Copyright issues regarding an individual&#39;s likeness and name for a toy
<p>I'm not sure if copyright is the correct term, but you likely understand what I mean. I'll flesh it out a bit more:</p>

<p>Assume a toy was made in the likeness of a celebrity, and from its movement and sounds it is apparent that it is a likeness of the celebrity<sup>1</sup>  , and that it would be sold using that persons name and (for the most part) sell because of that persons popularity.</p>

<p>Although it's a matter of opinion, I know (being the designer) that it would be made out of respect for that person, but there is always a chance they may not like aspects of it.</p>

<p>The celebrity comes from a country that I am not citizen of (neither of us are from the US). The sales would happen online and globally.</p>

<p>My questions:</p>

<ul>
<li>can I be held accountable by the person for any profits I make from the sale of these toys? </li>
<li>if so, what if I have already passed the profits on to a charity that
(I suspect) they would approve of, would I be liable anyway?</li>
</ul>

<p>I figure it might be prudent to approach them first, but I was wondering where I would stand regardless ...</p>

<p><sup>1</sup>: their appearance, the way they move or their voice are copyright free as far as I am aware...</p>

<p>What you are talking about is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personality_rights" rel="nofollow">personality rights</a>, not copyright.  Personality rights laws cover the usage of someone's name, image, or likeness; the actual laws vary greatly from country to country, so your best bet is to consult a lawyer in the countries you're interested in.</p>

copyright intellectual-property