Legal Question in Intellectual Property in Maryland

I was at a public dog beach with my dog. A woman began taking pictures of her and when I asked about it, she said she was a professional pet photographer and needed new photos to advertise her website/company. She never asked my permission to use the photos for advertisement. Does she have the legal right to use my dog's image for advertisement without my permission since it was a public dog beach?


Asked on 7/28/12, 3:27 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Paula McGill Attorney at Law

It's OK to take pictures of people and their property in public. It's not OK to use someone's name or likeness (or their property's likeness) for commercial purposes. You can sue and demand the picture be removed and the value of the picture. At the same time, a strongly worded letter from an attorney would probably give the same result.

Also licensed and practicing in Maryland.

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Answered on 7/30/12, 11:57 pm


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