If I purchase an image from Getty images of a sports star, can I freely use this on a billboard to advertise a not for profit cause?

Depends on the rights granted from the purchase license. Ive dealt with Getty Images on copyright infringement and they are not that forgiving even if it is "accidental" or "not for profit". Infringement has nothing to do with whether or not you are using the picture for a for profit purpose, but instead has to do with your use of copy written material.

 

Read the fine print, make sure that the license being granted to you allows you to use the photograph however you would like and for whatever purpose.

Getty's website has various licenses for pictures. You have to know the type of license you have.

Next question.

 

If I took a picture of LeBron, and turned it into a silhouette, and then changed the jersey in the image to just straight red with a #6... is that passable? I feel like that would fall under "altering the picture in such a way that it is unrecognizable".

You'd also need permission from the NBA Players Association.

Next question.

 

If I took a picture of LeBron, and turned it into a silhouette, and then changed the jersey in the image to just straight red with a #6... is that passable? I feel like that would fall under "altering the picture in such a way that it is unrecognizable".

 

Can you recognize that it's Lebron?

Can you recognize that it's Lebron?

Well, it'd be his silhouette.

You'd also need permission from the NBA Players Association.

For a silhouette?

For a silhouette?

It's a likeness. Nike had to get permission to use the Jordan logo. Of course, Jordan was not a member of NBAPA.

 

https://wiki-land.wikispaces.com/file/view/...jordan_logo.jpg

Striker and I tried for 3 months over the winter to get MLBPA permission to use a Beckham photo with no success.

 

Any photo or likeness that is used to make money needs permission.

Striker and I tried for 3 months over the winter to get MLBPA permission to use a Beckham photo with no success.

 

Any photo or likeness that is used to make money needs permission.

It's for a non profit purpose.

It's for a non profit purpose.

You'd still need some permission, though.

 

My suggestion would be to proceed at your own risk. It's quicker to not ask for permission and explain later than wait for permission. If you don't make any money off of it, you are less likely to get sued. It could take 3 or 4 months to get permission from Getty and the NBAPA.

You'd still need some permission, though.

 

My suggestion would be to proceed at your own risk. It's quicker to not ask for permission and explain later than wait for permission. If you don't make any money off of it, you are less likely to get sued. It could take 3 or 4 months to get permission from Getty and the NBAPA.

I'll just avoid using his likeness and proceed with other ideas for it. Thanks man.

It's a likeness. Nike had to get permission to use the Jordan logo. Of course, Jordan was not a member of NBAPA.

 

https://wiki-land.wikispaces.com/file/view/...jordan_logo.jpg

 

That's a trademarked image, not merely a silhouette. It is identifiable to Jordan and is used in commerce. A random silhouette does not have the same protection. They really aren't comparable.

 

The problem is that if it is recognizable as Lebron, then you can't use it, especially if it's on a billboard.

 

 

Edited May 21, 201015 yr by G&T

That's a trademarked image, not merely a silhouette. It is identifiable to Jordan and is used in commerce. A random silhouette does not have the same protection. They really aren't comparable.

 

The problem is that if it is recognizable as Lebron, then you can't use it, especially if it's on a billboard.

My pointy was, that before it was "trademarked", Nike had to get permission to use it because it was a likeness, even though it was a silhouette.