PROFESSIONAL LEGAL SERVICES SINCE 1927

During a breakup, divorce, or separation, things can get messy. As emotions fly, some people may want to somehow harm their ex’s reputation. One way that people unfortunately attempt to get “revenge” is by disseminating their ex’s nude images attempting to destroy their image, reputation, and privacy.

Until this year, Iowa was one of few states that did not have any laws explicitly criminalizing “revenge porn”. The “Uniform Civil Remedies for Unauthorized Disclosure of Intimate Images Act” gives individuals who are identifiable in an intimate image that someone has disclosed without their permission to sue the person whom disclosed it. Importantly, the act states that consent to create the image or previous consensual disclosure does not establish consent for later disclosure. This allows an individual who intentionally shares an intimate image with their partner in confidence to sue them if they later share the image.

There are some limitations on the instances in which an individual may sue under this act. These limitations account for instances where disclosure is necessary or serves an important purpose- including disclosing images to law enforcement, during a legal proceeding, for medical education or treatment, or in an investigation of unlawful or unsolicited and unwelcome conduct.

Under this Act, an individual who prevails may recover monetary and non-monetary damages caused by the disclosure or threatened disclosure. Damages may include harm to reputation resulting in loss of income, emotional distress, and any monetary gain made by the discloser. The court may also order the discloser to take down the image and stop circulating the image.

If you have been harmed by the disclosure of intimate images without your consent, you may be entitled to damages. The attorneys at Simpson, Jensen, Abels, Fisher & Bouslog, P.C. are experienced in handling complex domestic disputes. Contact us at (515) 288-5000 to discuss your case with our firm.


Simpson Jensen Abels Fischer & Bouslog Law P.C. blogs, legal updates, and other content are for educational and informational purposes only. This is not legal advice and it does not create an attorney/client relationship between and Simpson Jensen Abels Fischer & Bouslog Law P.C. and readers. Readers should consult an attorney to understand how this content relates to their personal situation and circumstances. You should not use Simpson Jensen Abels Fischer & Bouslog Law P.C. blogs or content as a substitute for legal advice from a licensed attorney.