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Question

I have seem many other boutiques as well as designers use celebrities' pictures. I own a online clothing/handbag boutique and would like to know if it is ok to use celebrities picture on the website. Thank you!

Submitted: 272 days and 2 hours ago.
Category: Intellectual Property Law
Value: $15
Status: AWAITING CUSTOMER ACTION
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Optional Information

Location: United States, Washington

Already Tried:
In related to my question, I am referring to several designers and boutique site that use celebrities' picture to post their product.

Designers:
http://lpcollection.com/CELEBRITIES-sp-3.html
http://botkier.com/SWAPPID/96/SubPageID/34597
Boutiques:
http://www.singer22.com/
http://www.blueheavenboutique.com/
http://blondette.com/

Answer

Using a celebrity's likeness for a commercial purpose is actionable by the celebrity in court for damages. The only way that you can do what you contemplate is to get permission from each celebrity for the use of their likeness.

 

Most designers accomplish this by giving the celebrity free product -- but, if it's a real big celeb, then you'll have to pay, because the celebrity's use is a de facto endorsement of your product, and that's worth a bundle of dough.

 

Note: anyone doing this without the celebrity's express written consent is playing with fire.

 

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Expert: socrateaser
Pos. Feedback: 100.0 %
Accepts: 
Answered: 2/24/2009

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Retired (mostly)

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