What is the limit on me selling a photo of a professional sports player if

dougzinboston

New member
I own the copyright to the photo? Bought photo slides with the copyrights. I have had someone tell me that because there are trademarked items in the photograph I can't make photo copies and sell them. This doesn't make any sense and I am unable to find anything differently. Wouldn't this make it impossible for photographers to sell their own photos without exclusive permission from every company that is in their photo background?

If I am at a game and take a picture of Tom Brady, I (even under poor man's rules) own the photo.

Is there a copyright law I missed doing my research that won't allow me to reproduce this?

It isn't a photo of anything negative or embarrassing. All the photos I've purchased are photos taken by the photographer during a game, warm-ups or open field practice. No public images or personal photos.

If the NFL owns the image and I am not using them for marketing or publication, am I ok doing what I want with printing and sales? I am only using these for autographs and minimal resale.
 
You are going to have to talk to an attorney.

Look on the ASMP website and you should find some attorneys listed near you. They are experts in the field of photography and intellectual rights
 
You are going to have to talk to an attorney.

Look on the ASMP website and you should find some attorneys listed near you. They are experts in the field of photography and intellectual rights
 
It is quite possible that even though you own the copyright on the shots that you are unable to sell them on because of clauses which a lot of photographers have to sign upto when taking images in the stadiums of national games.

It is not because of the trademarked items if they are "incidental" but rather to do with contracts that the NFL have with photographers etc.

You need to check with the NFL legal eagles or better yet get an independent legal opinion.
 
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