✅ MEDIA LEGAL DISCLAIMER
Unplugged with Aaron Knapp — First Amendment–Protected Investigative Journalism
Last Updated: November 12, 2025
Unplugged with Aaron Knapp is an independent news, investigative journalism, and public-interest media platform. All reporting, commentary, analysis, and editorial content are published pursuant to the full protections guaranteed under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, including but not limited to:
- Freedom of Speech
- Freedom of the Press
- Freedom of Expression and Commentary
- Right to Petition the Government for Redress of Grievances
These protections apply especially when addressing matters of public concern, including law enforcement conduct, public corruption, political activity, misuse of authority, and governance failures.
1. Mission and Scope of Content
Unplugged with Aaron Knapp publishes:
• investigative reports
• public records analysis
• political commentary
• legally obtained documentation
• opinion-based analysis
• whistleblower-supported findings
• reform-oriented coverage of public systems
All reporting focuses on public institutions, elected officials, public employees, publicly funded programs, and individuals involved in matters of substantial civic interest.
2. Factual Standards
All factual content is based on:
- public records
- verified documentation
- sworn testimony
- official government filings
- law enforcement reports
- direct interviews
- firsthand statements
- publicly accessible recordings
- evidence submitted through lawful channels
Unplugged with Aaron Knapp does not knowingly or recklessly publish false information. All claims are supported by verifiable documentation.
If a factual error is identified, substantiated, and communicated with credible evidence, a correction or clarification will be issued.
3. Opinions vs. Facts
Opinions, commentary, rhetorical criticism, and interpretive analysis are fully protected speech under the First Amendment and Supreme Court precedent including Milkovich v. Lorain Journal Co. (1990).
When content expresses opinion, interpretation, or rhetorical commentary, it should not be interpreted as a statement of objective fact.
4. Public Figures & Accountability
Coverage involving public officials, political candidates, government employees, and individuals engaged in public controversy is governed by elevated First Amendment protections under:
- New York Times Co. v. Sullivan (1964)
- Gertz v. Robert Welch, Inc. (1974)
- Curtis Publishing Co. v. Butts (1967)
Individuals involved in public affairs or controversies may be considered public figures or limited-purpose public figures, which affects how information may be publicly analyzed or critiqued.
5. No Legal Advice
Content discussing statutes, legal processes, filings, or public records is journalistic in nature and not legal advice.
6. Fair Use & Public Records
Screenshots, documents, images, audio descriptions, and excerpts are used under:
- Fair Use (17 U.S.C. § 107)
- The Ohio Public Records Act (R.C. 149.43)
- Open meetings laws
- Standard practices of investigative reporting
All materials obtained from public bodies are used in accordance with federal and state law.
✅ AI USE DISCLOSURE STATEMENT
Unplugged with Aaron Knapp – Transparency in Digital Tools
Last Updated: November 12, 2025
Unplugged with Aaron Knapp uses artificial intelligence (AI) tools ONLY for limited, non-editorial purposes. AI is not used to create facts, evidence, allegations, or investigative findings.
1. Allowed AI Use
AI tools may be used for:
✔ Image creation (concept art, symbolic graphics, cover images)
✔ Photo recreation for illustration when real people are not depicted
✔ Data organization (sorting notes, summarizing long PDFs, extracting timelines)
✔ Writing logistics (formatting, grammar refinement, structuring content)
✔ Page layout, keyword generation, or stylistic adjustments
✔ Brainstorming image concepts
AI-generated visuals used on the site may include metaphoric or symbolic illustrations such as microphones, courthouse silhouettes, badges, documents, or cityscapes.
2. What AI Does Not Do
AI is NOT used to:
❌ generate factual allegations
❌ create statements about real people
❌ fabricate evidence
❌ alter documents or recordings
❌ produce investigative findings
❌ invent quotes or testimony
❌ simulate the likeness of real individuals (unless the user uploads an image for resizing or clarity only)
All factual reporting originates from human investigation supported by verifiable evidence.
3. Human Verification Requirement
Every factual claim is manually verified through:
- public documents
- sworn testimony
- court filings
- police records
- email or message transcripts
- independent corroboration
- public records requests
AI outputs are never treated as evidence or as factual source material.
4. Editorial Independence
All final written content is created, approved, and edited by Aaron C. Knapp, an independent journalist and investigator.
AI may assist with clarity or formatting, but not with factual generation.
No article is published without manual human review.
5. Privacy & Ethical Use
AI is never provided with:
- confidential legal filings
- privileged attorney communications
- sealed records
- victim or witness identities not already publicly known
- protected personal data
6. Commitment to Transparency
Unplugged with Aaron Knapp is committed to total transparency regarding digital tools.
This disclosure will be updated as laws, technology, or ethical guidelines evolve.
DISCLAIMER
All individuals referenced on this website are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published on Unplugged with Aaron Knapp should be interpreted as a legal finding, criminal accusation, or definitive proof of wrongdoing.
The content presented here is sourced exclusively from publicly available information, including internet-based materials, public records, official documents, open-source data, and direct quotes from individuals.
All reasonable efforts are made to ensure journalistic integrity, factual accuracy, and context at the time of publication. However, information may evolve as new records become available.
Any discussion or explanation of the Ohio Revised Code (ORC) on this site reflects the writer’s personal interpretation and opinion only, and should not be considered legal advice or an authoritative legal conclusion.
Unplugged with Aaron Knapp is an investigative and opinion-driven platform dedicated to transparency, public accountability, and open discourse. Readers are encouraged to review source documents independently and draw their own conclusions.
Notice Regarding Use of Artificial-Intelligence Generated Images
The images and visual material published on this site (hereafter the “Materials”) that are identified as being generated or modified via artificial intelligence (AI) tools are provided under the following terms. By viewing or using them, you accept these terms.
- Nature of the Images
The Materials that are explicitly labelled as AI-generated or AI-modified are created using generative artificial intelligence systems, and are not photographs or likenesses of real persons, unless stated otherwise. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or deceased, real events, or real settings is purely coincidental, unless a specific caption or other indication states otherwise. - Copyright & Authorship
a. Under current United States law, a work must be the product of human authorship to be eligible for federal copyright protection. The U.S. Copyright Office has explicitly held that a work which is generated entirely by a machine (without “traditional human authorship”) is not eligible for copyright registration. Congress.gov+3U.S. Copyright Office+3Reuters+3
b. A recent decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit affirmed that an image created by a machine without human authorship cannot be copyrighted. Reuters+1
c. Accordingly, many AI-generated works may fall into a category where federal copyright protection is uncertain or unavailable (unless there has been significant creative human input). Built In+2U.S. Copyright Office+2
d. If an AI-generated image incorporates or is substantially similar to a prior copyrighted work (for example, by replicating copyrighted characters, logos, or distinctive elements), then there may still be risk of copyright or trademark or right-of-publicity liability. VLP Law Group+2National Security Law Firm+2 - Ownership & License
Unless otherwise stated, the Materials are published here with all rights reserved by the publisher (or as otherwise specified). You may view and share (with attribution) the Materials subject to any terms posted on the site. You may not reproduce for commercial use, distribute, or build derivative works beyond what is permitted without express license.
If you wish to use any of the Materials beyond what is permitted by the posted terms (for example, in commercial context, in print publication, or as part of other-media), you should contact the publisher to obtain a written license. - Disclaimer of Likeness & Real-Person Implication
Unless explicitly indicated in a caption or credit, no person depicted in any AI-generated image is a real human being, nor is any scenario presented meant to reflect a real person’s identity, life, or activities. Any apparent resemblance is coincidental. The publisher expressly disclaims any intention to depict any living or deceased person, or any actual event, unless specified. - Limitation of Liability
The publisher makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, regarding accuracy, appropriateness of use, or freedom from infringement of third-party rights of the Materials. The publisher disclaims all liability for any damages arising from your use of the Materials (including but not limited to copyright, trademark, right-of-publicity, defamation or other claims). - Third-Party Liability & Indemnity
You agree that your use of the Materials is at your own risk and you shall indemnify and hold harmless the publisher, its officers, agents, and employees from any claims, losses, liabilities, damages, costs or expenses (including attorneys’ fees) arising out of your use of the Materials in violation of these terms or of any applicable law. - Compliance With Applicable Laws
a. These terms are governed by the laws of the United States and applicable state law.
b. You acknowledge that generative AI remains in a rapidly evolving legal and regulatory landscape. For example, the U.S. Copyright Office is actively examining the legal status of AI-generated works and their eligibility for protection. U.S. Copyright Office+1
c. You acknowledge that, depending on the jurisdiction, other rights may apply (e.g., rights of publicity, privacy laws, defamation laws, trademark law), and you should verify compliance with all such laws in your use of the Materials. VLP Law Group+1 - Updates & Revisions
The publisher reserves the right to revise or update these terms at any time without prior notice. Your continued use of the Materials following any such changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised terms.
Summary in Plain-English:
We’ve used AI tools to generate the images. They are not necessarily copyrighted (because machines don’t count as “authors” under U.S. law as of now). Unless we clearly say otherwise, they are not depicting real people. You can view and share as we say, but you can’t assume you own them or use them freely for commercial purposes. These materials are posted “as-is” and your use of them is at your own legal risk. Because the legal rules for AI images are still evolving, you should proceed carefully and respect copyright, trademark, and other rights.
