Could you make a cumputer generated movie with a character designed after a living movie star?

Question

Could you make a cumputer generated movie with a character designed after a living movie star without paying them? Or could they sue you for rights?

Also.. if you wanted to make an animated movie parodying known celebrities could you do that legally or do you need permission if you plan on selling it?

Answer 1

It is legal. Saturday Night Live parodies living celebrities weekly.


In 1994, the Supreme Court ruled "2 Live Crew" could parody Roy Orbison's rock ballad, "Oh Pretty Woman"
"Held: 2 Live Crew's commercial parody may be a fair use within the meaning of §107. Pp. 4-25. "
http://supct.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/92-1292.ZS.html

A California court ruling:
" Once the celebrity thrusts himself or herself forward into the limelight, the First Amendment dictates that the right to comment on, parody, lampoon, and make other expressive uses of the celebrity image must be given broad scope. The necessary implication of this observation is that the right of publicity is essentially an economic right. What the right of publicity holder possesses is not a right of censorship, but a right to prevent others from misappropriating the economic value generated by the celebrity’s fame through the merchandising of the "name, voice, signature, photograph or likeness" of the celebrity"
http://www.law.cornell.edu/copyright/cases/25_Cal4th_387.htm

Answer 2

its ther image so they can sue but i was gonna say before i saw the extra comments is that theres a 3D scanner they use to put basketball players into the video games so you could use the same technoligy to do so in a move.

Answer 3

TRY DO IT IN A WAY THAT MAKES IT A SATIRE then your home free. better you try make up an actor and others who see your film, well let them suppose its who you are trying to imitate

Answer 4

i think you will find that their "image" is copyright, following a court case in the us after Elvis died.