You want to use a picture of a celebrity in your Google Play store listing. Which of the following is a recommended best practice for the use of pictures of public figures or celebrities?
- You can use professional images of well-known people as long as they are considered famous.
- You can use images of celebrities if the images are taken from an existing website.
- You can use professional images of famous people as long as you do not impersonate them.
- You can use professional photos of public figures or celebrities with written and documented permission.
Here’s why:
- Copyright and Personality Rights: Professional photos of celebrities are typically protected by copyright, and celebrities often have personality rights that control the commercial use of their image. Using such photos without permission can lead to legal issues.
- Authorization: Obtaining written and documented permission ensures that you have the legal right to use the celebrity’s image in your app listing. This protects you from potential copyright infringement or personality rights claims.
The main chapter where this is discussed is “Comply with Google Play store listing policies”. The section on “Examples of intellectual property covered by copyright” specifically mentions “Photos taken from a public figure’s social media account or professional images of public figures like singers, actors, athletes, and politicians.” The section on “Authorization” further emphasizes the need to secure the rights to all elements that aren’t your original work, including photos of celebrities.