I am not an attorney but a couple of things about this thread that strike me. First I would think with chips you are talking of trademarks in relation to logos and items that are part of a properties established image. Also you would be dealing with copyright as it relates to the overall design and artwork of the design. The tradmark and logo may belong to the casino and the copyright to an artist or to the manufacturer of the chip who may have created the art through an art department. Photos, Drawings, Illustrations...

Regarding the posting of images on your posts, you may be correct that there may be issues. However there is an area of copyright that is called "Fair Use" I am not sure of all the specifics of this but it basically says that certain uses of another persons intellectual property is permissable in certain circumstances. For example a few that I do recall are Critique, Education and Editorial. If you are writing an article for a magazine and use the image to illustrate something in or about the article than that might be fair use. If you are using the image in a discussion and critique or analysis of the chips than that might be permissable. If you are using it for use in a classroom and for education that could be permissable. I have heard this discussion before in relation to antique and collectables directories and Auction Catalogs ( ). I do not know, in those situations if there is a fair use application but the general feeling is that if the chip(s) is/are your property and you are using them to demonstrate or illustrate them in an ad or catalog for sale, then that should be a fair use. However, always keep in mind that what should and what is may be 2 different things.

In actual practice, I have never seen or heard of anyone being sued for using a chip pic. All the instances I have seen have been a collector getting an intimidating letter from an attorney or legal department demanding a cease and desist. Last one I heard of though had more to do with a casino in Wisconsin(?) being more concerned with the security of their chips and designs from counterfitting than for infringement. That is if I recall the situation properly.