Athletic athletes become a headache for video game creators

American companies specializing in sports video games such as Electronic Arts, Take-Two Interactive or THQ have faced copyright requirements because of unauthorized representation of tattoo makers of those athletes appearing in their animations, they reported from the past. December 27 The New York Times.

The editorial board explains that, in accordance with the legislation in force, any creative illustration, "attached to a tangible medium", including a tattoo ink, is signed by law copyright, emphasizing that people are not aware of this belong to the person who makes the tattooand not anybody who wears it.

The US media explain that tattoo publishing – even in the television program or on the cover of the magazine – is legal, and the digital creation of these ink pictures can be considered a criminal offense. "Video games are a whole new field," said Michael A. Kahn, a copyright attorney who represents Mike Tyson, a boxing designer.

Electronic Arts has created more than 100 tattoos in its famous FIFA and UFC video games, but has only a license for some NFL games. Indeed, in 2013, the developer and publisher of games met with the demand for this issue due to the official coverage of the NFL Street video game, which was presented with some of his tattoos to former footballer Ricky Williams.

A little researched legal field

Take-Two Interactive, a subsidiary of 2K Games, experienced the same fate three times. One of them was in 2016 after they were sued by Solid Oake sketches after having previously acquired the rights of the authors of the five tattoos of three different basketball players, including two models worn by the well-known actor LeBron James. NBA wearing Los Angeles Lakers shirt. The applicant requested a compensation for $ 819,500 and suggested a 1.14 million euros dollars for the future use of the Tatars owned by copyright.

On the other hand, trade unions of players, many of which license these video game companies, as well as sports agents, recommend that athletes conclude licensing contracts before they are tattooed.

The New York Times notes that while video game companies are already paying for a license for songs that are played back in their products, they may want to avoid doing so with tattoo copyright due to hard work. a task that involves negotiating with hundreds of tattoo artists.