Photoshopped Celebrity Endorsements illegal?

Lets say you have a photoshopped image of a celebrity holding a sign which endorses your website/business etc, and I go ahead and share that photo online. Is this illegal? I know there are rules regarding photoshopping celebrities which allow nudes, but how does this apply for promotion?

 

Yes, in the United States is would be against the law to fake a celebrity endorsement of your business.

 

Is this a serious question? The answer should be obvious.

 

The original image of the celebrity that you are using belongs to somebody, so of course to use it is a breach of copyright law!

 

I'd imagine the issues extend beyond breach of copyright. These celebrities have not been paid to endorse the products. It's deceptive advertising, which I am sure would violate federal and state laws against fraud.
Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer. This is not legal advice.

 

Google always has an answer http://www.ftc.gov/news-events/media-resources/truth-advertising/advertisement-endorsements

Endorsements are highly regulated when they are real, imagine what can happen to your domain/product if you photoshop it

 

Thanks for the answer. Was just curious since I saw services offering this, and wasn't sure of the legality of it.

 

If you are using a photograph (or a drawing by someone else) without
permission, you risk violating copyright law. (A work is in the
public domain if it was first PUBLISHED before 1923, or if it was
first PUBLISHED between 1923 and 1964 and the copyright was not
renewed, unless the rights holder was not from the U.S.) In other
words, unless the person who created the image has given permission
(perhaps by making a voluntary announcement that the work was being
dedicated to the public domain--and this is VERY rare), the image is
protected by copyright. If your infringing activities generate income
over a certain level for a certain period of time (e.g., $1,000 in six
months--unless the numbers have changed), criminal penalties can
apply.

The relevant area of law is called "rights of publicity." This is
governed by state law. Most states have some degree of protection of
an individual's rights of publicity. The longest term of protection
seems to be 100 years from the time of the person's death. You need
to think not only about the law in your state but the law in any state
where you are doing the endorsement w/ the celebrity's image.

In short, I would be very, very careful--and I would consult an
attorney who understands "rights of publicity" law.