Legal Question in Intellectual Property in California
Can we use famous movie quotes or commercial slogans (more than 1) or adaptations of these well-known phrases as part of our introduction materials (panel on a three-fold flyer or flash image on a website screen) without worrying about royalties, regardless of whether we attribute the quote (if used entirely) or paraphase the quote to fit our cause
Asked on 9/22/10, 9:45 am
1 Answer from Attorneys
Michael Stone
Law Offices of Michael B. Stone Toll Free 1-855-USE-MIKE
You should go to see "Weird Al" in concert. He must have a staff of full-time minions just to clear elements of his show (i.e. get formal permission from the copyright holder). Your options are to bull ahead, pray no one complains, and either back off or defend on the grounds of "fair use" if someone complains. Or pay someone to clear the stuff.
Answered on 9/27/10, 9:58 am