posted on June 7, 2001 07:23:11 PM
Anyone have a legal opinion on ebaying Tom Cruise's high school yearbook photo. This would be from the ORIGINAL 70mm film shot by the yearbook photographer. It's extremely high quality. Could I offer 8x10s and 5x7s? Who owns the use of this negative?
posted on June 7, 2001 07:35:11 PM
I don't know about a legal opinion. But about a year ago, someone had up for auction Pricilla Presleys yearbook. From when she was growing up in Germany. It went for quite a bit of money. And I mean quite a bit. Was it legal to sell? I don't know. I would like to see it myself.
posted on June 7, 2001 07:46:24 PM
keep in mind my legal opion here is worth every cent you pay for it!!!
I beleive the negatives and rights on such things belong to the photogofer at least inatially...It looks like the kind of thing that could potentialy bring some good money so if it were me I would spend a few dollars and get a real legal opion ....Like contact a lawyer
The bar assoc in my state has a deal where if you call them they will refer you to a lawyer in the field you need and a 1/2 hour consult is like 30.00 or so
I have used it several times over the years and was always able to get what i needed in the inital consult.
posted on June 7, 2001 07:49:04 PM
Unless you are now the legal copyright owner, no it is not legal to sell them. The original copyright owner would be either the photographer or the school (if it was classified as a work made for hire). You wouldn't only have to worry about ebay, you could be sued big time if you do not own the legal copyright to those photos.
posted on June 7, 2001 08:40:12 PM
Celebrity images are trademarks. My guess is that it might be legal to sell the original negative, but not photos from the negative.
Drop an email to the National Enquirer or some rag like that. Might be worth more than you think.
