I'm considering printing a 1955 US stamp design on a shirt. I just wanted to make sure this is legal. I do own the stamp, but I don't think that would really make a difference.
Hi, to know for sure because some things can be touchy, and as little as they are, can cause huge problems, I would check with some trademark or copyright company.
Last edited by Solmu; August 3rd, 2008 at 07:47 AM.
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Stamps are actually consider legal tender and are issued to you by the Govt. via the post office. Old or not, you technically don't own it. Just like you don't own money. Furthermore the image is most likely copyrighted by the government or they were licensed to print it.
You'll have to find who the copyright holder is on it and ask for permission.
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Thanks for the help guys; I didn't know that currency and stamps, etc. weren't public domain. However, I did some research and I think I may be in the clear with this one. Wikipedia says that US stamps made before Dec. 31 1978 are public domain. I linked to the article below if you're interested.
Also, I just wanted to make sure that I am indeed interpreting this right. Public domain does refer to the design, and not anything else right?
Isn't wikipedia just common peoples ideas of the meaning of things?
Yes, it's true that you can't rely 100% on what you find on wikipedia, but in this case I believe they are correct.
Moral, you can contact the USPS Rights and Permissions office just to be on the safe side. You can find the contact link on this page: USPS - Fair Use Exceptions
Isn't wikipedia just common peoples ideas of the meaning of things?
While (most of) Wikipedia is open to be edited by anyone, this isn't really a fair characterisation of the site either.
Yes, you will find misinformation sometimes on Wikipedia. No, it's not just bumpkins posting opinions without backing them up.
Wikipedia falls somewhere in the vast gap between a forum post and an academic journal in terms of trustworthiness, but they have a very specific (self-)interest in copyright. An understanding of those laws is necessary so they know what they can and can't post to their site, so those particular sections are likely to be better researched than others.
For the record. I happen to love wikipedia. I agree that it shouldn't be used as a one-stop definitive source but it's a great place to start when you're researching something. However, it's necessary to be aware that it can be manipulated, lest you become a victim of wikipedia misinformation. Accordingly, I'll be checking out queerrep's link to ensure that the design is okay.
1955 US Stamp Design Legal? 
