Using a celebrity's image on my product

**Steve Scheffler** · 11-09-2010 11:01 PM

Lets say I have an idea for a product, as an example we will say t-shirts, and I want to use the image of a celebrity on it. I come to an agreement with the celebrity to use his/her image on one of my t-shirts and in exchange he/she gets a percentage of every transaction. I then go to a t-shirt manufacturer saying I have an agreement with a celebrity to use their image on t-shirts and I want them to print the shirts for me with the celebrity image in exchange for a % off every sale.

Ok, I am prepared to be ripped to shreds. Is this concept doable? And what are some things I am overlooking?

Thanks in advance

**Steve Scheffler** · 11-09-2010 11:03 PM

Also, would it be better or easier to sell the shirts through a site where a t-shirt is not printed until an order is placed, or would it be a better business decision to find a retailer to carry the shirts?

**GME** · 11-09-2010 11:52 PM

I dont know the rules on cross posting, but theres a lot more info about this on a t-shirt forum i was on once. msg me if u want more info

**akula** · 11-10-2010 01:44 AM

Originally Posted by Steve Scheffler

Lets say I have an idea for a product, as an example we will say t-shirts, and I want to use the image of a celebrity on it. I come to an agreement with the celebrity to use his/her image on one of my t-shirts and in exchange he/she gets a percentage of every transaction. I then go to a t-shirt manufacturer saying I have an agreement with a celebrity to use their image on t-shirts and I want them to print the shirts for me with the celebrity image in exchange for a % off every sale.

Ok, I am prepared to be ripped to shreds. Is this concept doable? And what are some things I am overlooking?

Thanks in advance

yea...what you're proposing is probably unworkable
it's unlikely that you'll be able to achieve a deal with the celebrity's agents on favourable terms
however, there are easier, less expensive to this
what you need to do is find the image of the celebrity you want at a stock photoghraphy image licensor like Getty's, and licence the image from them to use on your t-shirts

or..there are other ways to do this..

that said..I don't think you need any permission or licences anyway..if you can find the images somwhere, just use them as you like..if anything, you have the "fair use" exemption

**Wuoshi** · 11-10-2010 01:55 AM

It can't possibly be ok to use an image of a celebrity without their permission?? Regardless if it's a stock photo or whatever. If you use my face to promote your stuff without my permission, I would let my lawyers rip.

**akula** · 11-10-2010 03:06 AM

Originally Posted by Wuoshi

It can't possibly be ok to use an image of a celebrity without their permission?? Regardless if it's a stock photo or whatever. If you use my face to promote your stuff without my permission, I would let my lawyers rip.

I dunno..I wouldn't be so sure..
I'd have to look up the exact case law..but on the face of it..I see that paparazzo’s are able to take a an image of a celeb, retain ownership and on sell it..likewise, if you look at celeb blogs like perezhilton, they are using images of celebs and I doubt that they are paying the celebs any fees
all this means is that I see people using celeb images to further their businesses without having to obtain releases from the celebs

I don't think it is a copyright issue..I think that copyright law would allow for me to take a picture of a person and use that picture as I see fit

the legal issues would be misrepresentation..if the image leads people to believe that the t-shirt company somehow has a connection to the celeb, then that might be a problem

in this case, our t-shirt making friend would need to p[ut a disclaimer on their product saying that the celeb does not endorse their product

I might look this up in westlaw however..