FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Section titled “Frequently Asked Questions”General
Section titled “General”What is LMIF?
Section titled “What is LMIF?”LMIF (Look Ma I’m Famous) is an open protocol for identity protection in the AI era. It allows individuals and organizations to claim and control how their likeness is used in AI applications.
How is LMIF different from DMCA takedowns?
Section titled “How is LMIF different from DMCA takedowns?”DMCA is reactive - you find violations and request takedowns. LMIF is proactive - platforms check before allowing content creation. This prevents violations rather than just responding to them.
Who can use the LMIF API?
Section titled “Who can use the LMIF API?”Any platform that creates or hosts AI avatars, chatbots, or other content that might use someone’s likeness. This includes:
- AI companion platforms
- Social media with AI features
- Gaming companies
- Content creation tools
Integration
Section titled “Integration”How do I get started?
Section titled “How do I get started?”- Sign up at lookmaimfamous.com/developers
- Get your API key
- Follow the Quick Start guide
- Implement identity checks in your avatar creation flow
Do I need to check every avatar creation?
Section titled “Do I need to check every avatar creation?”Yes. Every avatar that might use a real person’s likeness should be checked. This includes:
- Celebrity-inspired avatars
- User-uploaded photos
- Text descriptions of real people
What if the API is unavailable?
Section titled “What if the API is unavailable?”Implement appropriate fallback behavior:
- Fail-closed (recommended): Block creation if you can’t verify
- Fail-open (risky): Allow creation but mark for later review
How fast is the API?
Section titled “How fast is the API?”- Layer 1 (exact match): under 100ms
- Layer 2 (AI analysis): 2-5 seconds
- Layer 3 (human review): 24-48 hours
Most checks complete in Layer 1 and return near-instantly.
Detection
Section titled “Detection”How does detection work?
Section titled “How does detection work?”LMIF uses a 3-layer system:
- Registry match: Fast database lookup
- AI analysis: Vision and semantic analysis for variations
- Human review: Edge cases and appeals
Can someone bypass detection?
Section titled “Can someone bypass detection?”The AI analysis layer catches common evasion attempts like:
- Leetspeak (T4ylor Sw1ft)
- Phonetic spellings (Tay Tay)
- Visual similarity without exact name
- Deepfakes
No system is 100% perfect, but compliance platforms are expected to make good-faith efforts.
What about parody accounts?
Section titled “What about parody accounts?”LMIF includes parody detection. Parody content may be allowed depending on the identity owner’s policy. If detected as parody, the API returns REVIEW_PARODY action.
Why do you need both name AND image?
Section titled “Why do you need both name AND image?”Requiring both prevents false positives. “John Smith” is a common name - we can’t block every John Smith. But “John Smith” + a celebrity’s face = clear match.
Policies
Section titled “Policies”What are the different policies?
Section titled “What are the different policies?”| Policy | Meaning |
|---|---|
| BLOCK_ALL | No AI avatars allowed |
| BLOCK_COMMERCIAL | Personal use OK, commercial blocked |
| MONETIZE | Allowed with revenue share |
| LICENSE | Requires explicit license |
| TEAM | Only authorized accounts |
| OPEN | Anyone can create (monitoring only) |
Can policies change?
Section titled “Can policies change?”Yes. Identity owners can change their policy at any time. If a policy becomes more restrictive, existing avatars enter a grace period.
What is the grace period?
Section titled “What is the grace period?”A 30-day window for existing avatars to comply when an identity is boxed or policy changes. During this time:
- Avatars continue working
- Creators are notified
- Users are warned
- Options provided (license, modify, remove)
Licensing
Section titled “Licensing”How do I get a license?
Section titled “How do I get a license?”- Check the identity - if policy is LICENSE, you’ll get license tier information
- Request a license through the API
- Identity owner approves/denies
- If approved, you receive a license ID
How much do licenses cost?
Section titled “How much do licenses cost?”Prices are set by identity owners. Typical ranges:
- Personal: $0-10/month
- Creator: $25-100/month
- Commercial: $100-1,000/month
- Enterprise: Custom
What if my license request is denied?
Section titled “What if my license request is denied?”You cannot create avatars of that identity. Consider:
- Modifying your use case
- Creating original characters
- Appealing with additional information
Revenue Sharing
Section titled “Revenue Sharing”How does revenue sharing work?
Section titled “How does revenue sharing work?”For MONETIZE policy:
- Create avatar with tracking enabled
- Track usage (messages, subscriptions, tips)
- Report usage monthly
- Royalties calculated and paid to identity owner
What’s the royalty rate?
Section titled “What’s the royalty rate?”Set by identity owners, typically 5-20% of avatar revenue. The exact rate is returned in the API response.
When do I report usage?
Section titled “When do I report usage?”Monthly, by the 15th of the following month. Late reports may incur penalties.
Webhooks
Section titled “Webhooks”Which webhooks should I implement?
Section titled “Which webhooks should I implement?”At minimum:
box.created- Scan for existing violationsgrace_period.started- Notify affected usersgrace_period.expired- Enforce compliance
What if I miss a webhook?
Section titled “What if I miss a webhook?”Webhooks are retried for up to 24 hours. You can also poll the API for grace periods affecting your platform.
Are webhooks reliable?
Section titled “Are webhooks reliable?”Webhooks may be delivered multiple times. Implement idempotent handlers using the event ID.
Compliance
Section titled “Compliance”What’s required for compliance?
Section titled “What’s required for compliance?”Basic: Identity check before avatar creation Standard: + Webhooks, grace periods, user migration Premium: + Licensing, revenue sharing, audits
What if I don’t comply?
Section titled “What if I don’t comply?”Non-compliant platforms may:
- Lose access to licensed identities
- Face legal action from identity owners
- Be publicly flagged as non-compliant
How do I get the compliance badge?
Section titled “How do I get the compliance badge?”- Complete self-assessment
- Demonstrate integration in sandbox
- Request compliance review
- Pass review
- Receive badge
Technical
Section titled “Technical”What image formats are supported?
Section titled “What image formats are supported?”JPEG, PNG, WebP, GIF (first frame). Max size: 10MB.
Can I use the SDK in the browser?
Section titled “Can I use the SDK in the browser?”No. The SDK is server-side only. Never expose your API key in client-side code.
Is there a GraphQL API?
Section titled “Is there a GraphQL API?”Not currently. The REST API is our primary interface.
Do you have SDKs for other languages?
Section titled “Do you have SDKs for other languages?”Currently only TypeScript. Python and Go SDKs are planned.
Support
Section titled “Support”How do I report a bug?
Section titled “How do I report a bug?”Email developers@lookmaimfamous.com with:
- Request ID from error response
- Steps to reproduce
- Expected vs actual behavior
Where can I get help?
Section titled “Where can I get help?”- Documentation: docs.lookmaimfamous.com
- Email: developers@lookmaimfamous.com
- Dashboard: lookmaimfamous.com/dashboard
Is there a status page?
Section titled “Is there a status page?”Yes: status.lookmaimfamous.com