Let's say, just for argument's sake, that you have been bitten by the Elvis bug. You dye your hair black, don a white rhinestone-studded jumpsuit, curl your upper lip into a passable sneer and venture forth. You start the world's 481st Elvis fan club. You print up personalized Elvis stationery and Elvis T shirts, and start a Web page with photos of Graceland. You throw Elvis-themed parties.
Having your way with the image of a long-dead superstar--it may sound like innocent if somewhat obsessive fun. Legally speaking, however, virtually everything you are doing is a form of copyright infringement. If you...