Are There Legal Issues Using Every Rose Has Its Thorn Poison In Ads?

Man, every time a catchy lyric comes to mind for an ad I get nervous — for good reasons. Using 'Every Rose Has Its Thorn' in a commercial context is likely to trigger copyright rules: lyrics are part of the song's protected work, and publishers rarely allow use for advertising without a license. If you're planning audio-visual use, you're talking sync and possibly master clearance; for print or web copy, you still need permission to reproduce the text.

There's also the reputational angle: using the band or song title might suggest they're endorsing your product, which can cause legal trouble if consumers get the wrong idea. Fair use isn't a helpful shield in straightforward commercial ads. Practically, contact the publisher or hire a licensing agent. Alternatively, rewrite the line into something original or get a custom composition that channels the mood without risking a takedown or cease-and-desist. I’ve seen brands pay surprisingly little for small campaigns, but for national ads the price jumps fast, so budget for licensing if you really want that exact line.

Short and practical: using the line from 'Every Rose Has Its Thorn' in ads will almost always involve copyright clearance, and if you use the Poison recording you’ll need the label’s permission too. Commercial use makes fair use unlikely, and there’s a risk of implying endorsement if the band is named or clearly referenced.

If you don’t want to chase licenses, rewrite the copy, commission an original jingle, or buy a licensed track that evokes the same mood. If the campaign is small, licensing might be affordable, but for big spots expect higher fees. In any case, contact the publisher or a music clearance pro before running the ad — it’ll save headache and possible legal letters down the road.

I tend to think in checklists, so here’s how I’d break this down if someone asked me about using 'Every Rose Has Its Thorn' by Poison in marketing materials:

1) Copyright: Lyrics are protected; you need publisher permission to use them in ads. There’s no safe short-quote rule in commercial use. 2) Sync and master: For video or radio with the original recording, you need both sync (publisher) and master (label) licenses. 3) Print or online text: Reproducing the lyric still requires clearance from the publisher or rights holder. 4) Endorsement/trademark: Mentioning Poison or using the lyric might create an impression of endorsement — risky without written consent.

Internationally, be mindful of moral rights in some countries and different collecting societies (ASCAP/BMI/SESAC in the U.S., PRS in the UK, etc.). If parody or commentary is your angle, that can sometimes change the legal calculus, but a commercial ad rarely qualifies as fair use. My go-to options: hire a licensing agent, negotiate direct with the publisher, or craft an original line that captures the sentiment (or use licensed stock music). If you want to take it further, have legal counsel review any license terms before signing: usage windows, territories, media types, and exclusivity can all affect price.

If you're wondering whether you can slap 'Every Rose Has Its Thorn' by Poison into an ad, the short practical reality is: tread carefully. Song lyrics are protected by copyright, and that line — even though it's famously short — is part of a copyrighted composition owned by the songwriters and their publisher. Using the actual lyric in any commercial setting usually requires permission from the publisher (for the composition) and from the record label if you want the original Poison recording.

Beyond straight copyright, there's the whole sync/master clearance world if the line is sung over visuals. For a video or radio spot you'll need a sync license from the publisher and a master use license from whoever controls the recording. If you only print the lyric in a poster or billboard, that's still reproducing copyrighted text — so you generally need print permission or a license too. And because Poison is an identifiable band, using their name or the lyric could imply endorsement, which raises false endorsement and trademark-like concerns.

If I were planning this campaign, I'd reach out to the music publisher or use a licensing broker, or simply rewrite the tagline to avoid legal friction. Sometimes you can license a short phrase, sometimes you can't, and costs vary wildly — from modest fees to five- or six-figure sums depending on reach. Another trick I use is commission a soundalike or original lyric that captures the vibe without copying the line verbatim.