# Why can Buzz Aldrin sue Topps? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 30, 2010, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-buzz-aldrin-sue-topps/565830 "2010-12-30T15:48:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![spifflog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@spifflog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spifflog)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-buzz-aldrin-sue-topps/565830/1 "2010-12-30T15:48:56Z")
Or more accurately put, how can he win?? (I know you can sue just about anyone for anything.) It seems to me, Buzz was an employee of the Air Force when he landed on the moon, and was paid by the U. S. Government for his work. It seems that NASA would own the rights to that photo, not Buzz. I know that the astronauts received some sweetheart endorsement deals in the 1960’s, but I don’t know why he owns the rights to this. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/29/AR2010122902232.html](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/29/AR2010122902232.html) ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-buzz-aldrin-sue-topps/565830/2 "2010-12-30T16:03:53Z")
> [@spifflog](#): > > It seems to me, Buzz was an employee of the Air Force when he landed on the moon, and was paid by the U. S. Government for his work. It seems that NASA would own the rights to that photo, not Buzz. I understand that, generally, anything created by a U.S. federal government employee as part of their work is copyright-free in the United States. So anyone should be able to reproduce that photo, without permission and royalty-free. I don’t see that there is a case in copyright. The only claim that Aldrin might have is if there is a suggestion that he is endorsing some commercial product, but it doesn’t seem to me that the “American heroes” depicted in a trading-card series would be seen as endorsing the series. If George Washington is one of the “heroes”, no one would think that he endorsed it. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-buzz-aldrin-sue-topps/565830/3 "2010-12-30T16:08:38Z")
If it is [this picture](http://grin.hq.nasa.gov/ABSTRACTS/GPN-2001-000013.html), I don’t see how Buzz has a leg to stand on. The picture is covered by the [\*\*“Guidelines Regarding the Use or Reproduction of NASA Material” \*\*](http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/policies.html#Guidelines)which states: > [@](#): > > NASA material is not protected by copyright unless noted. If copyrighted, permission should be obtained from the copyright owner prior to use. If not copyrighted, NASA material may be reproduced and distributed without further permission from NASA. There is no copyright limitation noted on the download page, so i don’t see how Buzz can claim it, especially since the Nasa guidelines also state: > [@](#): > > It is unlawful to falsely claim copyright or other rights in NASA material. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-buzz-aldrin-sue-topps/565830/4 "2010-12-30T16:12:32Z")
It does seem tacky for them to make money from it, though. ---
**Author:** ![jonesj2205](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecc23a/32.png) [@jonesj2205](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jonesj2205)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-buzz-aldrin-sue-topps/565830/5 "2010-12-30T16:15:37Z")
This [MSNBC article](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40842313/ns/technology_and_science-space/) has a little more info. Other astronauts have sued when their images/voices have been used for commercial purposes. Seems likely the companies would settle rather than have more negative publicity. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-buzz-aldrin-sue-topps/565830/6 "2010-12-30T16:23:03Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > The only claim that Aldrin might have is if there is a suggestion that he is endorsing some commercial product, but it doesn’t seem to me that the “American heroes” depicted in a trading-card series would be seen as endorsing the series. If George Washington is one of the “heroes”, no one would think that he endorsed it. I believe this is it. You can use the photos for documentary and educational purposes and even for certain commercial uses - like, and I’m just throwing this out as an example, if you created an astronaut ice scream and pasted on the packaging the famous photo of Buzz on the moon staring straight at the camera. You run into problems, though, if you use his name, particularly in a way that suggests he endorses the product. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-buzz-aldrin-sue-topps/565830/7 "2010-12-30T16:58:35Z")
[Do not f&ck with Buzz Aldrin.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUFO8AGMwic) ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-buzz-aldrin-sue-topps/565830/8 "2010-12-30T17:44:57Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > [Do not f&ck with Buzz Aldrin.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUFO8AGMwic) Thanks! I’ve seen the last part, but I had no idea how much provocation he had. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-buzz-aldrin-sue-topps/565830/9 "2010-12-30T18:09:13Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > If it is [this picture](http://grin.hq.nasa.gov/ABSTRACTS/GPN-2001-000013.html), I don’t see how Buzz has a leg to stand on. One might even argue that it’s not even a photo of him; it’s a photo of his space suit. You can’t see Buzz at all. ---
**Author:** ![Gedd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gedd/32/4938_2.png) [@Gedd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gedd)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-buzz-aldrin-sue-topps/565830/10 "2010-12-30T18:33:13Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > [Do not f&ck with Buzz Aldrin.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUFO8AGMwic) That’s what I was going to say. He can do it because he’s Buzz Aldrin and he’s awesome. 😃 Even if they legally can use his picture because it’s not copyrighted, the polite thing to do would be to ask first. Especially since they are using it commercially. Imagine if a “male enhancement” company decided to use his picture. I could understand if he got a bit upset. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-buzz-aldrin-sue-topps/565830/11 "2010-12-30T18:50:34Z")
This has nothing to do with copyright law or being polite. Aldrin’s cause of action is commercial misappropriation of his identity/image/likeness/persona, also known as a “right of publicity” claim. Under this theory, it doesn’t matter what the copyright status of the photograph is. The fact is that Topps is using a representation of Aldrin qua Aldrin to make money, and you can’t do that without permission. It’s not as if they are using an image to illustrate some moment in history or something like that. They’re essentially selling Aldrin _himself_ to collectors. That’s why Topps and other card companies have to get releases from all the athletes they feature on their sports cards. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-buzz-aldrin-sue-topps/565830/12 "2010-12-30T19:14:15Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > This has nothing to do with copyright law or being polite. > > Aldrin’s cause of action is commercial misappropriation of his identity/image/likeness/persona, also known as a “right of publicity” claim. > > Under this theory, it doesn’t matter what the copyright status of the photograph is. The fact is that Topps is using a representation of Aldrin qua Aldrin to make money, and you can’t do that without permission. It’s not as if they are using an image to illustrate some moment in history or something like that. They’re essentially selling Aldrin _himself_ to collectors. > > That’s why Topps and other card companies have to get releases from all the athletes they feature on their sports cards. My thoughts exactly… if they were featuring Heroic Events then he wouldn’t have a leg to stand on as this is just an image that represents the moon landing. Instead they are featuring Heros, which clearly is Buzz in this case. ---
**Author:** ![Gedd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gedd/32/4938_2.png) [@Gedd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gedd)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-buzz-aldrin-sue-topps/565830/13 "2010-12-30T19:20:51Z")
> [@Spud](#): > > My thoughts exactly… if they were featuring Heroic Events then he wouldn’t have a leg to stand on as this is just an image that represents the moon landing. Instead they are featuring Heros, which clearly is Buzz in this case. Aha! I got it now. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-buzz-aldrin-sue-topps/565830/14 "2010-12-30T19:25:33Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > That’s why Topps and other card companies have to get releases from all the athletes they feature on their sports cards. But if Topps produced a book called “American heroes”, with the same pictures and text as their trading-card series, there would be no problem. Why are trading cards different from books here? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-buzz-aldrin-sue-topps/565830/15 "2010-12-30T19:30:06Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > But if Topps produced a book called “American heroes”, with the same pictures and text as their trading-card series, there would be no problem. Why are trading cards different from books here? I don’t say that there would be _no_ problem, but whatever problem there would be would be less glaring. And even in this case, I’m not certain whether Aldrin would win. I’m just setting forth his argument. In the case of a trading card, I would argue, the product is nothing more than the person himself – his image, likeness, persona, identity. You can’t sell a person’s identity without his or her permission. The same is true if you’re using a person’s image, etc., in advertising for another product. That’s commercial misappropriation.