[woodmansared]

Hi,is there any simple answer to image rights in the U.K. Im just doing my Tees in 1-5 amounts for friends and relatives, not massive runs of thousands. Initialy Im looking at using pop stars images (Sid, Rotton,Flint,Moon,Hedrix etc)but really graphic effected in Illustrator. How likely is it Im going to get a letter from a lawer threatening to sue me? Anybody been sued or threatened for similar use.....HELP!!!

 

[norsewood]

Hi There,
I think it may depend on where you get your images from as the original may be copyright. If you are taking the artwork/image and 're-matering' it then you may be OK. I know from bitter experience that using anything to do with car/bike images and logos will attract the attention of manufacturers as they usually trademark their logos and claim intellectual rights over any images of their products

Although, you should be OK using images of the dead ones!

Hope this is of some help.

Regards,
John

 

[woodmansared]

Ok mate cheers..so many different answers. Ill try and attach an example
Ps..I just get b/w pics off google and paint them up!

 

[norsewood]

Nice image!

The more I think about it the more I'm sure that the main issue would be over using an image which you know the original photographer/artist has a copyright on.

Regards,

John

 

[PositiveDave]

You have two issues, an individual's right to their image (which is passed to their estate when dead) and the photographers copyright. Both CAN get you sued. Manufacturers have trademarks. Curiously Victoria Beckham trademarked the name Posh, much to the chagrin of Peterborough FC who have had the nickname since 1893-ish.

 

[sawdust]

Bugger couldn't open your image I was going to put it on a shirt

 

[ArferMo]

Opens OK here.......... Try again.

 

[sawdust]

naaaaa still can't copy it bugger i will have to do my own stuff

 

[woodmansared]

HE HE!!! Feel free Sawdust not used that one myself yet, just messin and experimenting in Illustrator!

 

[KUSTOM_DUDE]

I know from bitter experience that using anything to do with car/bike images and logos will attract the attention of manufacturers as they usually trademark their logos and claim intellectual rights over any images of their products

Anything that uses the manufacturers logo as the main element of the design, or anything that is a direct image of existing models will have outfits like SNB REACT hot on your case.

Whilst they give some consideration to designs that have vehicles as an element of a design, such as a street scene, or where the imagery is abstract such as a cartoon image, they still have sufficient legal clout to make you stop if they think you are just trying to capitallise on someone else's trade name.

You also have to be careful with your terminology as just describing something as a Honda Goldwing t-shirt gives the impression it is a genuine Honda product to potential customers. Copyright is a difficult issue as it is often difficult to define 'fair use'. All you can really do is stop if someone representing an organisation or manufacturer asks you to and ask them for clear guidlines on a case by case basis.

 

[ArferMo]

Would this also be the case if at a bike show a customer came along with a photo of him/her self sat astride their own Bike and asked me to print it on a shirt for them with the text Honda Goldwing under it as a one off print or would that be OK with copyright issues ?

 

[KUSTOM_DUDE]

I don't really think there would be a problem with that, as you doing a 'one off' personalised image onto usually just one tee shirt.

It is more where sellers have stock images of bikes and they are proposing to sell them in volume.