ive been reading around the forum about copyright laws concerning designs, logos and images. ive also been around the net peeping out some of the internet stores selling tees.
what i want to know is this...how do they get permission to print all those different things they put on tees? for instance..i came upon this website that sells vintage tees..with logos on them designed to look old and distressed. the logos are of major companies like coke and 76 gas and levis etc. etc. plus alot of old retro cartoons and tv shows.
so do they actually go and get permission to use these logos and images from each of the companies that own the rights to them?
Sometimes, I think, you can order different officially licensed images like that from one supplier. I don't know if there is a real way of knowing who's getting them the proper way. Some do it the right way, others don't. I think when they advertise as "officially licensed merchandise", I tend to feel a little more secure buying, but I'll wait to hear from others as well.
Hi chonkymonky, in my country I would contact a copyright agency, it's probably the same where you are. They will help you get permission to use copyright material, for a price. Will be cheaper than a law suit!
Unless you want to trade on somebody else's design and pretend its your own, why would anybody want to advertise another Trade mark, hell I would want them to pay me.
Its my understanding Chonky Monkey that you need to cut a deal to license the TradeMark and Brand this is a lot different than copyright which has much less "teeth" to legal protections. Many companies actively seek these deals - like Marvel they have very elaborate contracts for all types of licenses.
I am not sure what happens if the company is long out of business though - also I see lots of use of slogans and quotes as well from long past. I would guess somone may own the rights to that as well. The NYTimes had an article about a firm specializing in bringing back "dead" brands. Like Brim (the deacaf coffee).
I did think at one time of buying some old dead Trade Marks but then it goes against my ideals of a less branded society. If I make a tooth rotting vegetable extract drink and call it Coke then sue me, if i put the name on a tee, then pay me.
You have to pay for a licensing fees and royalties. Then you can design shirts for that compnay/show and then you have to send it in and get approval. We print for companies that hav license from old TV shows such as Full House, Save By the Bell, Seinfeld ect. They then sell the shirts wholesale to caompanies and stores.
copyright laws and tee sellers. 
