Madden NFL 15 Screenshot - Colin Kaepernick with Tattoos

[N51_rob]

I am not familiar with tattoo copyrights at all, as I have none. But if you come in to get one and work with the artist on the design and then pay for that design how do you not have ownership of it. I would think its similar to commissioning an artist to do work for you. They attach their name to it, but the painting belongs to you.

[roadman]

Quote: Originally Posted by N51_rob

I am not familiar with tattoo copyrights at all, as I have none. But if you come in to get one and work with the artist on the design and then pay for that design how do you not have ownership of it. I would think its similar to commissioning an artist to do work for you. They attach their name to it, but the painting belongs to you.

Sounds like if it's unique enough, the copywright belongs to the artist. An artist sued the NBA for Rasheed Wallace for showing the artist tattoo on a TV commercial.

Probably need to read the paperwork before you sign it, too, if there is paperwork. I would think if you do help design it, then there isn't anything.

[Hooe]

Quote: Originally Posted by N51_rob

I am not familiar with tattoo copyrights at all, as I have none. But if you come in to get one and work with the artist on the design and then pay for that design how do you not have ownership of it. I would think its similar to commissioning an artist to do work for you. They attach their name to it, but the painting belongs to you.

I think the legal argument is that the bearer of the tattoo owns it, but video game companies doesn't have the right to reproduce the art without compensating the tattoo owner.

A quick Google turns up this, this may have already been posted: http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed...006-story.html

From that - the guys who made The Hangover II apparently got sued by the artist who did Mike Tyson's face tattoo for said tattoo's appearance in the movie on a character who was not Mike Tyson himself. That case was settled out-of-course for an undisclosed amount of money.

Tattoo copyright appears to be a pretty fluid and messy legal issue right now.

[bad_philanthropy]

Then why can't tattoo artists sue the leagues and their tv partners? The leagues themselves are primary vehicles for advertisments or all sorts.

I have the Jays game on now, and they just showed a sponsored graphic by Honda for some stats with an image of Brett Lawrie and all his tattoos.

I know the reality of the legal precedents appear to disagree with me, but it just seems so asinine. A human body is fundamentally different than any other sort of entity or rights-bearing vehicle around which legal particulars are ascribed.

[bad_philanthropy]

Quote: Originally Posted by CM Hooe

From that - the guys who made The Hangover II apparently got sued by the artist who did Mike Tyson's face tattoo for said tattoo's appearance in the movie on a character who was not Mike Tyson himself. That case was settled out-of-course for an undisclosed amount of money. Tattoo copyright appears to be a pretty fluid and messy legal issue right now.

It boggles my mind that this sort of thing is even a legal issue. Essentially, if you get a tattoo, you are legally limited in your choice to become an actor or appear in any kind of commercial media.

Anyway, I can understand EA just wanting to be extra careful with this nonsense.

[roadman]

Taken from CM's article in the LA Times:

Late last year, for example, Stephen Allen, a tattoo artist, sued video game maker Electronic Arts and former Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams over a tattoo Allen put on Williams' bicep. The tattoo appeared on the cover of EA's "NFL Street" video game. Allen claimed that the reproduction and display of the tattoo violated his copyright.

That case was dismissed in April at the request of the plaintiff, but because so many NFL players have tattoos, it got the attention of the NFL Players Assn. NFLPA officials began advising players to get copyright waivers from their tattoo artists. George Atallah, an NFLPA official, told Bloomberg Businessweek that the union recently cautioned its players: We know you love your tattoo artists, but regardless of whether you trust them, regardless of whether there are legal merits to the lawsuits that we've seen, just protect yourself.

So, there's that, too.

[kehlis]

Is there a lawyer in the house?

[tha_show256]

Well I must say that I am really IMPRESSED with EA these days! EA sports UFC if anyone hasn't downloaded the demo, you need to check it out, even if your not a fan of MMA the graphics alone states that it is a MUST buy! Anyway, back to the point, I'm pumped as whole with the next gen of games that are hitting the market! This is what gaming should be!!