<p>Images tend to be copyrighted. You'd have to take into consideration both the rights of the photographer, and the depicted person. I'd expect you would have to get both the player's and the photographer's permission to use the images. That permission will most likely cost you a lot of money, especially for people like Messi.</p>

<p>You should probably just read <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photography_and_the_law" rel="nofollow">this Wikipedia page</a> about photography and the law. The biggest problem is that copyright law is different in each country. Depending on where you are and where your game will be made available, you'd need to simultaneously comply to a bunch of different countries' copyright laws.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-09T14:41:26.130Z
2014-12-09T14:41:26.130Z
freekvd
<p>No. This type of use tends to be blocked by Copyright, Trademark and/or Publicity Rights laws in many jurisdictions, and it's the type of use that tends to land people in court even when it's legal.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-09T16:10:47.953Z
2014-12-09T16:10:47.953Z
ikegami
<p>I am thinking of creating a soccer game, can I use real player name / images in this game or are there any legal implications?  For example can I use Lionel Messi and his image on a card?</p>

<p>Thanks for your help and time </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-09T13:27:42.893Z
This question appears to be off-topic because it is about legal issues.
jwodder
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-09T15:38:41.560Z
@jwodder Consider linking to a meta topic where it was decided that legal issues are specifically off topic. Otherwise, as far as I can tell, this question is about legal issues *as well as board games*, and it is therefore on topic (assuming that it is otherwise not too broad, opinionated, etc.).
Rainbolt
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-09T16:06:45.927Z
@Rain I think the topic was addressed previously at http://meta.boardgames.stackexchange.com/questions/1129/card-game-legal-questions-are-off-topic-apparently-can-this-be-added-to-the-of
bwarner
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-09T16:33:33.813Z
This question appears to be off-topic because it is not best answered by a board game expert.
Rainbolt
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-09T16:59:55.687Z
@bwarner Whoops, I got your names confused. Reposting so it makes sense: Pat Ludwig's post says that each question should be judged on a case by case basis. Jwodder's first comment implies that all questions about legal issues are automatically off topic. That hasn't actually been established. Don't get me wrong - I agree that this question is off topic. I just disagree with the "catch all" reasoning.
Rainbolt
<game-design><legal>
using real names / images in a board game
Johann
# using real names / images in a board game

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-12-09)

I am thinking of creating a soccer game, can I use real player name / images in this game or are there any legal implications? For example can I use Lionel Messi and his image on a card?

Thanks for your help and time

**Tags:** game-design, legal

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: This question appears to be off-topic because it is about legal issues.  
> **username_2**: @username_1 Consider linking to a meta topic where it was decided that legal issues are specifically off topic. Otherwise, as far as I can tell, this question is about legal issues *as well as board games*, and it is therefore on topic (assuming that it is otherwise not too broad, opinionated, etc.).  
> **username_3**: @Rain I think the topic was addressed previously at http://meta.boardgames.stackexchange.com/questions/1129/card-game-legal-questions-are-off-topic-apparently-can-this-be-added-to-the-of  
> **username_2**: This question appears to be off-topic because it is not best answered by a board game expert.  
> **username_2**: @username_3 Whoops, I got your names confused. Reposting so it makes sense: Pat Ludwig's post says that each question should be judged on a case by case basis. Jwodder's first comment implies that all questions about legal issues are automatically off topic. That hasn't actually been established. Don't get me wrong - I agree that this question is off topic. I just disagree with the "catch all" reasoning.  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2014-12-09. Score: 1

Images tend to be copyrighted. You'd have to take into consideration both the rights of the photographer, and the depicted person. I'd expect you would have to get both the player's and the photographer's permission to use the images. That permission will most likely cost you a lot of money, especially for people like Messi.

You should probably just read [this Wikipedia page](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photography_and_the_law) about photography and the law. The biggest problem is that copyright law is different in each country. Depending on where you are and where your game will be made available, you'd need to simultaneously comply to a bunch of different countries' copyright laws.


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### Answer by username_5 on 2014-12-09. Score: 0

No. This type of use tends to be blocked by Copyright, Trademark and/or Publicity Rights laws in many jurisdictions, and it's the type of use that tends to land people in court even when it's legal.


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