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Recently I have been approached by numerous customers asking for airbrush t-shirts of cartoon characters and children characters from movies. I have seen many artist reproducing different characters. What can and cannot be done with these characters legally?
Thank you, Tim Johnson
-------------------- Tim Johnson Murals and More Slidell LA
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Far as I know, nothing can be done with them legally Tim. Disney is really hot about this. IF it's copyrighted, try and stay away from it. Like you, I've seen it done many times. Guess it's a chance those people are willing to take. Poor ol Bill Watterson. Created two of the greatest cartoon characters of all time, and ol Calvin will go down in history as the "Pee Boy". I'll bet Bill don't like that too much.
-------------------- Maker of fine signs and other creative stuff. Located at 109 N. Cumberland ave. Harlan, Ky. 40831 606-837-0242 Posts: 4172 | From: Ages-Brookside, Ky. Up the Holler... | Registered: Jul 1999
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Hiya Tim, John hit the nail right on the head with this one. If you're cought reproducing copyrighted materials, the owner of the copyright san sue you for all you're worth & then some. Then it goes down hill from there. Toys R Us goes after anyone who uses their backwards r and Disney ofers rewards to people who turn in offenders. Here's a few good links for more info. US Copyright copyright Website Here's one that list infringements & remedies
[ November 27, 2001: Message edited by: Checkers ]
-------------------- a.k.a. Brian Born www.CheckersCustom.com Harrisburg, Pa Work Smart, Play Hard Posts: 3775 | From: Harrisburg, Pa. U.S.A. | Registered: Nov 1998
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Tim, Having airbrushed t-shirts for the last 20 or so years in a high traffic tourist area, I can tell you that it's not wise to infringe on copyright. I never infringed for all those years and made lots of cash. You don't need someone else's work to make money for you. As far as what you can get away with........basically if it doesn't look like what you are copying you're OK. Does that make sense? I was hit upon everyday to do all sorts of copyrighted stuff and always explained to them why I didn't do it. Most either bought something else or walked out. If they walked out I didn't worry about it. Besides, they just saved me a lot more money than I would have made off of them if I was caught doing what they wanted. Look at it that way and you'll be easily able to refuse their requests.
-------------------- R.T.Thomas,AirDesigns/Sign And Airbrush Studio rtart1@earthlink.net
Hattiesburg,MS 39401 Shop 601-584-1000 Cell 601-310-5901 Proud supporter of LETTERVILLE!
"Ahhhhhh.......Juicy Fruit." Posts: 547 | From: Hattiesburg,MS USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Tim, I take the same approach that RT mentioned..
Just ask yourself "Hmmm... is this cheap-o t-shirt worth tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars if someone decides to turn me in?"
I do alot of logo reproductions for my customers for companies related to jetskis, car audio and auto customizing, but I do get permission from the companies first. Luckily most of them are very small or personal companies and are quite openminded about the issue so all it takes is a phonecall for a verbal OK..
But anyone that actually has the money to persue the issue (Disney, Warner Brothers, Harley, etc.) I wont touch.
A few years ago I was working full-time at an engineering firm that designs/makes windows for large commercial buildings. We were contracted BY DISNEY themselves to engineer the window systems on their DisneyQuest game/virtual reality arcades. Part of our package was to include the client's logo and/or name within our drawing title blocks. Disney wanted some $100,000 licensing fee to allow us to do that, so we just tacked on another $200,000 to our bid.
-------------------- "If I share all my wisdom I won't have any left for myself."
Mike Pipes stickerpimp.com Lake Havasu, AZ mike@stickerpimp.com
Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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