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In the Spawn comic book series, Todd McFarlane created a mob enforcer character named Antonio "Tony Twist" Twistelli,[2] who McFarlane acknowledged was named after Tony Twist. Twist won a $15 million verdict in 2004 when a St. Louis, Missouri jury found Todd McFarlane Productions had profited from Twist's likeness.[3] The verdict was upheld after two appeals in June 2006.[4] In 2007, Twist and McFarlane settled the lawsuit out of court for $5 million.[5][6]

Long story short - generally not, for living figures. For dead, historical personages it's another story but still not 100% safe.

For living figures you can pretty much forget it. For historical figures you are generally OK but there still may be restrictions so it could be worth speaking to a lawyer.

The consequences of using a celebrity likeness can lead to severe legal repercussions as Todd McFarlane could tell you.

In the Spawn comic book series, Todd McFarlane created a mob enforcer character named Antonio "Tony Twist" Twistelli,[2] who McFarlane acknowledged was named after Tony Twist. Twist won a $15 million verdict in 2004 when a St. Louis, Missouri jury found Todd McFarlane Productions had profited from Twist's likeness.[3] The verdict was upheld after two appeals in June 2006.[4] In 2007, Twist and McFarlane settled the lawsuit out of court for $5 million.[5][6]

Long story short - generally you cannot use celebrity likenesses for living figures. For dead, historical personages it's another story but still not 100% safe.

For living figures you can pretty much forget it. You can claim parody but only if the whole game is obvious parody and it helps a great deal if you are known as a comedic personality of some kind. Even so, nothing stops you from being sued on those grounds even if you are in the right and the legal bills could be quite expensive.

For historical figures you are generally OK but there still may be restrictions so it could be worth speaking to a lawyer, and anything touching on properties or companies that they may have been involved with is completely unprotected.

"In the Spawn comic book series, Todd McFarlane created a mob enforcer character named Antonio "Tony Twist" Twistelli,[2] who McFarlane acknowledged was named after Tony Twist. Twist won a $15 million verdict in 2004 when a St. Louis, Missouri jury found Todd McFarlane Productions had profited from Twist's likeness.[3] The verdict was upheld after two appeals in June 2006.[4] In 2007, Twist and McFarlane settled the lawsuit out of court for $5 million.[5][6]" Long story short - generally not, for living figures. For dead, historical personages it's another story but still not 100% safe.

For living figures you can pretty much forget it. For historical figures you are generally OK but there still may be restrictions so it could be worth speaking to a lawyer.

In the Spawn comic book series, Todd McFarlane created a mob enforcer character named Antonio "Tony Twist" Twistelli,[2] who McFarlane acknowledged was named after Tony Twist. Twist won a $15 million verdict in 2004 when a St. Louis, Missouri jury found Todd McFarlane Productions had profited from Twist's likeness.[3] The verdict was upheld after two appeals in June 2006.[4] In 2007, Twist and McFarlane settled the lawsuit out of court for $5 million.[5][6]

Long story short - generally not, for living figures. For dead, historical personages it's another story but still not 100% safe.

For living figures you can pretty much forget it. For historical figures you are generally OK but there still may be restrictions so it could be worth speaking to a lawyer.

Quoting Wikipedia about the lawsuit Tony Twist vs Todd McFarlane:

In the Spawn comic book series, Todd McFarlane created a mob enforcer character named Antonio "Tony Twist" Twistelli, who McFarlane acknowledged was named after Tony Twist. Twist won a $15 million verdict in 2004 when a St. Louis, Missouri jury found Todd McFarlane Productions had profited from Twist's likeness. The verdict was upheld after two appeals in June 2006. In 2007, Twist and McFarlane settled the lawsuit out of court for $5 million.

Long story short - generally not, for living figures. For dead, historical personages it's another story but still not 100% safe.

For living figures you can pretty much forget it. For historical figures you are generally OK but there still may be restrictions so it could be worth speaking to a lawyer.

"In the Spawn comic book series, Todd McFarlane created a mob enforcer character named Antonio "Tony Twist" Twistelli,[2] who McFarlane acknowledged was named after Tony Twist. Twist won a $15 million verdict in 2004 when a St. Louis, Missouri jury found Todd McFarlane Productions had profited from Twist's likeness.[3] The verdict was upheld after two appeals in June 2006.[4] In 2007, Twist and McFarlane settled the lawsuit out of court for $5 million.[5][6]" Long story short - generally not, for living figures. For dead, historical personages it's another story but still not 100% safe.

For living figures you can pretty much forget it. For historical figures you are generally OK but there still may be restrictions so it could be worth speaking to a lawyer.