With all the legalities involved with property rights and model releases for photos, and, the legalities of getting permission from artists/record companies to use music, I was wondering if there are any issues using quotes from famous people.
For example, say a slide show where each image also contains a quote at the bottom. I'm sure everybody has seen calendars, books, and more with photos and quotes from people so I'm talking something similar here.
A good example of what I'm talking about would be a snippet from a song lyric.
Anybody have any experience with this sort of thing?
Credit the author and quote it correctly. There should be no problem. It is considered fair use.
Posted by Jim Sabiston on June 17, 2010 at 1:29 PM
I'm no lawyer, but I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express recently....
Seriously, I think Jim has it right. I'm an avid collector of wise sayings and aphorisms and used a series of them for the opening slide show on my website (link below). Fair Use can be a fuzzy topic, but I think it applies here.
I'm leery of doing it in any activity or product I'm using to make money, whether slide show or print. If someone holds a copyright on the words, our lawyer tells us you've crossed the line even when crediting them. Permission or license may be needed.
You can also cross the line if you have taken the person's words out of context or used them in association with an image, idea or cause they happen not to espouse.
Picture it this way: How would you react if someone used one of your images without permission in a free slide show to support a cause you absolutely hate?
One of my books was done like that, with quotes form various people, and you need to be careful. While some can be considered fair use, others had to be licensed if the quotes were taken from something written or still covered by copyright. If you are planning in using in something you intend to sell or distribute, check with an attorney who specializes in intellectual property. IF the song isn't in the public domain, you probably will need a license or permission. If the song is in the public domain, you're probably OK.
Discussion
4 repliesFor example, say a slide show where each image also contains a quote at the bottom. I'm sure everybody has seen calendars, books, and more with photos and quotes from people so I'm talking something similar here.
A good example of what I'm talking about would be a snippet from a song lyric.
Anybody have any experience with this sort of thing?
Thanks
Seriously, I think Jim has it right. I'm an avid collector of wise sayings and aphorisms and used a series of them for the opening slide show on my website (link below). Fair Use can be a fuzzy topic, but I think it applies here.
You can also cross the line if you have taken the person's words out of context or used them in association with an image, idea or cause they happen not to espouse.
Picture it this way: How would you react if someone used one of your images without permission in a free slide show to support a cause you absolutely hate?