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View Full Version : Legal: Creative Parody and prof. sport logo use...


staereo
9th of September 2007 (Sun), 23:03
I have received an inquiry to do a shoot for posters. The idea involves making a parody of a famous poster print, that makes fun of team rivalry.

I have a few legal questions.

First, the photo that is being parodied is a famous one, used in a ton of posters. Much like the popular 'milk mustache' photos with celebrities, this picture is easily recognizable (It is NOT that ad, I just used it so as not to reveal actual info in case I deny the project and client needs to keep actual project quiet).

Pose, lighting, props, and subjects would be similar to the original, however perhaps clothing worn and CLEARLY the images statement would be different.

With the purpose being a small poster print run with local circulation (posters for purchase), WHAT is legally 'ok' when it comes to parody of another's work?

OK, second question.. This one is even more sticky. It involves major league sports teams. What is ok to display in a photo? Is it ok to be wearing a hat of a given team, is it ok to wear a hat of a team if the logo doesn't show, but it is identifiable by context as the team's hat? What about tattoo art of a team's logo on a model? What about purely contextual suggestion of team name, say 'texas rangers' being represented when a bat is in the picture and maybe one of the model wearing a texas ranger's badge?

I do know I'm balancing on some sort of legal lines here, so if anyone is familiar, I'd appreciate it. I'm trying to decide if the job is even feasible before I accept it.

Thank you very much for your time, in advanced,

Bruce

IndyJeff
10th of September 2007 (Mon), 22:36
I would address these concerns to the client and yes professional teams will get real nasty for using their logos, that is why they trademark them.
I would make sure I went to my lawyer and had a contract drawn up which would leave me without any liability in case of any lawsuit over this project.

figmented
13th of September 2007 (Thu), 13:50
Yes, licensing those logos are pretty pricey.

mjordan
14th of September 2007 (Fri), 23:13
I know Playboy will go after the shots taken of people wearing tee-shirts with the Playboy bunny design on it. There was a photographer that posted about that several years ago. He just had people wearing their tee-shirts and he got contacted by Playboy's lawyers.

Mike

bieber
15th of September 2007 (Sat), 01:00
Parody is completely acceptable under fair-use precedent.