The right of publicity
Can I use celebrity names on my products?
NO you cannot use a celebrity name without a license
as you are inferring a sponsorship or connection with the celebrity so it would be trademark infringement, a violation of a right of publicity
Are celebrity faces copyrighted?
Celebrity's faces, in and of themselves, are not a work of authorship and therefore
not entitled to copyright protection
.
Can you use pictures of celebrities on your website?
Unless the celebrity gives you explicit permission, you can't use them to promote your wares
. Editorial use photos come with other restrictions as well. In most cases, you won't be able to do major edits to the photo (no excessive cropping, resizing, retouching, etc.).
Are famous people's names copyrighted?
Although the name is associated with a person, that does not make it a trademark, even if that person is famous. The law requires that the person claiming a trademark over her name prove what is called secondary meaning.
Can I put a celebrity on at shirt?
It's generally not permissible to print celebrity images on merchandise without authorization
to do so. Business owners who use celebrity images on T-shirts without permission are potentially setting themselves up for a legal battle that could lead to a big payout to the celebrities involved.
Can I draw a picture of a celebrity and sell it?
You can
sell a fine art painting of a celebrity
as long as it is a transformative work of art. … The painting cannot copy an existing work of art (including a photo), and cannot interfere with a celebrity's “right of publicity”.
How can I legally use copyrighted images?
It's by no means impossible to use an image that is copyright protected –
you just need to get a a license or other permission to use it from the creator first
. In most cases, using the work either involves licensing an image through a third-party website, or contacting the creator directly.
Does a watermark count as copyright?
Watermarks can be placed on photos with a copyright notice
and the name of the photographer, often in the form of white or translucent text. It also prevents the infringer from being able to claim that they did not know the work was copyrighted. …
Can you sell a shirt with a celebrity name on it?
The straight usage of a person's name or likeness is illegal to use
for profit without
authorization. It violates the person's right of publicity, which grants each person the exclusive right to profit off their own own name and likeness.
Can you name a food item after a celebrity?
Don't use names of famous people
, unless they provide you with permission. Otherwise you will be liable for violation of their right of publicity
Can I use a celebrity likeness?
California Civil Code,
Section 3344
, provides that it is unlawful, for the purpose of advertising or selling, to knowingly use another's name, voice, signature, photograph, or likeness without that person's prior consent.
Can I trademark my own name?
Trademark law protects names, logos and other “marks” that are used in commerce. To register your name as a trademark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), you must use it in business. … But if—like most people—you only use your name for personal purposes,
you can't register it as a trademark
.
Is it illegal to put a logo on a shirt?
Trademarks or copyright
can protect logos, and both forms of intellectual property protection restrict how others may use the logo. … Selling shirts with copyrighted images isn't impossible, but you should never use someone else's logos on your T-shirts or other clothing without their explicit permission.
Can I paint a picture of a celebrity?
You can sell a fine art painting of a celebrity
as long as it is a transformative work of art. This means it needs to be artistic in nature, not just a faithful likeness. The painting cannot copy an existing work of art (including a photo), and cannot interfere with a celebrity's “right of publicity”.
How do I get permission to use a celebrity photo?
The first step in legally obtaining copyrighted images is
to simply ask permission from the owner
. It's very important that you make sure the person you're asking has the rights to license the image. You're going to want to explain how you're going to use it, and give them a URL of where it is going to go.
