Legality of "look alikes"

[owlsanddogs]

What even is the legality of this, specifically in the UK and USA?

Can downloading these looks get you into any legal trouble?

 

[Jiraiya]

It's not possible to copyright/patent how a person looks.
However, sometime this is got around by chasing patterns that can be copyrighted. This can be done in makeup or clothing. I believe the first case I am aware of this was "Adam Ant" an 80s pop star who copyrighted a particular makeup style he wore.
You are also in trouble if you use their actual name. Dubiously in trouble if you use a name that is "close". But that goes for creators, not downloaders.
So there is very little protection around making a model that looks like somebody else and the only people in trouble would be those making/selling that model. Downloading it is a whole different thing and a lot safer.
I have never heard of somebody actually getting intro trouble for downloading a lookalike model ever and there is very little said about what happens to those making them.
This obviously varies by country for specific legal rules but I have never heard of any law in any country that stops you making something that looks like somebody.

 

[TToby]

In Europe, a person holds the rights for publishing a picture of himselve... "If not being of public interests".
This is a very unclear formulation and sometimes goes for "lookalikes", too. Especially if it goes with a sexual or otherwise unpleasant context. This is a civil law case and needs the complainant to take action for an injunction.
But anyways, like Jiraiya said, this holds true mainly for the creator, but also for a publisher. Under some circumstances, a "publisher" even can be someone who shares a download, or the downloading website. I bet it is somewhat similar in other countries. Therefore most of the lookalike creators are somewhat discrete.
Because it is a civil law thing and no criminal act, only downloading and keeping those looks isn't illegal.
It is an other pair of shoes in very restrictive countries, where some sorts of porn, or picturing a religious or political person are forbidden... but I think you know if you are living in such a country or not.

 

[owlsanddogs]

In Europe, a person holds the rights for publishing a picture of himselve... "If not being of public interests".
This is a very unclear formulation and sometimes goes for "lookalikes", too. Especially if it goes with a sexual or otherwise unpleasant context. This is a civil law case and needs the complainant to take action for an injunction.
But anyways, like Jiraiya said, this holds true mainly for the creator, but also for a publisher. Under some circumstances, a "publisher" even can be someone who shares a download, or the downloading website. I bet it is somewhat similar in other countries. Therefore most of the lookalike creators are somewhat discrete.
Because it is a civil law thing and no criminal act, only downloading and keeping those looks isn't illegal.
It is an other pair of shoes in very restrictive countries, where some sorts of porn, or picturing a religious or political person are forbidden... but I think you know if you are living in such a country or not.

Ahhh okay, interesting.

So in the UK essentially just downloading them isn’t bound to land you in any trouble? I just found it to be an interesting question since it seems like a grey area.

 

[Jiraiya]

No. I believe in the UK you can download them and keep them and it's not an issue. Even if it was the odds of getting targeted for action would be incredibly low.
I am not a lawyer, I do not give legal advice. Do not take anything I say as legal advice.

 

[209b]

Google Sports artist in lawsuits against athletes and or teams . Tiger Woods v. Rush I beleieve for one, University of Alabama v Moore for another. In the case of Alabama Moore could no longer include official Alabama trademark logos , but the likeness was fair game, So Tiger Woods swinging a club or standing with a golf club without Nike logos is ok. Mickey Mouse is no bueno, as it;s a trademarked character owned by Disney. I am no attorney, jus an idiot with internet access giving a couple examples of case law to do your own due diligence. But I am curious of your thoughts after reading a bit on my listed examples.

 

[Sally Whitemane]

I get why people want this stuff, but ...

• you are scared to download? Use a VPN to be safe(r) from legal trouble. But seriously, nobody gives a damn. Before you get in trouble for that you win the lottery. Unless somebody is stupid and screenshots a nude celebrity 'look alike' and then posts the picture to her/his Twitter account with a text "Is that you?"
• use other sources than VAM Hub, most of the 'look alike' come from Patreon and get leaked to shady sites
• do NOT upload to VAM Hub, here is why:

1. I'm sure it is against the Section 9 of the Terms of Use Agreement. If you have an account here, you accepted this.
2. It's probably illegal in SOME parts of the world/country.
3. It could cause a media scandal and put the whole VAM project in danger. The few developers have better things to do than checking and deleting questionable content. Imagine some rich celebrity finds a her-/himself in VAM and sues MeshVR. The source of the 'look alike' content gets traced back to the VAM Hub ... worst case VAM 2.x development gets stopped and the project killed. It would not be the first big adult project that died from legal trouble.

That said, I do have a 'look alike' collection myself.
I'd like to see a site dedicated site/forum for these Looks. But NOT here.
It would be nice to have a source/link-collection where you can search for by real names or by tags like pornstar, actress, model, etc.
Maybe it already exists and I don't know about it.