Legal Question in Intellectual Property in Washington

I am an editor for a small \'DIY\'-type magazine where we would like to start including reviews of CDs and books. \n\nMy question is: Are images of CD and book covers free to use without some form of permission? I suspect that they are, since plenty of smaller magazines use them, but I have not been able to find a clear answer to this question.\n\nThe magazine is a free publication based in Brussels, Belgium but distributed globally. Thank you!


Asked on 7/30/09, 9:39 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Sarah Grosse Sarah Grosse, Esquire

In my experience, there is no clear cut answer. The copyright and trademark owner(s) (and their attorneys) will likely feel that you should not use any version of their intellectual property. However, as a defense attorney, it is arguable. A judge would need to decide any particular case on the merits. Also, it would be impossible to answer the question on a global scale without intensive research because all IP rights are country-specific and/or governed by regional treaties. You should retain an attorney before engaging in any global marketing campaigne.

Read more
Answered on 8/04/09, 12:04 pm


Related Questions & Answers

More Intellectual Property questions and answers in Washington