Legal Question in Intellectual Property in Iowa

Is it legal to incorporate celebrity/musician photos into a website for a radio station without permission?


Asked on 1/25/10, 3:57 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Bruce Burdick Burdick Law Firm

Depends on several factors:

1. Is it for news (OK) or for commercial purposes (illegal)? Sounds like the second.

2. Did you take the photos or are you swiping someone else's copyrighted photography? Sounds like the second

3. Are you implying any association with or sponsorship by the celebrity or just saying that you play music from famous celebrities like those in the photographs? The first will get you in trouble with the artist's agents and lawyers if they are doing their jobs; the second will usually just be ignored as "no harm, no foul" by the agents and lawyers, who generally have much bigger fish to fry (like those falsely claiming endorsement by the celebrity.).

That said,

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Answered on 1/30/10, 5:00 pm


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