Silver Spring, MD asked in Business Law and Copyright for Maryland

Q: If I wanted to publish a book and sell it with pictures of memes from the internet is there a copyright issue?

If I wanted to publish a book and sell it with pictures of memes from the internet is there a copyright issue? I looked online and saw a lot of different opinions.

My first thought is always “what are the copyright implications”? These memes do not have signatures and I have no Idea who created them?

Can you help?

Related Topics:
1 Lawyer Answer
Marcos Garciaacosta
Marcos Garciaacosta
Answered
  • Intellectual Property Lawyer
  • Mesa, AZ

A: That is a very interesting question. It is very likely a minefield.

You need to consult with an attorney for guidance and strategies to mitigate (can never bring to zero) your risk.

Also consult with an insurance agency specializing in copyright coverage. They can make an assessment of your risk.

Off from the bat I would say you have lots of risks.

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.