I am making a website about the life of celebrities, etc. The thing is that I want to put in the header of my website some pictures with Hollywood stars. Is this legal? Should I add a disclaimer at the bottom of the page? What should I write in the disclamer? I must say that while I don't sell myself any products on this website, I will have affiliate links and text ads. Can any legal action be taken against me on the behalf of the celebrities that are in my header? Thanks!
Perez Hilton has had lawsuits filed against him for posting images of celebrities, however they are mainly from photography businesses who he took the photo's from. If its on Google it should be okay, but check first.
I wouldn't worry about it. If your site getting popular enough that even celebrities are visiting the site, you'll be far rich be the time they try to sue. Of course you can just take the pictures off and think of something else once that happens.
Well I am worried that they may say I am using their image to promote products they did not endorse. Which is actually correct from the legal point of view...so if I add a Disclamer telling that they are not associated with this site and the images are copyright of their respective owners...would that do?
No, that won't do. If you want to protect yourself you have to pay the fees to the original copyright holder in order to use the picture. The celebrities won't be able to do anything to you, but the photographers can be a very voracious group when it comes to protecting copyright. A disclaimer will give you no protection from them. Using such pictures can be very expensive to do legally. If you want to be protected then you pay the fees or use public domain images (there are very few public domain images of current celebs). Whether an image is on Google is no indicator on whether an image is public domain.
Thanks, bluegrass_special. This was very helpful information, and I will try to find public domain images on fan clubs or stock photography websites.