Using Quotes Legal?
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- mrbee2828
We're doing a design right now that we'd like to use quotes no to drive home the idea of bravery. The client loves it, however, we have just considered the legal question.
If we use a quote by John Doe on their website, is that legal? We're using their words to promote something. Also, is there a difference if it's a living person in the same vertical (say an athlete and a football product website) and a deceased person like Benjamin Franklin?
Any ides where I can get more information on this? I'm obviously not using the right keywords in Google.
- mrbee28280
Sorry... that should have read "...use quotes on..." not "...use quotes no..."
- detritus0
You'll be ok with anything from +100 years ago (or whatever the copyright expiry is - 60 years?) - anything else would be construed as an endorsement and would need their or their estate's permission.
- Jnr_Madison0
Have you searched for 'copyright of quotes'???
- flavorful0
I think you need to get permission from the person, or their estate, otherwise it looks like whoever said the quote is in alignment and alliance with that client.
Never done it myself.
As I believe it was Ralph Waldo Emerson who said, "I hate quotations. Tell me what you know."
- mrbee28280
"Quotes are unoriginal" right?
- vrmbr0
- thats so funny!designer4rent
- is a mildly funny joke worth marking yourself for life?Llyod
- like that dude wasn't ugly enoughLlyod
- boobs0
I think you can use the quote, provided they're not from a copyrighted source. But I'm not sure you can use the person's name in an ad without consideration.
Like:
"It ain't over 'til its over." --Yogi Berra
I'm pretty sure you can use the quote. But I don't know if you can use Berra's name in your ad without permission from him.
OTOH, something like song lyrics, like:
"I really thought
The papers I bought
Would help me forget your
for awhile" --Sammy CahnI don't think you could use the lyrics, or the name, without permission.
- airey0
there is the argument that famous quotes are public-domain information but that could be tenuous. i actually asked an IP solicitor about the same thing and he couldn't resolve an answer. fucking no help i know, sorry.