nyguy opened this issue on May 15, 2008 · 39 posts
JOELGLAINE posted Sat, 17 May 2008 at 11:32 AM
Historical figures are apparently open game, even if NOT politicians! Note this: www.contentparadise.com/us/user/jules_verne_3d_for_poser_hdm_004_08_pos_product_37952
Content Paradise checks for potential lawsuits before submission. Historical figures (Noted or famed or infamous figures who are now dead) are public domain. As such, Velvet Elvises and Marylyn Monroes silk-screening are perfectly legal under 'fair use' laws where they are not put into a commercial (advertisement or endorsement based) image or product. Negotiated and fee-based usage for commercial projects are negotiated from the estate of the aforementioned celebrities.
IE: Dolly Parton (Living celeb) appeared with the moving image of Elvis (dead celeb) in an advertisement promoting the state of Tennessee (where dead celeb resided before becoming dead) in a long ad campaign and paid the Presly family for the use. THIS is the reason why Elvis made 46.2 MILLION DOLLARS last year (though he fights valiantly to remain dead) as the top-rated money-earning dead guy from last year!
Under most fair use laws (Do what you want with image that does NOT make money, pornographic or in gross bad taste) Most people's estates won't care. Stick them in ads or porno and you are begging for a law-suit.
Given that most "poser celebs" look little like the real-world appearances of the famous, as long as you do not claim that so and so IS Elvis or Marylyn, Nothing can be really proven in a court of law.
Living people are more likely to sue than the estates of the dead, IMO.
I cannot save the world. Only my little piece of it. If we all act
together, we can save the world.--Nelson Mandela
An inconsistent hobgoblin is
the fool of little minds
Taking "Just do it" to a whole new level!