Kool Gear Clothing

How do you go about selling T-shirts with copyrighted characters on them?

I want to make some girly t-shirts with my own images and some of maybe vintage cartoon characters I like. They'd be my own drawings but I don't know how to go about getting permission, if I'd need it, to print those images on t-shirts and sale them? If I'd have to contact the copyright owner how would I find he/she?

Public Comments

1. I'm guessing, since I don't have experience in law or sales, it would be okay to just go ahead and sell what you want as long as it's not in a big commercial store. If it's in some small shop or just selling them to people you know that would be okay, I assume.
2. "simpleexpres" has given you some VERY bad advice. Simply avoiding big stores will give you no protection against lawsuits brought on by the owners and agents of copyright owners. I have, personally seen "raids," large sweeps of flea market stalls, by armies of lawyers and investigators, hired by those copyright owners, where all the material is confiscatted and people served with very expensive law suits. I used to do custom airbrushed tee shirts and ALWAYS refused to do images of copyrighted cartoon characters. I turned down a LOT of potentially profitable clients because I REFUSED to, basically, STEAL someone else's images. I'm a cartoonist, as well and I wouldn't appreciate someone stealing MY images. You have to do some research on your own to find the owners of these images and to learn who to approach to get the license (permission) to use them on products you want to sell. Here's a few company names to help you get started, but remember, some of these companies are owned by other, parent companies, so you may have to dig around. Also, be prepared to pay BIG money to obtain these licenses. Walt Disney Warner Brothers Hannah Barbera Pixar Animation Studios Nickelodeon Studios
3. The more recognizable cartoon characters are very expensive to buy rights to use. Unfortunately, those are more than likely the ones you are thinking about using because of their recognizability. Using them is treading in some very dangerous water legally. The major companies, such as Walt Disney, that make huge profits by selling the rights to their images feel compelled to prosecute about 100% of infringements. That really is not surprising because they have clients that have paid big bucks that you are competing against. One small day care hired an artist to paint a mural of Disney characters on their wall. Disney found out and went after both the artist and the daycare owner and won easily. About the only way you are safe is if you make something for your own private, personal use - not at all related to any commercial purpose. Here is a private use example - you painting Mickey on your own daughter's bedroom wall which you will paint over when the day comes that you sell your home. Or just for your own skill development as an artist in which the drawing stays in your own private portfolio and is not used as part of any business use - not even to show to clients in your portfolio.