diff --git a/tipp/views.py b/tipp/views.py
index 3c2319a..8455a19 100644
--- a/tipp/views.py
+++ b/tipp/views.py
@@ -38,7 +38,12 @@ from tipp.forms import *
 from openliga import *
 from datetime import datetime
 from PIL import Image as PImage
-import urllib2, pytz, os
+import urllib2, pytz, os, sys
+
+# setting utf-8 as default encoding to avoid errors in file 
+# uploads and form data
+reload(sys)
+sys.setdefaultencoding('utf8')
 
 timezoneLocal = pytz.timezone('Europe/Berlin')
 
@@ -68,25 +73,17 @@ def profile(request, pk):
 
     # If it's a HTTP POST, we're interested in processing form data.
     if request.method == 'POST':
-        # Attempt to grab information from the raw form information.
-        # Note that we make use of both UserForm and UserProfileForm.
         user_form = UserForm(data=request.POST, instance=user)
         profile_form = UserProfileForm(data=request.POST, instance=profile)
 
-        # If the two forms are valid...
         if user_form.is_valid() and profile_form.is_valid():
             
-            # Save the user's form data to the database.
             user = user_form.save()
 
-            # Now sort out the UserProfile instance.
-            # Since we need to set the user attribute ourselves, we set commit=False.
-            # This delays saving the model until we're ready to avoid integrity problems.
             profile = profile_form.save(commit=False)
             profile.user = user
 
             # Did the user provide a profile picture?
-            # If so, we need to get it from the input form and put it in the UserProfile model.
             if 'avatar' in request.FILES:
                 profile.avatar = request.FILES['avatar']
                 # Now we save the UserProfile model instance.