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Courses/Law/Intellectual Property Law

Where Tattoos Meet Copyright and IP Law

From LeBron James to Kat Von D: Explore the high-stakes legal battles over who really owns the art on our skin.

Created byNew Media Legal Publishing, Inc.
5.0
(1 reviews)
IntermediateUpdated Apr 28, 2026
Where Tattoos Meet Copyright and IP Law

What You'll Learn

check_circleAnalyze the twin requirements of originality and fixation as they apply to tattoo art.
check_circleEvaluate the validity of implied license defenses in cases involving the reproduction of tattoos in commercial media.
check_circleApply the four-factor fair use test to determine if the use of a tattoo in a digital or film format constitutes infringement.
check_circleDistinguish between copyrightable expression and unprotectable ideas in the context of tattoo design.
check_circleIdentify the limitations of trademark law regarding the display of brand logos as tattoos.

About This Course

From Mike Tyson to LeBron James, Miles Davis, and “I LOVE NY,” tattoos are colliding with the law. This program provides a substantive overview of copyright law for either the IP expert or the non-IP practitioner who wants to learn the field, diving into where tattoos intersect with copyright law regarding infringement, implied licenses, and fair use. We explore a variety of cases involving video game avatars of athletes and their tattoos, as well as movies featuring tattoos, and answer questions about who owns the copyright and when it is infringed in these circumstances.

The program also explores the high-profile case involving famed photographer Jeff Sedlik and his iconic Miles Davis photograph that was used by celebrity tattoo artist Kat Von D, which led to significant high-profile litigation that reached the Ninth Circuit, with the panel itself stating that copyright law needs to be fixed. Finally, the program includes a sidebar and quick primer on trademark law and where trademark law sometimes overlaps with tattoos.

Your Instructors

New Media Legal Publishing, Inc.
New Media Legal Publishing, Inc.

Legal Technology & Education

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New Media Legal Publishing, Inc. is a legal publishing company based in Los Angeles, California, that develops, produces, markets, and distributes innovative legal education content for law firms and companies. For more information about NMLP and its products, please visit  http://www.newmedialegal.com .

Peter Afrasiabi
Peter Afrasiabi

Intellectual Property and Entertainment Lawyer

Peter has been named a Top Intellectual Property and Entertainment lawyer by Variety magazine and has been a legal commentator on NBC, CBS, The Wall Street Journal, and national radio programs. His focus is on intellectual property and appellate litigation, and he has litigated scores of federal appeals on copyright, trademark, patent, and related business tort issues. He directs a Ninth Circuit Appellate Litigation Clinic at the UCI School of Law, where he litigates political asylum and refugee appeals. His recent book, "Burning Bridges," has been optioned and is under development by Hollywood, receiving widespread acclaim for its account of the Cold War serial trials against labor leader Harry Bridges. Peter is also a faculty member at the National Institute for Trial Advocacy and a recognized “Super Lawyer.”

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Frequently Asked Questions

We are a registered provider with 327+ associations and regulatory bodies worldwide. We operate across 29 global markets including Canada, the US, Australia, and the UK. Every course page clearly displays its specific accreditations. Upon completion, you receive a professional certificate that can be validated online. Our certificates include all necessary accreditation details, credit hours, and completion dates, and are formatted specifically to meet the submission requirements of most global regulatory bodies.