Can I use my own painting?

[enginemonkey]

The BBC commissioned me to paint a portrait for a T.V. show of a well known actress. It was only on shot for about 3 seconds so nothing too prominent. Unfortunately I do not know where the paperwork is regarding this kind of thing!

I have been ask by a pub owner if they can use this image for their pub sign. Am I allowed to give them permission to use this portrait? Could the BBC or actress herself object?

I don't even know about usage fees and if I can ask for one. I'm a little green when it comes to charging people for using my work!

Thanks for any advice.

[enginemonkey]

anybody?

[CopyrightAid]

Sorry for the delay.....

Firstly, if you created this work as a freelance (i.e. not as an employee of the BBC), and provided there is no agreement to the contrary, you will be the copyright owner, and can therefore use it as you wish. BUT check your contract with the BBC to ensure you did not agree to something that overrides this.

Can the actress object? - well potentially yes. Generally grounds for objection would be if the image portrays the actress in a defamatory manner.

There could be more concerns for the pub owner if the painting is of the actress herself (rather than the character she played) - i.e. I suspect that calling a pub 'The Judi Dench' would be more likely to raise a complaint than calling it 'The Lady Catherine' (Judi Dench played the part of Lady Catherine de Bourgh in Pride and Prejudice).