Classmates.com Lawsuit Over Use of Yearbook Photos Advances

PeopleConnect Inc., owner of Classmates.com, must keep defending a proposed class action alleging its unauthorized use of names and photographs to advertise subscription services violates Ohio’s right of publicity law, a federal court said.

Ohio resident Barbara Knapke alleges PeopleConnect unlawfully used her name and photo in ads on the Classmates website. She seeks to represent an Ohio class.

The Communications Decency Act, which provides immunity to internet platforms for publishing another content provider’s speech, doesn’t shield the company, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington said.

Classmates published content that it created, which isn’t protected by ...