To use or not to use?

 

I read in the news today that a local influencing model is now embroiled in a legal tussle with an artist who used her image to create artwork for commercial use.

This is a ‘sticky’ issue as image or personality rights including name and likeness – are not recognized under Singapore law. Even the subject in a photograph is often not the owner of the copyright. However, copyrights of created artworks (not manipulated from images) rightfully belong to the artist unless they are being sold with the artworks.  

By right, artists should ask the subject for permission before using their images to create artworks for commercial use. By left, no artists would ask the subject for permission because they know the subject would ask for exorbitant fees as compensation! This is an example of our ‘grey’ world that some artists sometimes face.

Lucky for me, I have not come to this stage for this side gig. This explains why there isn’t much inside my wallet.