Prancing horse copyright question

Horsefly,

Yes to all!

You not only violate copyrights you subject yourself to suits for "commercial appropriation". That is using someone else's recognized commercial standing for that of your own. It gets expensive.

Example: a woman mystery writer named Alice Hitchcock used the pen name of "A. Hitchcock" and then used a version of Alfred Hitchcock's classic body side profile to promote her mystery book.

Big mistake as the family of Alfred Hitchcock took her to task for considerable $. Basis of the suit was commercial appropriation.

You can't use another's gain unless you want to pay for the pain!

Stay away and don't think they won't know. It will find its way into view!

 

And what if I take a close-up shot of the emblem on a Ferrari and use it for a business card? It's my photograph, so is it fair game?

 

Probably not. You would clearly (IMO) be trying to skirt the law, and that is probably not allowed. If it incidental, then that is okay I think.
BT

 

Well, like Playboy, Ferrari's logo/trademark is certainly out all over the place on personal homepages, and in art. There is a degree to usage that helps 'keep the dream alive' or rather the mythology of the marque.

That said, you try to sell anything using their logo, direct or indirect, they'll not appreciate it.

I have this argument every 6 months or so with Playboy.

 

Horsefly,

Here's how to make this simple.

Set aside weekly $500-$1,000 for your legal defense costs and add the same amount for a kitty for the damages you'll have to pay.

Then it's a piece of cake! You'll have it all covered in no time and you won't have to worry about a thing!