diff --git a/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.cpp b/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.cpp
index ab60088cf8..9333c3ce50 100644
--- a/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.cpp
+++ b/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.cpp
@@ -34,14 +34,6 @@ int unpackFloatAngleFromTwoByte(uint16_t* byteAnglePointer, float* destinationPo
     return sizeof(uint16_t);
 }
 
-AvatarData::~AvatarData() {
-    
-}
-
-AvatarData* AvatarData::clone() const {
-    return new AvatarData(*this);
-}
-
 int AvatarData::getBroadcastData(unsigned char* destinationBuffer) {
     unsigned char* bufferStart = destinationBuffer;
     
diff --git a/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.h b/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.h
index f131f82c85..413f5afcf1 100644
--- a/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.h
+++ b/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.h
@@ -52,11 +52,6 @@ public:
     _wantResIn(false),
     _wantColor(true) { };
     
-    
-    ~AvatarData();
-    
-    AvatarData* clone() const;
-    
     const glm::vec3& getPosition() const;
     void setPosition(glm::vec3 position);
     void setHandPosition(glm::vec3 handPosition);
@@ -134,6 +129,10 @@ public:
     void setWantDelta(bool wantDelta) { _wantDelta = wantDelta; }
     
 protected:
+    // privatize the copy constructor and assignment operator so they cannot be called
+    AvatarData(const AvatarData&);
+    AvatarData& operator= (const AvatarData&);
+    
     glm::vec3 _position;
     glm::vec3 _handPosition;