Imagine scrolling through Instagram or a company’s website and suddenly seeing your face—used in a post, in a thumbnail, or even printed on merchandise. You didn’t give permission, you didn’t approve it, and no one asked you. Now your identity is being used to promote someone else’s business, brand, or content. So what can you do?
Whether you’re an artist, athlete, influencer, or private individual, your name, image, and likeness (NIL) are legally protected. If someone is using your photo or name without permission, it may be a violation of what’s known as the right of publicity—and you may be entitled to take legal action.
When Is It Illegal to Use Someone’s Picture, Name, or Likeness?
In most states, people have the right to control how their identity is used—especially when it’s being used to sell a product, promote a business, or attract attention online. This means if someone posts your picture in an ad, uses your name to boost a video, or includes your likeness on merchandise, they could be violating your rights.
And no—you don’t need to be famous for the law to protect you.
The right of publicity is designed to prevent exactly this kind of misuse. It applies whether someone used your actual photo, your name, a video clip, or even an AI-generated version of your voice or image.
What If Someone Posted My Picture Without Asking?
This is one of the most common situations we see. A person or business uses someone’s image on their website or social media to make their brand look more appealing—without getting permission first. Maybe they tagged you in a post, or maybe they didn’t. Either way, if the post is commercial or promotional in nature, it likely crosses the legal line.
We also see cases where fake accounts are created using stolen photos, or where influencers find their content reposted by brands without any credit or compensation. These situations aren’t just frustrating—they’re legally actionable.
Your Legal Rights and Options
If your image, name, or likeness is being used without your consent, you may have several options depending on the details and where you’re located.
In many cases, our firm can send a cease and desist letter demanding immediate removal of the content. If the issue persists or if the unauthorized use has already caused harm, we may recommend filing a lawsuit to recover monetary damages or pursue an injunction to stop further use.
If the unauthorized use occurred online, we can also file DMCA takedown requests to force platforms like Instagram, YouTube, or TikTok to remove the content quickly.
Why You Shouldn’t Wait to Take Action
The longer your identity is misused, the more harm it can cause—to your reputation, your personal brand, or your future business opportunities. We’ve helped clients remove unauthorized posts, stop product lines that used their photos without consent, and even recover profits that were made using their likeness.
Whether you’re a college athlete being used to sell tickets, an artist whose image was copied into AI-generated art, or just someone who discovered a stranger selling T-shirts with your face on them—you have the right to say no and the power to make it stop.
How Landry Legal Can Help
At Landry Legal, we work with creators, entrepreneurs, professionals, and public figures to protect their identities and stop unauthorized use. We don’t just understand the legal issues—we know how to act quickly and strategically to get results.
Here’s how we help:
- We assess your case and identify the best legal path forward
- We send immediate cease and desist notices to demand removal
- We pursue legal action when necessary to recover damages or profits
- We help you protect your identity long-term, including future licensing or trademark registration if needed
No one should profit from your image without your permission—and we make sure they don’t.
If someone is using your photo, name, or likeness without consent, contact Landry Legal today.
We’ll help you protect your rights, stop the unauthorized use, and take back control.
📩 Email us now at contact@landrypllc.com or call us at 888-914-0011 to schedule a consultation.
