A copyright dispute occurred over the album image for Vampire Weekend's Contra. (Image via performermag.com)
This article originally appeared on Performer Magazine.
Designing the artwork for your band's gig posters, website, album covers, and promotional materials is no easy task. Between artist designs, photographs of public places, and Google's near limitless array of images, the line between what's public, copyrighted, or otherwise restricted is not easily drawn. Here's what you should know before your next poster goes to the presses.
The two most common legal issues that a band will face while creating artwork are intellectual property (i.e., copyrighted materials) and publicity law (i.e., likeness rights).
Copyright issues
Copyright issues may arise if you use someone else's artwork or photos in your band's artwork. Copyright is a legal protection for those who create "original works of authorship." This extends to all images and essentially allows the copyright holder to control the rights to his or her work. No formal filing or paperwork is required for the existence of this protection: it is protected upon creation.
So what does this mean for you? Essentially, unless you have the artist's expressed permission (called a "license") to use his/her photo, painting, drawing, logo, or digital image, you're violating the copyright laws. Infringement can also occur if you use the work beyond the scope of a license; adapt an image without permission (called "art rendering") or ask a photographer to identically recreate the image. Remember, this protection is not limited to artists within this country alone. Due to international agreements, artistic works are mutually protected in nearly every country in the world.
If a court finds that you've infringed on someone's copyright, you can be held liable for statutory damages (between $750 and $30,000), actual damages and profits, or – in rarer circumstances – criminal penalties.
Of course, there are ways to legally use someone else's work without express permission. First, under the fair use doctrine of the copyright laws, it's permissible to use limited portions of a work (including quotes) for purposes such as commentary, criticism, news reporting, and scholarly reports. This, however, is not likely to apply to your band’s artwork or promo materials. The second (and more applicable) option would be the use of images and artwork from a stock image resource, either fee-based or free. These websites use images that are public domain or have been created or licensed specifically for use by the site. Members are then allowed to use the materials in their own work. However, subscriptions and rights may vary. Finally, you can use images with certain types of "Creative Commons" protections, which, depending on the level of protection, may allow for use without consent. For more info on Creative Commons licensing, go to www.creativecommons.org.
Case example
In 2010, Vampire Weekend was sued by model Ann Kirsten Kennis for alleged unauthorized use of a photograph gracing the cover of their 2009 album Contra. At the heart of the suit was a single Polaroid of Kennis taken in 1983 and whether Vampire Weekend or its record label ever attained Kennis' permission to use it. As a defense, the band (and the individual who took the picture) claimed that they received permission from Kennis, obtaining a signed release from the model. The lawsuit was settled in August 2011 for an undisclosed amount.
Likeness rights
In addition to using a copyrighted work, you can be also be sued for using someone else's name, likeness, or personal attributes without permission (most often when used commercially).
The right of publicity is essentially the right to control the commercial use of your identity and image. The most common way to get in trouble here is by using the legally protected name or likeness of another for commercial gain without consent. This differs from violation of copyrighted materials, because the claim is for the use of the person/likeness, not of the image itself. Here is an illustration: if you were to use a picture of David Hasselhoff on your next album cover without permission, the photographer may have a claim for copyright infringement, and Hasselhoff would also retain a claim for violation of the right of publicity.
Case example
Several years ago, American Apparel used a photo of filmmaker Woody Allen, taken from his film Annie Hall, on a promotional billboard. Allen sued, stating, "American Apparel…calculatingly took my name, my likeness, and image and used them publicly to promote their business." The company ended up settling for a reported $5 million.
How to avoid legal trouble
The truth is, you won't likely get sued over your promo poster for cover songs at the local college dive. That being said, here are some steps you can take to avoid issues.
- If there’s a piece of artwork or photo that you absolutely must use, make sure to get the permission of the copyright holder in writing. Remember, the person who took the photo or is the photo subject is not necessarily the copyright holder.
- Just because an image seems "stock" or free, don't count on it: look for indicators of ownership (artist's name, copyright "©," year of creation, trademark "™," etc.). If you have any doubts, get consent or forget it.
- You have the option to create original work for your album or promo materials. This, however, is not inherently risk free. Brian Kutsch, a design manager with the apparel company Lacoste, often encounters the relationship between art and law when creating new designs. He likes to abide by a few general rules when designing products: "Create original artwork whenever possible and, when doing so, never use the likeness of a person; this will only complicate things down the road. If any [design] reminds me of something else out there, I just don’t use it." He further discusses the importance of artwork in the global marketplace by stating, "Remember that a graphic that means nothing in your part of the world might actually mean something somewhere else."
Learn more about copyrights:
- Copyright Essentials: What Every Band Should Know
- Who Owns That Song? How to Research Copyright Ownership
- 3 of the Most Commonly Misunderstood Music Copyright Laws
Adam Barnosky is a practicing attorney and writer specializing in entertainment law and business development. He has worked with musicians, actors, and playwrights in Boston and New York City. Follow him on Twitter @adambarnosky.
