Can I safely flash a well-known tv show logo on screen? Experience, anyone?

A

AppaLuci

Active member
Another one of those legal-type questions....I understand a lawyer is ideal for these things, but I want to scan here first for what expertise might be available for insight.

For all I know this is a non-issue, or it might be a major issue. I simply need guidance from someone here first to know which catagory it's in.

In an interview I conducted with a 'celeb' - an actor who is known for some roles in particular in some big shows - he mentions the type of roles he plays and why that is relevant to him speaking about this topic... and so, naturally, in the finished video, I flash for mere seconds a couple of photos of him "at work" playing his character (photos which I'm pretty sure are open domain to use here as they're all over the web) and then one picture of the title of a well-known tv show, as in, the front of a poster or video box of it where the title is in its special font, etc. I understand that is somebody's tv show, but I would imagine that simply reproducing the title of it in its special logo/font is not violating a copywrite or something? It's just a brief flash on the screen to clarify a show that this actor is known for being in. This video is ultimately for play on a website of an organization for which this actor is the spokesperson.

I already know the "check with an attorney" answer, which will be the organization's next step if enough of you say you sense a red flag in this situation. I just don't know that what I want to do violates anything at all. Please share.

Thanks!

Lucinda
 
Just because they're on the web, that doesn't make them free for you to use.

Don't wait for x number of people to tell you to consult an attorney. Protect yourself. Protect your company. Consult an attorney.
 
I agree with Zak, some one owns thos images, most likely the production company.

unless they were taken by someone who just happened to be there, then you need to get the rights from the photographer, everyone in the image, as its not a public street, there is an expectation of privacy, and anyone on set probably signed a form giving the production company all rights to all images taken anyway.

god luck. talk to the actor, he is your in to get in touch with those in charge. if it puts their show in a good light, i'm sure there is no problem .
 
Chances are good you can get clearance pretty easily. It's just a matter of knowing who to ask.
If you get permission, the show will probably send you clips and files that are pre-approved for the media.
 
Ditto the other comments ... production stills would almost certainly be copyright images requiring permission from the copyright owners. The characteristic program title and logo would be a trademark, also requiring permission. The actor's head-shot portrait photos would be both copyright requiring permission from the copyright owners and personal likenesses requiring a release from the actor himself for their use.
 
Zak Forsman said:
you need to get permission. for everything. across the board. start making phone calls.
Click to expand...

Bingo. Yes, it's a pain in the butt, but these guys are right. It's just part of the business. It's necessary.

I used to run a few celebrity Websites. We used pictures from "all over the Web," but there's no doubt we were breaking numerous copyrights just by posting them on the site. That's one reason I got out of that business, because I didn't want to have to deal with potential legal issues later, even though it's extremely rare (obviously) for a celebrity site to be sued. Heck it's extremely rare to get a cease and desist. But I could afford to take that chance because it was a Website. I could just take the pictures down, no biggie. But with your film, you don't want to take these chances. It's just not a good idea...
 
Thanks guys... so, follow up question to this then would be, can you guide me as to who I need to be talking to? For example, the main concern would be the tv-show logo I use for a moment on the screen (actually, maybe someone here would even know WHO to contact -- the show logo I use is the one for CSI). Should I start by calling into CBS's legal department?

Lucinda
 
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