Can you reproduce an image of someone?

briandevlin · New Member Joined: 03 Oct 2007 Posts: 1

I have an idea for some satirical cartoons, greeting cards etc which rely on politicians past and present. If I use pictures of them which I have created/drew but it was obvious that it was this person, making no reference to them by name. Could I get into trouble?

Also, when it comes to my copyrighting this material, can I copyright the actual gag or is it just the particular image and the words used alongside it?

CopyrightAid · Site Admin Joined: 03 Jan 2007 Posts: 151

Hi briandevlin, and welcome to the forum

Can you get into trouble?
It is quite uncommon, but if the 'victim' of your cartoons believed your cartoon was defamatory they could potentially take legal action and claim for damages. There is a good page about this subject on
http://www.yourrights.org.uk that I suggest you read.

The cartoon - the image with the words alongside it, does constitute a copyright work. The fact that you have created (drawn) the pictures yourself means that you are the copyright owner. That is your automatic right as the creator of the work. If you feel the cartoon has commercial value you may also want to lodge it with the UKCS to be on the safe side before you send it to would-be publishers, etc.