printing copyrighted material

[bajadahl]

I am a member of a sailing group this June. We had a cruise logo made up that I was trying to use on our FE gifts. Unfortunately, the printer called to tell me they couldn't print the logo since it had Mickey and the Disney Cruise Line logo. I've seen tons of Disney logos used on the FE stuff on these threads. Is there some secret to get a copyright release for personal use for magnets and stuff? I was pretty excited about what I had come up with but it may all be for not.

Any advice is appreciated.

 

[kcashner]

I believe that most people don't worry about copyright issues. I'm not a lawyer, but my understanding is that if I do a picture of a character or whatever, I can put it on my shirt without a problem as long as I don't sell the product or use it in any commercial undertaking. The problem is that you have tried to use a professional printer--he can't make money *a commercial venture) using Disney's copyrighted material.

If you can print the stuff on your home computer and no money is exchanged anywhere along the line (yes, you will buy blank shirts, printer ink, etc. but those didn't involve the copyrighted material) that you will be OK. DCL/Disney has obviously seen all this stuff and not done anything to stop it.

I made my DD a dress with multiple Disney characters embroidered on it (I used a coloring book to get the designs). While at the Grand Floridian, at least 2 CMs asked DD where she got the dress. In each case she replied that mom made it and they turned to me with "Really? You MADE that?" yes...WOW....

Ducky Williams tells his story of drawing and painting Disney characters for years and displaying them in the bank where he worked--again, they weren't sold.

 

[bajadahl]

I knew I didn't intend to make money off of it but I guess I didn't think about the printer company making money off of me. Oh this stuff is just too complicated.

I wonder do people actually make their own magnets for the doors as well?



Anyway thanks for your insight.

Time to start researching other ideas....

 

[mybeachbabies]

We make our own magnets. I just bought Avery magnetic paper from Office Max and printed them myself.

 

[Chilly]

I wonder do people actually make their own magnets for the doors as well?

Yes you can buy magnetic paper and print onto that or print it out and laminate it then stick small magnets on the back.

 

[kcashner]

And you can purchase transfer sheets to put designs on t-shirts.

 

[mmouse37]

I would guess most people make their own magnets instead of having them done professionaly somewhere.

We just print out different DCL graphics and tweak them a bit to make our magnets.

MJ

 

[bajadahl]

ok now I know..... I did search for copyright before posting. Hopefully, this will be helpful to other newbies before placing an order and getting the dreaded we can't do that phone call.

Time to warm up the printer and see if I can come up with something nice on my own.

Thanks all.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I knew I didn't intend to make money off of it but I guess I didn't think about the printer company making money off of me. Oh this stuff is just too complicated.

I wonder do people actually make their own magnets for the doors as well?



Anyway thanks for your insight.

Time to start researching other ideas....

I make my own. I print on photo paper and put them on adhesive magnetic sheets that I purchase at the craft store.

 

[markuehl]

What about vista print i made a post card and magnet for my FE and it did not ask for any copy right info i did use my own photo and a design from one of the dis signers but i would think they would have no way of knowing since its on line maybe worth checking out.

 

[Namsupak]

What about vista print i made a post card and magnet for my FE and it did not ask for any copy right info i did use my own photo and a design from one of the dis signers but i would think they would have no way of knowing since its on line maybe worth checking out.

It is not so much that vista print doesn't care but they are a large volume low cost company. Also why sometimes their quality is inconsistent. Often if it is not a large volume they just let it slip by, probably not a function of being online or not but more so that they just have so much volume they are not artist proofing each and every item.

 

[markuehl]

Well my magnets turned out nice I have not yet received my postcards but I am sure they will be adequate I made my stateroom magnets my self with a laminator and magnets but for a larger quantity I think vista print did a good job.

 

[bajadahl]

Unfortunately Vista Print didn't offer the product I was looking for.....(which is still a secret because these are FE gifts after all and the folks from my group are certainly on the DIS forum here)

But I think I found a work around assuming I have some artistic ability. Maybe this will help build the suspense for some of them anyway.

 

[magrudersmakes3]

Do you have a local printer you can talk to? We have one here in our small town that printed 3 shirts for us. When I explained to them that it was for our daughters first cruise and that it was only for us, they then printed them up for us.

 

[Onkel Hans]

Non-commercial use is only one aspect that is considered when it comes to fair use of copyrighted material--consider movie and music filesharing, where no money changes hands but it is still illegal.

Also, it could be argued that since Disney produces magnets and custom t-shirts that when people don't buy their material Disney is losing money due to our fan-made art.

I would assume that the only reason Disney lawyers aren't preparing boarding parties is because the stakes are so small and that it might give them bad PR to sue.

Does anyone have anything more clear that would indicate the legality/illegality of making Disney vacation graphics?

I say this not as an attack, because I make disney graphics, too.

 

[BeeTeacher]

Vista Print is such high volume that its likely human eyes at the factory barely glance at your product, if even that! Printed, boxed, shipped all by machines.

BUT, Vista Print also has that check box about rights of use that you have to click before your purchase. That relieves them of liability and puts it on you.

Your own photos of the ship, mickey, even the DCL logo in the photo, would be ok.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

I've been to every embroidery and print shop in our area begging them to even let me pay them to use their shirt presses while I apply my own printed tshirt graphics to some tshirts. They don't even have to look. The answer is always, "Sorry but no." Who knew a mouse could be so intimidating!

 

[Pappert]

We had our Disney magnets printed from Office Depot and they didn't even question it. I e-mailed the design to them and they printed it on stock paper and laminated them. My sister did too. Together we had over 35 magnets printed.