Copyright/Trademark Infringement with Door Decor

[AAshleySEG]

They asked you to sign a waiver that you have permission FROM DISNEY to use their copyrighted characters. Which you do not technically have (if I recall correctly, "fair use" does not equal legal permission to you to use them which would also apply to the copy center.) Therefore I don't think you should sign that waiver stating that you have permission from Disney. You can print them yourself, or find a copy center that does not require you to get permission from the copyright holder.

Thank you! That is exactly what I needed to know! I am going to try a different place today, and if that one fails as well, I am just going to bite the bullet and buy a good color printer, that way I won't have to go through all of this in the future! Thanks so much everyone for your help!

 

[Pappert]

I had 17 magnets printed out from my Office Depot and they didn't even question it. I would try a different location.

 

[fivebyfive]

As long as no one profits from the process, Disney considers it to be free advertising for their company and their product.

Not true. Disney is very particular on how their images/characters are presented. If they don't like how their characters are portrayed, they can (and will) ask them to be removed.

http://www.snopes.com/disney/wdco/daycare.asp

 

[Brumbie13]

Not true. Disney is very particular on how their images/characters are presented. If they don't like how their characters are portrayed, they can (and will) ask them to be removed.

http://www.snopes.com/disney/wdco/daycare.asp

The Snopes article you linked to agrees with what Meghatron said.
The Snopes article states that the reason Disney went after them was because they were profiting off of a perceived affiliation or approval by Disney.

 

[CrystalS]

The other posters are right that the stores aren't supposed to print them because they are making a profit.

Do you have a friend/family member that has a good printer you could use?

 

[lbgraves]

I believe that Disney is okay with people making their door signs and even matching T-shirts. In fact, on the Fantasy Pepe's door is covered with door signs.

 

[itutorfortravel]

Hi guys,

I have seen so many fantastic designs and things for Door Decor and such featuring all the characters that I decided to make some of my own for our upcoming Alaska cruise on the Wonder. I don't have a good color printer at home so I decided to go to my local office supply store and have them printed out. The lady at the desk informed me that no one is "supposed" to print out anything containing copyrighted/trademarked characters etc. It is a violation, and you have to fill out a form saying that you have permission from the entities to use any of their characters/fonts/etc, even for "personal" use. So basically I am trying to figure out if it is illegal to make these things and put them on our doors?? I was trying to find out something on the Disney website or someone to ask. I am just so confused about the whole thing? If I want these things printed out should I fill out the form saying that I have permission to use them for personal use? Because on the Disney website it states that you cannot manipulate any of their images, and that is what we are doing after all, adding names, and/or moving things around, I am going to give some examples of the things that I made that they wouldn't print for reference. We were going to do a Toy Story themed door and so I got a bunch of toy story characters and put them on pages to cut out and laminate (she said they couldn't even laminate them if I printed them at home), I made 2 mickey ears, had porthole ears to print out, and a sign for our anniversary. She said NONE of it could be done. So if anyone has any thoughts please let me hear them, I am at a loss now of what to do...I don't want to break any laws by making door decor and showing our love of all things Disney on our cruise

http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/k584/AAshleySEG/AnniversaryMagnet.jpg
http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/k584/AAshleySEG/ToyJeremy.jpg
http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/k584/AAshleySEG/ToyStoryCharactersPage1.jpg
http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/k584/AAshleySEG/ToyAndrea.jpg

Just wanted to say that I don't have a fancy color printer either...just a simple ink jet. I just print out my "magnets" on white card stock, laminate them, and then get magnetic tape to put on the back and it works great! Would that be a possibility?

 

[big jack 2002]

That is exactly what some of do!!
Barbara

 

[PixieMom712]

I just wanted to put in, I used Walgreens yesterday and they were fine! But I had them printed as photos and didn't have them laminated or anything. Good luck!

 

[fivebyfive]

The Snopes article states that the reason Disney went after them was because they were profiting off of a perceived affiliation or approval by Disney.

It's still a very grey area. The catch is the copyright of the portrayal of the character. For example, if someone painted on their garage Mickey having a beer, there would be no profit involved, yet Disney would be ALL over that.

 

[AAshleySEG]

I just wanted to put in, I used Walgreens yesterday and they were fine! But I had them printed as photos and didn't have them laminated or anything. Good luck!

Thanks for the tip about Walgreens! I ended up getting a printer of my own that way I can just not worry about all of that stuff anymore

You made me think of something...LMAO. Everything at Disney World is copyrighted/trademarked/registered/etc. People cannot take the photos they took of say Cinderella Castle and sell it. But, if you take your photo to a photo processor they can print those out for a profit. Is that not the same thing as me taking in those pictures of the toy story characters and getting them printed out? Both are for personal use, both are property of Disney! I mean, I know I am being ridiculous now, but really isn't that true?

 

[kcashner]

I'm not sure where the line is in the above photo example, but in general the issue is the PROFIT part.

I can purchase a Brother/Disney embroidery machine and stitch out one of the Disney designs 500 times and give them away--no problem. But the minute I sell one, I've violated the copyright. I can even have someone bring me the T-shirt they want the design on and the thread it will take to stitch it--no problem. But I can't make any money using Disney's copyrighted designs.

Some print shops are more strict than others...but if they make a profit off anything owned by another, they can be held liable.