How can anybody be as WRONG as you?
Imagine me with a blank face saying the following...
(If you are having trouble imagining me with a blank face this might help.)
"Since when is PUBLICISING anything personal use."
If your having trouble with the concept of:
Attaching other peoples work as a representative/advertising symbol/icon of you on a public forum is inherently an infringement of 3 separate pieces of legislation, then maybe this will help.
- Creative Rights (©, ™: These rights are automatically assigned to the creator, there are some exceptions like if the person is under the employment of somebody. Fair use is the only way to use these, otherwise, hands off the panda.)
- Trademark Law (©, ™,® & ℠: Fair use is the only way to use these, otherwise, hands off the panda.)
- The DMCA (©,™,® & ℠: Fair use is the only way to use these, otherwise, hands off the panda.).
He is -by FAR- way over the line where his rights are concerned as to what to do with a companies character.
Stewie Griffin:
- Created by Seth MacFarlane
- Voiced by Seth MacFarlane
- The intellectual property of Seth MacFarlane.
- Licensed to Fox, Cartoon Network, TBS...
Does he have a license to use him, probably not.
Here is what happens when you don't own a character and you use him...
At the very least, you could will be ordered to stop infringing on the trademark. You could also be ordered to pay damages, for example by handing over any profits or remunerating for losses caused. Either way it's a blemish on what was a clean record.
So is Fair Use; Private use?
No
Even if it was, Fair Use covers: Commentary, criticism, news reporting, research, teaching, library archiving and scholarship.
A Signature Image is a COMMERCIAL PURPOSE! FFS
It's advertising who you are!
I fucking despair, I really do.