Advertising/PR - Life Size figures of famous people from Anonymous: MarketingProfs Question 36969

Topic: Advertising/PR

Life Size Figures Of Famous People

Posted by Anonymous on 6/16/2011 at 8:24 PM ET 25 Points

Is it legal to make up a life size image of a celebrity and have people get their picture taken with it. At no cost of course.

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Posted by mvaede on 6/17/2011 at 12:39 AM Accepted

Without being a legal person, I see two issues.

One is privacy as your face belong to you and you can
control where you want it to be seen, especially digitally.

Second is copyright. The face of an actor is like a logo, which is often being protected or sold for public use.

So in spite of the actors being all over - magazines, tv, movies.... I think you should ask them for permission or get a good lawyer, just in case.
If you're using these photos for a cause, why not get them behind you and rise money.

Mikael
B2B Marketing
Posted by SteveByrneMarketing on 6/17/2011 at 1:19 PM Accepted

It depends. What state or country? How much of a celebrity? What do you mean by "legal"?

You are asking about a civil lawsuit, which means anybody can file a lawsuit against you for this kind of photography even if it is later deemed to be a "frivolous" case by a judge.

As a generalization Phil is right and you can even use a photograph of the president mocking his politics, think of all the satirical political cartoons you have seen.

Steve
(I am not a lawyer and this is not legal advise)
Posted by Gary Bloomer on 6/18/2011 at 8:39 AM Accepted

Where do your main images come from and what kind of paperwork have those celebrities signed to release the use of their image to you?