Making Futurama Merch

[on:]

I've been making some Futurama stuff (shirts...) Because of the lack of them. And I was wondering if anyone knew if you have to get permission from Fox or something to do that.
Anyone know?

[Reply #1 on:]

I think if you use the treademark names you have to say on the merchandise that it is copyrighted to Fox etc I don't think you actually have to contact them personally?

[Reply #2 on:]

If you want to make commercial use of any copyright material, you have to obtain the permission of the copyright holder. Permission usually takes the form of a contract (where you pay a royalty for each item you sell), or a license (where you pay a fixed sum for the right to use the material for/in a specified use/timeframe/region). If you use the material without permission, and the copyright owner finds out, they have the right in law to sue your butt off. It may be worth noting that Fox made strenuous legal efforts to shut down all the Futurama fan sites, even though they were making non-commercial use of the material...

In short: if the stuff is for your own personal use, you’ll probably get away with it. If you want to take the chance and try selling bootleg stuff, the choice is yours.

[Reply #3 on:]

Yes, I agree with Farnsy. Personaly use, and maybe a gift to friends is the only absolutely legal way to go, but I'm not suggesting not to  do illegal acts. Unless you really feel like it. Not like it's uncommon to see bootleg crap on eBay all the time, 'specially iron ons.

[Reply #4 on:]

Ok I thought so

On the website I'm at they told me I couldn't use a Bender pic but they let me keepo going with Planet Express and Mom logos and stuff

[Reply #5 on:]

Well, they might not know that those logos pretain to Futurama.. I say go for it while you still can   

To be honest, don't people do things illegal daily? Like downloading "free" music? Yes, they get away with it...for a while....

[Reply #6 on:]

 

Farnsworth38 said...
It may be worth noting that Fox made strenuous legal efforts to shut down all the Futurama fan sites, even though they were making non-commercial use of the material...

Yeah, that sounds like them all right. "What? People who like are show are volunteering their time to create voluntary advertising to fuel the growth of our fan-base, creating unplanned synergy and ultimately boosting our ratings and increasing our profits?? Sue them immediately!"

[Reply #7 on:]

^thats just todays society-'If you don't like it, sue the pants off of them!'

[Reply #8 on:]

Yeah, but not every company is quite so blindly reflexive about it. Fox and Disney are two of the worst. Disney has filed suits against winning science fair entries that included Disney characters (as well as science).

[Reply #9 on:]

 

Originally posted by Iron Cook:
I've been making some Futurama stuff (shirts...) Because of the lack of them. And I was wondering if anyone knew if you have to get permission from Fox or something to do that.
Anyone know?

I don't think you have to ask to make them for yourself but i think if you wanted to sell them  , yeah because otherwise fox or matt etc, wouldn't be making profit.

In the end it all comes down to one word with every company "Profit".

[Reply #10 on:]

 

Originally posted by Professor Zoidy:
Yes, I agree with Farnsy. Personaly use, and maybe a gift to friends is the only absolutely legal way to go, but I'm not suggesting not to  do illegal acts.

You do know encouragement to lawbreaking is punishable too, right?

 

Originally posted by Denton:
In the end it all comes down to one word with every company "Profit".

You say that like it's a bad thing...

[Reply #11 on:]

Uh... Heh, about that... It's loosley for his own choice, and I'm not really  suggesting either way is wiser than the other... Of course, being legal is the best choice.. *nervously stares around*

[Reply #12 on:]

I would make it personal if I were you.  The only way you would need permission is if you were to use them for commercial use. 

[Reply #13 on:]

You all make good points

If they want some profit I suggest they make some shirts already...I would buy every one of them if they were out there

[Reply #14 on:]

Kurt, I don't know what makes you think that, but you're absolutely wrong.  Making Futurama merchandise is illegal no matter what you intend to do with it.  It's just easier to get caught if you produce stuff commercially.  Fox put forth the money to produce the words and images associated with Futurama.  They, as a corporation, own the right to copy (copyright) those images.  As I understand it they may license manufacturers to create Futurama merchandise, and unauthorized copies are an infringement and subject to civil action which risks actual damages, lost revenue, and (if the material is a registered copyright) court costs.  Unauthorized merchandise rackets are usually the only offenders subjected to criminal prosecution, but as the RIAA wants you to know, it is technically possible in certain situations.

Short lesson: Don't do it.
Longer lesson: Although you probably won't get caught, you may end up paying a lot more for that t-shirt than even Fox would've charged you.

[Reply #15 on:]

The reason companies might even go after what may seem like a trival use of copyrighted material is that if they let someone do it they may loose their ability to go after a more serious case. It's sort of an all-or-none situation. If they take Multinational TEEShirt Inc. to court for selling bootleg shirts then Multinational TEE can say "well judge they didn't shut down little Timmy when he did it, so they are being arbitrary" (a no-no in US law).

If you want to check extreme cases of a large corporation going after little guys, research what The Union Pacific Railroad is doing to little railroad enthusiast mom-and- pop outfits. And that isn't even show biz.

[Reply #16 on:]

Meh, I tried...I still say they get off their asses and make some tees =P

[Reply #17 on:]

   

Originally posted by Teral:
 You say that like it's a bad thing...

Well no your right profit is a good thing.
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-Oooh… A lesson in not changing history from Mr. I'm-my-own-grandpa! Let's get the hell out of here already. Screw history!-