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[Angela Oh]

What's the law on using a picture I found in a magazine of a celeb and posting it on my website?  The picture is from Us Weekly or People or one of those type of publications.

[cooler]

The copyright  on the photograph belongs either to the magazine (if it was work-for-hire) or to the original photographer. As such you shouldn't use it without permission.

Additionally depending on where you live (IIRC 18 states have p/p laws on the books) you may be subject to laws of privacy/publicity regarding the use of a celebrity likeness

[azeemi]

The copyright  on the photograph belongs either to the magazine (if it was work-for-hire) or to the original photographer. As such you shouldn't use it without permission.

Additionally depending on where you live (IIRC 18 states have p/p laws on the books) you may be subject to laws of privacy/publicity regarding the use of a celebrity likeness

I agree the commenter above me.

[Smokin]

While the above is correct, their are "fair use" type laws and ways that they can be used without permission from a copyright holder or needing to seek permission from whoever owns the publicity rights.

A fair use analysis would be needed to determine to get a better idea if the use would be allowed/legal.

If you are using the image for commercial purposes, then permission would most likely be needed from the celeb. If however the photo is being used for a news story or for some kind of commentary like a mug shot being used to report an arrest, then permission would not be needed.