In a message dated 3/11/01 6:34:18 PM Eastern Standard Time, ijc(a)bas.ac.uk
writes:
<< Just because you get up on a stage, or in front of a camera, doesn't mean
you sign away your rights as a private human being. Duplicating a
framegrab is simply making an unauthorised copy of a performance:
unlawful, but in this context hardly a great crime. Using that likeness to
create pictures of that person doing a performance which they would most
likely be unwilling to do is overstepping the mark. >>
I do not know the copyright laws of the UK. I do know something about the
laws here in the USA, though, and yes, to some degree the performer does sign
away their rights when it comes to having photos taken (although certainly
not DURING a performance if it is prohibited by the management) of them and
artwork done of them. In the case of photos, for instance, taken in public or
at public events (such as conventions), the copyright belongs to the
photographer, not to the actor (or public figure... the same is true for
politicians, sports figures, etc.). The actor has nothing to say about the
photographer selling that photo. In the case of original artwork, the artist
owns the copyright, not the public figure.
Annie