Legal Question in Intellectual Property in Illinois
Copyright Images from Movies
I create software and sometimes I would like to iclude images from popular movies (like the Matrix, etc...). Can I do so legally? Thank you.
Asked on 8/22/03, 10:15 am
1 Answer from Attorneys
Justin Lampel
Lampel & Associates, P.C.
Re: Copyright Images from Movies
in a word...no. you need permission to include their copyrighted material. there is something called a "fair use" defense that allows you to use some images/material of anothers, but unless it is for "educational activities, literary and social criticism, parody, and, importantly, first Amendment activities such as news reporting", you will probably not prevail. Of course, i would need to know more about your situation, but unless your use clearly fits into one of these catagories, I would not risk it.
Answered on 8/22/03, 10:33 am