Thread note: some posts were moved out of the thread because they were off topic and not helpful to the member that was trying to get an answer to their question.
If you'd like to have a one on one conversation with another member, it's best to take it off board via email or private message so the threads don't get derailed into off topic discussion.
Since this is a legal question, it's best that we steer clear of it. There are plenty of topics that cover copyright and trademark and using famous/celebrity faces on t-shirts that you can find by using the search box at the top of the forum. The laws around the world may be different, but in the US, one topic to research is the right to publicity.
The usual recommendations apply:
- Talk to lawyer if you want to do something that you think might be illegal or have a legal question. They will be the ones that can help you and even then, you could still get sued. But at least then, if you get sued and they said it was probably "ok", then at least you have someone that can go to court for you.
- Any "ways around it" advice given in a forum could get you sued. Even if 1000 people tell you it's OK, you could still get sued and have to come up with a lawyer and defend your right to do it.
- Why do you see other people doing it? Here's a good answer that was posted here before:
 | Quote: |  | | |  |
Originally Posted by Solmu |  | | | | | | | | | The usual story:
- Some do whatever they want and wait for the cease and desist letter (and hope the company doesn't skip over it)
- Some can afford lawyers to defend on the basis of parody, etc.
- Some are in the process of getting sued and losing
- Some are in the process of getting sued and winning
- Some are just lucky and not getting caught
- Some are just lucky and not getting caught... yet
- Some will plan to settle out of court
- Some are ignorant of the law and don't realise the world of hurt that is coming
- Some are carefully staying on the right side of the legal divide
- Some are carefully staying on the right side of the legal divide, but will be sued anyway, and unable to afford an adequate legal defense even though what they were doing was theoretically legal.
In other words, some are getting away with it, some aren't. | |  | |  | |
For further reading, check out:
U.S. Copyright Office Trademarks copyright related topics at T-Shirt Forums trademark related topics at T-Shirt Forums
Is this T-Shirt Legal? 
