is it legal to use celeb's pics on my design's

No. Search for "right to publicity" for more information.

sorry i hoped for a english answer

nuttybar2000 said:

sorry i hoped for a english answer

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The right to publicity that Lewis mentioned is the right to keep one's image and likeness from being commercially exploited without permission or contractual compensation.

So basically unless you get the celebrity's permission to use their image, it's not legal.

Maybe this will explain it better: The rights of publicity and privacy ... when should you be concerned?

oki ... thanks for your help ...

I will add that different countries have different laws relating to celebrity likeness. There is also no standardised law that is applicable to every country, regarding the right to publicity.

Newspapers commercially exploit images on a daily basis. What may be banned from appearing by court injuction in one country, will miraculously appear in another countries newspaper the following day. The difference is that they are using their own photos (albeit often unsolicited) and have the financial backing to be challenged in the courts.

i have done a few design's that are of monroe .. but i have changed colours and etc and made to look like poster art ..
there is no telling with picture is was taken from...
so it that a no too

Sorry to tell you, but unfortunatley is still a No.

bugga

nuttybar2000 said:

bugga

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Now you wish you wouldn't have even asked, huh?

People do it all the time even though it's not legal. It's just whether you want to run the risk of getting caught. I'm not telling you to do it ... I'm just saying.

i think ppl do it because it easy ..
to choose a pic and make it ur very own ..

nuttybar2000 said:

i think ppl do it because it easy ..
to choose a pic and make it ur very own ..

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Yeah... but beneath it all, that where the problem is, it's never your own unless you took the pic.

DREAMGLASS said:

I will add that different countries have different laws relating to celebrity likeness. There is also no standardised law that is applicable to every country, regarding the right to publicity.

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While true, most western countries do have some version of the law (including America, Australia and England), and they are at least similar in each jurisdiction. But yes, always wise to see if your local law differs to the ones others are describing. In the US it's generally governed by state law, so it also varies by state.

Also worth noting is that right to publicity is largely governed by case law: which means just because it isn't on the books yet, doesn't mean a celebrity won't successfully sue on that basis and establish a new legal right.

Very, very few places have a bill specifically relating to right to publicity, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist there. That's the point of the common law court system.