotional purposes. Whenever possible, a release, in the form available at:

http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/LEGAL/Pages/OLA_Publications/Photo%20Release.pdf, should be obtained from each picture, video, and audio subject, preferably in advance of the likeness being captured. Occasionally, potential subjects will not consent to the use of their likeness or object after the likeness is captured. Anytime a subject objects, an item containing the subject’s likeness should be destroyed in the most practical manner for the medium involved. [In the case of photographs, a photo may be cropped to omit a non-consenting subject.] If a subject objects or withdraws consent once his/her likeness has been distributed or used through whatever medium, use should be discontinued as soon as practicable.

When using the release form, the person who is recording the likeness or who is responsible for archiving the record should fill in the contact information at the bottom of the release so that the subject may withdraw consent in the future. The subject should be provided a copy of the release and the original should be maintained in an official UWM file as long as the likeness is in use or stored.

Of course, some situations are unique and may require further legal consultation. If you are unsure about how to proceed in a specific situation, please feel free to call the Office of Legal Affairs at x 4278 with any questions.