Would this be Infringement?

I'm not a big horror movie guy, but if those are characters from a movie, then it is infringement if used without license or permission.

Doing "spoofs" is tricky because you could win a lawsuit based on parody. But legal fees are expensive, so you need to be prepared to fight it out in court.

As for safer ideas, maybe something generic about horror movies as a genre. It doesn't have to necessarily be about a specific movie or character.

See, that's what stinks. Most people purchase Horror T-Shirts because they are recognizable so doing generic type designs will not help much with sales.

it may 'stink' but you would be stealing another intellectual property...not good

Basikboy said:

See, that's what stinks. Most people purchase Horror T-Shirts because they are recognizable so doing generic type designs will not help much with sales.

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I like to rationalize it like this.....if I had a design that we had created and it was associated with our brand or company and it made us a lot of money, and someone came along and recreated the design and profited from it thus denying us the opportunity to make that sale and the profit associated with our design would we be pissed?

Just put yourself in that scenario and your point of view will change.

Hope this helps.

I don't think he's saying it stinks that he can't get away with infringement. I think he's just referring to how challenging it is to market to certain niches because the audience prefers licensed product. Or at least that's how I took it.

kimura-mma said:

I don't think he's saying it stinks that he can't get away with infringement. I think he's just referring to how challenging it is to market to certain niches because the audience prefers licensed product. Or at least that's how I took it.

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Exactly! I don't want to Infringe at all. I just meant that when you have designs like this that sell really well because they are recognizable it makes it that much harder for the good honest guys to create something that can compete.

I agree with you 100%......

Basikboy said:

Exactly! I don't want to Infringe at all. I just meant that when you have designs like this that sell really well because they are recognizable it makes it that much harder for the good honest guys to create something that can compete.

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How about a football helmet, a knife, and blood splatter, and a slogan "Never heard of Greyson? You never will...".. anyone who has ever seen Friday the 13th may think it's funny.. not sure of that a parody or not.

Basikboy said:

Can someone tell me if they believe this design to be Infringing or not: Team David [04010] - $19.95 : Horror T-Shirts : FRIGHT-RAGS, Horror Shirts

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I clicked on the link, and the image didn't ring any bells, looks like a vampire hunter who failed.. But when I looked at the larger image I recognized the man on the back as young Kiefer Sutherland and then I thought "oh, it's Lost Boys". Maybe just change the faces so they don't look like anyone famous.

Nice work BTW.

People have been spoofing for forever the problem isnt they are printing tshirt designs of movies that are competing with a horror tshirt, its that its their property youre copying, so i would suggest if really had a good product, get a license, it might not be that expensive and usually they want a percentage. I worked for companies that made millions a year, paying thousands a year. You would do better making up your own movie poster designs, with your own crazy made up creatures, like vampire zombie strippers from from outer space! They came for blood, brains, and...dollar bills! Dont let them give a lap dance! Id buy that shirt.

parthenon09 said:

vampire zombie strippers from from outer space! They came for blood, brains, and...dollar bills! Dont let them give a lap dance! Id buy that shirt.

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Nice! I would definitely buy that shirt too!