I was asked to do some posters for an event coming up and I really want to use gobbles from south park but after I started thinking about it I wondered if I legally could. So I guess my question is when it comes to photoshopping or whatever can u use that kinda stuff and it be legal? You know... copyrighting laws and what not....

Oh dear.

You are gonna need a lawyer for this one, I think.

But I'll give you THIS sage advice, which I learned by kicking around this old mudball for over 50 years:

"it isn't falling out of a plane that kills you,
it is that sudden STOP at the end that kills you."

So - roughly translated to apply to this situation: Using other people's image in your own artwork won't get you in trouble. Getting CAUGHT using other people's artwork could bring you some grief.

Okay. I'll sit here with you until the lawyers come. Stop shaking. You'll be okay once they wipe your mind.

People get to court for less. Theres been lawsuits for using smileys.... So if the wrong person notice it, copyrighted work can go very wrong. I know, the internet is full with it, but once something is used public, it gets more attention.

Ok. I guess the answer should be no then... gobbles the turkey would have gone over pretty good though I figured that was the answer... oh well. I guess I can create my own disfunctional turkey! Thanks guys

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_use

READ IT!

If you profit from it, it can be an instant problem..... but the easy way to get away with it is the fair use act posted above. You just have to be prepared with your "defense" before anyone asks or says anything.

If it's for an event that's local though....I wouldnt even worry about it.

I have been down this road before and had some very good luck in doing one simple thing...
Asking for permission from the image owners...9 times outa 10 they said yes...the few times they said NO they did offer the use for a very small fee...so if ya dont ask well I guess you will never know...ok

Thanks that article was actually pretty helpful. Don't know what I'm going to do yet but at least I have a little more info to go on.

I think you can come up with something EVEN BETTER. Think of the qualities that make gobbles appealing and go from there.

Creating your own bird will be the best, as long as you don't "copy" the qualities of your gobbles it will do. Otherwise somebody may say... that bird looks TOO MUCH like ours, ....

it's not always that easy.