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Legal issues help...

audiaudi Registered Users Posts: 113 Major grins
edited June 7, 2006 in Mind Your Own Business
I have a question about a conceptual photo shoot I've been putting together. Part of it will involve fake plastic play food from various fast food chains. These products have the logos and names of these chains clearly in the picture( on boxes, cups, etc ).

Should I be weary of running into any legal issues like copyrighting or trade mark if I use them as props in my photos?

Thanks everyone,

audi
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    StevenVStevenV Registered Users Posts: 1,174 Major grins
    edited June 7, 2006
    what are you going to do with the resulting images?

    the answer's different if you hang them on your own wall vs. if you sell them as Art vs. if you sell them to a magazine to go along with an article vs if you sell them to an advertising agency.
    -Steven
    my words, my "pro"pictures, my "fun" pictures, my videos.

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    audiaudi Registered Users Posts: 113 Major grins
    edited June 7, 2006
    StevenV wrote:
    what are you going to do with the resulting images?

    the answer's different if you hang them on your own wall vs. if you sell them as Art vs. if you sell them to a magazine to go along with an article vs if you sell them to an advertising agency.

    I would sell and display them as art(show booth/online gallery).

    I suppose I should add that the photos wouldnt be portraying the companies in a negative light (but not a possitive one either). Basically they will be a prop for a social commentary...if that makes any sense. The logos and corporate names really only serve the function of familiarity and instant recognition, which I find pretty vital to the photo.... Im just scared about the big bad wolves coming after me if I infringe on some type of protective law.
    :hide
    "See how willingly Nature poses herself upon photographers' plates. No earthly chemicals are so sensitive as those of the human soul. "
    -John Muir

    http://www.austinbphotography.com

    Nature Photographers Community
    Founding Member
    http://www.smugmug.com/community/NaturePhotographers
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    wxwaxwxwax Registered Users Posts: 15,471 Major grins
    edited June 7, 2006
    Sounds like art to me. Specifically, it sounds like comment. I think you're OK. Which doesn't mean the wolves won't come knocking at your door. No law is settled law until a judge or a jury renders a verdict.
    Sid.
    Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam
    http://www.mcneel.com/users/jb/foghorn/ill_shut_up.au
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    gtcgtc Registered Users Posts: 916 Major grins
    edited June 7, 2006
    its art
    its art-a good example are andy warhols soup tins...dont worry...at the very least they would consider it,if somehow they got wind of it,as free advertising...you might even be able to sell copies to the company and the ad agency...
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    wxwaxwxwax Registered Users Posts: 15,471 Major grins
    edited June 7, 2006
    gtc wrote:
    its art-a good example are andy warhols soup tins...dont worry...at the very least they would consider it,if somehow they got wind of it,as free advertising...you might even be able to sell copies to the company and the ad agency...
    Good one.
    Sid.
    Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam
    http://www.mcneel.com/users/jb/foghorn/ill_shut_up.au
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