T-shirt copyright laws

[on:]

I want to make a Zoidberg T-shirt, what are the laws about using images can I use images from the shows legally?

[Reply #1 on:]

You can use images from any shows (including Futurama), as long as you keep them for yourself, and don't sell them. (Basically, don't do anything that would give you a profit.)

But if you wanted pros to do it, then you'd have to get written permission from FOX, then show that permission to the pros.

[Reply #2 on:]

Cheers

[Reply #3 on:]

How do you explain all the knock-off shirts on Ebay ... ?

[Reply #4 on:]

i think you can legally sell knockoff shirts on ebay by saying the customer is paying for the shirt itself and the cost of transferring the image onto it but not for the image.

[Reply #5 on:]

I've heard the same thing myself.

[Reply #6 on:]

I still don't think it's legal ... a copyright violation is a copyright violation.  Such said, I think the copyright holders haven't bothered recently either, for the one reason is that many of 'em do not sell.  They ain't creating much hurt, so let the sellers keep paying eBay.

Alas, you do have the occasional idiot who does bid/buy 'em, and that enough justifies the sellers to keep listing 'em.  Personally, I don't see how feasible a business model that is, but that's not my business.

-- Kane

[Reply #7 on:]

Re all the pirated merchandise crap on eBay: there is a way for a company with a keen eye for PR, and an innovative approach to merchandising, to tap into the talent of a fan-base to mutual benefit. Unfortunately, a certain organisation we all know and love (to hate) doesn’t fall into that category. Nevertheless, here’s my inspired insane thought for the day:

I supply photos to both a picture library (for commercial customers) and an on-line gallery (for the consumer market). The first grants licences for images to be used for specific purposes, the second sells prints and customised gift items to the public. Both take a commission, with the balance of the transaction going to the photographer. Proposition: a show’s copyright holder sanctions the uploading of approved quality fan art to a specified gallery, which they can monitor. Customers can then purchase prints, T-shirts, mouse mats etc. featuring the uploaded images, at a mark-up from the standard price (usually 100-200%). The gallery takes the production costs, shipping fees, and a commission. A percentage of the balance is paid to the copyright holder as a licence fee for the use of the show’s characters in the artwork. The remainder of the balance is paid to the artist for his/her work.

This is a win-win situation: the copyright holder gets royalties from merchandising without having to commission or produce any products; fan artists get their work officially sanctioned and are able to benefit financially from it; fans get a wider selection of quality-controlled merchandising that they can have a direct influence on; the gallery gets more commission payments and increases its turnover and public profile. Okay, I know it’s not going to happen, but a guy can dream...

[Reply #8 on:]

 

Originally posted by Farnsworth38:
Okay, I know it’s not going to happen, but a guy can dream...

Well the reason why it won't happen is because it's all too logical ... and studio's can't actually be logical, can they?   

-- Kane ... still, here's hoping otherwise that they prove us wrong.