Trademark And Publicity Concerns

Summary

Using a public figures name or image on merchandise can lead to legal issues related to trademark, defamation, and right of publicity. Ensure significant transformation for fair use. Consult a local attorney for personalized advice.

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He is a public figure and defendant in a court case
Since Luigi Mangione is a public figure and a defendant in a court case, here are some additional points to consider:
- Right of Publicity: Public figures have a right to control the commercial use of their name and likeness. Ensure you have proper consent.
- Defamation: Be cautious of statements that could harm his reputation, especially given his legal situation.
Do you have any specific context or design in mind for the shirts?
what if I photoshopped an image of something? How much of it would I have to change before it became ok to sell it?
When it comes to selling a photoshopped image, here are some key points to consider:
- Copyright Law: Altering an image may still infringe on the original creator's copyright. Simply changing elements doesn't necessarily make it a new work.
- Transformative Use: The changes must be significant enough to be considered transformative, adding new expression or meaning.
- Fair Use: Courts consider purpose, nature, amount of change, and market effect to determine fair use.
Is the original image copyrighted, and what kind of changes are you considering?