Legal Question in Business Law in New York

May I use these pictures?

I am in the process of setting up a business in New York. I intend to market and sell products to a particular ethnic group living here (potentially over 500,000 persons).

I also intend to give the Goverment of this particular ethnic group (in the home country) a split of the profits annually.

In order to make it attractive to my customers, I would like to use images from this particular country. For example, its name, its flag, its national bird, their waterfalls etc.

Are these names/images ''protected'' ????

What steps should I go through to obtain permission??

Thank you in anticipation of an answer.


Asked on 7/31/01, 10:09 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
R. Freeth Silverman Sclar Shin & Byrne

Re: May I use these pictures?

Well, first if you intend on "splitting the profits" with the government then any permission you need from them should be no problem.

But, the real issue with the images is the copyright of the images themselves. If this is to be done strictly in the U.S., the images are subject to U.S. Copyright law (and note that they do not need to be registered to be afforded protection).

You need to know who took the pictures and/or who owns the rights to the pictures.

More specific information would be needed to properly advise you. I can be contacted at 212-233-8080.

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Answered on 7/31/01, 1:25 pm


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