Legal Question in Intellectual Property in Missouri

Is it considered infringement to use pictures from the internet for a non-profit community event. These pictures will be printed on the program that will be distributed to the attendees.


Asked on 4/15/11, 9:54 am

3 Answers from Attorneys

Bruce Burdick Burdick Law Firm

Probably, depending on the nature of the event and the manner of use. However, if you are not selling the programs or the pictures, it is unlikely the copyright owner will care, even if they know about it, and it is unlikely they will know unless they are informed by someone. So this is probably an infringement that will be about like speeding 5 miles over the limit, something that is so commonplace it rarely gets punished.

Read more
Answered on 4/15/11, 11:19 am
Kevin B. Murphy Franchise Foundations, APC

s a Franchise Attorney I take exception to the other attorney answer. He's admitted your are likely breaking the law (by copyright infringement) but says you probably won't be caught. On the other hand, what if you are caught? The penalties for copyright infringement are substantial. There is no sliding scale in our legal system that it's all right to break the law, just as long as you only break it a little bit. Consult with a good intellectual property or franchise attorney in your area for specific advice.

Mr. Franchise - Kevin B. Murphy, B.S., M.B.A., J.D.

Franchise Foundations, a Professional Corporation

Read more
Answered on 4/15/11, 6:30 pm
Bruce Burdick Burdick Law Firm

Actually there is a sliding scale. No one said "it's all right to break the law if you only break it a little bit." What I said was the likelihood of getting caught or sued are very small, which is the right advice. Damages for copyright infringement can go from near zero up to thousands or even millions in extreme cases. This one is close to the zero end.

Read more
Answered on 4/19/11, 12:35 am


Related Questions & Answers

More Intellectual Property questions and answers in Missouri