Since I want to have pictures of the game logos and in game action I can't use stock photos. How do blows manage this and avoid copyright laws ?

All Answers To Questions

Copyright is handled by the Library of Congress. Go here: http://www.copyright.gov/ People might tell you that you don't need to register with the LoC in an attempt to avoid paying the copyright fee, and that you can just mail copies of your work to yourself in a sealed envelope using the postmark on the envelope as proof of when your work was done. While this is true from a legal standpoint, the problem with this line of reasoning is that once you open the envelope to show your work inside in a display of proof, then you can no longer use that envelope with your work again as proof since it would be no longer sealed. So you would actually have to send yourself several sealed envelopes with copies of your work in each for each time you might have to refute someone's dispute as to when your work was done.

You can post game screen shots. Just put a disclaimer on your site that says something along the lines of "these images and brand names are copyright by their owners" to CYA.

you can search for images with the Creative Commons licence - it means you can use the images as long as you credit the source.

The "Copyright Basics" guide by the U.S. Copyright Office is 12 pages long, and the copyright law itself is 350 pages long, so copyright law is a bit complicated. However, you may want to research "Fair Use" copyright law, this is likely your best place to start. This is what Wikipedia publishes many images under. Most companies will also send you a "cease and desist" letter before filing any legal action against you in the event they want you to stop publishing images. However, there is no guarantee that they'll do this.

These references are relevant and could be helpful to you http://thevideogameaddict.com/?p=312 (scroll to the bottom where fair use is) and http://mlab.taik.fi/~plankosk/blog/?p=475

Generally speaking, so long as you aren't actually using your blog for any commercial purposes (that is, making any money off it), or impersonate or misrepresent any other entities, you're basically free to use such images. At least, no one is going to bother coming after you if you do.

If you're using a vendor-supplied "box image", contact the vendor (PR department if they have one), tell them what you do (give them a link to the site) and they might even supply you with usable art before you see it on the internet. It's free advertising for them, if they don't think being affiliated with your site would be bad for them. (That depends on how professional-looking your site is, and their company policy.) You can't use a copy of an ad under fair use unless you're discussing the ad, or something to do with it ("this company practices deceptive advertising, as is plain in this ad for meatless meatballs" kind of thing).