Does anyone know the legalities of making puppets that look like say a celebrity? Or a movie character?

I have several ideas for them but I'm not sure if I can legally build and sell them. Anyone know?

I know a lot of puppeteers have look alike puppets of celebrities they use in shows and I am pretty sure that is "legal". There are even a few who have made the characters of movies and use them.

Now as far as making them and selling them, you may be able to get away with it but I think you can still be sued by a celebrity if you use their likeness. Movie characters would be a bit more touchy. They are owned by big companies that make a lot of money of the characters likeness. They are not going to be happy about you stepping on those rights.

yeah that's what I was afraid of...

I guess really we should ask a lawyer.  I know there are a lot of companies that do make things with the likenesses of celebrities. Wish I had a lawyer friend I could ask.   Actually if you really think you could make some money at doing this it might be worth it to make an appointment with a copyright lawyer and ask them the question.

I just thought it would be really fun to do...

Does anyone have a lawyer friend they can ask?

I know that sports stars and celebrities are the subject of MANY portrait artists that sell things in shops, and craft fairs. Of course they're the subject of caricatures as well, but I'm referring more to the "photo-realistic" style of portraits. I see a lot of Marilyn Monroe, Humphrey Bogart, Michael Jordan and so on. I realize of course this doesn't really answer the question but not being a lawyer or even friends with any it's all I have to offer. 

yeah that's what I was thinking too, there's stuff everywhere that I'm sure they don't get paid on.

I don't know... even Marilyn Monroe is still licensed as a brand. http://www.authenticbrandsgroup.com/brands.htm  There is also James Dean. http://www.jamesdean.com/business/licensing/

I actually found that Google answered this question. http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview/id/457264.html

The bottom line is that yes you can get in trouble. If you feel it is wrong to make and sell a duplicate of another persons puppet like one of the Muppets then that felling should extend to using the likeness of a celebrity. Actually legally the laws extend to everyone I think and not just celebrities.

Here's another answer I got.... this is all confusing... I understand the whole "Brand" aspect, but the celeb parody argument goes a long way too for my original intent.

I'm not a lawyer but i'd be pretty confident that puppets of celebs fall under parody which is legal fair use (though if they we used in a way that was super offensive, the celeb could have a slander case which would be a harder arguement placed next to the parody arguement). I'd tend to say because of this such puppets are not illegal (unless as posted upthread you were saying falsely that it was in someway endorsed by said celeb)