Am I able to do this?

swanyboy

Would the App Store allow me to use faces of celeberties and actors such as Leonardo DiCaprio in my game?

owen_dennis

It's not the app store's responsibility for you to get permission from celebrities to use their image, it's yours. I'm sure they'll be fine with putting your game up, but when you get sued, it'll be your fault. That's how it is with all media everywhere in the US.

AlchimiaStudios

It depends on the usage. Parody protection laws do exist, but it's always a risk to create something like that.

swanyboy

@owen_dennis @AlchimiaStudios So, even having an actors face on the screen, and having to guess who could lead to risk?

The_Gamesalad_Guru

@swanyboy said:
@owen_dennis @AlchimiaStudios So, even having an actors face on the screen, and having to guess who could lead to risk?

Yes. All celebrities have many things about them copyrighted, this includes their voice, image, trademark sayings et... They fight these things with great effort becuase in order to keep a copyright or trademark you must by law defend it. If you allow violations of your copyright you can lose it based on it becoming commonplace to use it. I wouldn't waste my time building an app they could be forced off the store in a matter of weeks.

swanyboy

@Lost_Oasis_Games thanks. Is the risk only having my app taken off the store, or could I be sewed?

The_Gamesalad_Guru

@swanyboy said:
@Lost_Oasis_Games thanks. Is the risk only having my app taken off the store, or could I be sewed?

Depends if you made some significant money off it. Most times you get a letter from a lawyer demanding removal of the app. Sometimes Apple will reject the app outright. There is not much more to say as things vary. It up to you to decide if the risks are worth it.

swanyboy

@Lost_Oasis_Games alright. Thanks for the info

app_sauce

@swanyboy you could also be sued by the photographers who took the pictures of the celebrity. Or if you are using screen caps from movies,the media companies who own the movie could sue. I'm assuming you didn't take the pictures you would be using?

swanyboy

Would I be able to use an image like this?

The_Gamesalad_Guru

We're not lawyers. We gave you the basics of copyright info. It's up to you now.

owen_dennis

If you use a piece of anything not created or owned by you, and you weren't given permission to use it, you open yourself up to problems. That's the end of it.

swanyboy

Can I use their names in the game?

owen_dennis

@swanyboy said:
Can I use their names in the game?

I mean you can, just as long as you don't make it seem like they've endorsed the game in any way.

I really recommend you figure out something else to do that doesn't rely on celebrities, brands, or products that already exist so as not to even go into this murky territory in the first place. I work at a big animation studio and they make us change names, products, and caricatures of celebrities we might be lampooning SO much that it's not even lampooning anymore. Even in the unlikely even that it would happen, that's how much they don't want to get sued (and they can definitely afford to get sued).

Just steer away from it. It's much easier in the long run.

swanyboy

Okay . Thanks!