Do I need a license to sell Disney products?
Copyright and trademark law says that you can’t make Disney items without a license. The first-sale doctrine says that if you buy a copyrighted or trademarked item legally, you have the right to resell it in a store, at a flea market or on eBay.
How do I get permission to use Disney characters?
In order to use the characters legally, you must request permission from Disney Enterprises. Multiple corporate entities of Disney own many of the intellectual property rights of Disney characters. To learn more about which Disney entity owns the character you want to use, visit the Disney website.
Can I make Disney shirts for personal use?
You can make personal use Disney creations for yourself. As long as no money exchanges hand, it’s unlikely that you’ll be bothered by Disney. It’s important to realize that many personal use creations are still trademark infringements (like those that are traced from an internet photo).
Can I make and sell Mickey Mouse ears?
Mouse ears are a definite yes. There are a vast amount of shops who sell mouse ears, and they are legally allowed to. Disney does not own the rights to mouse ears. What they do own the rights to is Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse.
Can I use Mickey Mouse in my art?
Mickey Mouse is also a trademark of The Walt Disney Company, so selling a painting with Mickey Mouse in it would be trademark infringement. Trademarks protection lasts for a long as a company is willing to defend it legally. You are allowed to as long as it’s not a direct reproduction.
Are the Mickey Mouse ears copyrighted?
Everything related to Mickey Mouse (including his ears because that’s part of his character design) is copyrighted by Disney, meaning that you can draw them and buy items with his ears on them, but you’re not allowed to sell merchandise with it unless you work for Disney.
Can I sell items made with Disney fabric?
Items for Sale Using copyrighted fabric is acceptable because you’re not simply re-selling the fabric. The first sale doctrine protects you since you purchased copyrighted fabric from a store that already purchased the fabric from the owner. The copyrighted fabric owner cannot control what you do with the fabric.
Is it legal to sell clothes made from patterns?
If it states on the sewing pattern (envelope, instructions, probably even the company website) that the pattern is intended for home use or personal use, then it is illegal to sell items made from that pattern.
Is painting Disney characters illegal?
No you cannot paint, offer for sale, sell, or otherwise tinker with a Disney character, at least it is illegal without an express license from the Walt Disney company.
Can I draw a picture of Mickey Mouse and sell it?
So you cannot sell your drawings of Mickey Mouse. If you plan to use the drawing for financial gain, it’s illegal. An example of when drawing Disney characters for sale or distribution is legal is if an artist is paid by Disney to make a drawing of Mickey Mouse for a poster.
Can I draw cartoons and sell them?
No, you may not. The cartoon character is copyrighted and/or trademarked. any depiction is a violation of the owners rights. A painting may be considered a derivative work and as such still infringing if not licensed by the owner.
Can I draw a picture of Batman and sell it?
Batman is copyrighted, which means that only the author/rights holder (in this case, DC Comics), has the right to copy, display, distribute, and create derivative works. BUT, copyright law has a doctrine called “fair use” that (in the name of free speech) protects certain uses that would otherwise be an infringement.