Calendar Photos

Q: I am planning to produce a calendar of classic cars. Do I need to get permission from the car manufacturer to use the photos of the cars in the calendar?

A: Car designs are not copyrighted; they are trademarked. If you are using existing photos of the cars, these photos are most likely copyrighted, and you must obtain permission from the photographer or whoever else may own the copyright of the photo in order to use it in your calendar.

If you are taking your own photos of the cars, you need to be aware of the surroundings.

Architectural works (buildings for example) and sculptural works are copyrighted. If you intend to use these in the background in your photos, you must obtain permission from the owners of these copyrights.