Quote (DeadlySanity @ Sep 27 2010 03:50pm)
Just to clear this all up.
If a picture is watermarked (large translucent overlay), you may not remove the watermark yourself and use the picture. If a picture is signed, you may use the picture as long as you include the signature somewhere in the picture.
Since these are neither, there's no issue.
... also, I may try if you're still looking. Just curious though, what price range are you planning on paying?
Copyrighting can be as simple as a Trademark.
Trademark - is a distinctive sign or indicator of some kind which is used by an individual, business organization or other legal entity to uniquely identify the source of its products and/or services to consumers, and to distinguish its products or services from those of other entities. A trademark is a type of intellectual property, and typically comprises a name, word, phrase, logo, symbol, design, image, or a combination of these elements. There is also a range of non-conventional trademarks comprising marks which do not fall into these standard categories.
A signature is a trademark
If something is signed by the makers name, it is under most copyright by law.
Most people won't mind you using there work to be created into something new, but you
must ask permission. There is no exceptions.