Explaining copyright to customers, no wonder they don't get it!

[JMugs]

Simple case of
Customer .... "print this please",
Me "is it your image to print?"
Customer "Yes, I got it off the internet"

DOH!

So explain the basics of copyright, but getting this blank look from the customer.

They later send me a link and phone me (yes very kind of them) to tell me I was wrong, and how well I could be doing. Apparently, as the customer see's it,

"it's all OK because it is unofficial merchandise, and because they tell you it's fine, that is why they are on eBay and sell so much, after all eBay shuts shops down if they aren't legal."

This was the eBay link they gave me that led them to that wonderful conclusion

http://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/sportingprofi ... 7675.l2559

[socialgiraffe]

Can I just say that IF the customer provides you with the artwork then I am pretty sure you are not breaking copyright law by printing it. Even if its a copyrighted image. You are offering a printing service, you are not selling a printed mug with a set design on it. So in this instance you can print it without copyright infringement. You may want to ask them to sign a copyright waiver form or simply point out to them that as a business you assume that the purchaser has copyright permission.

What you can not do is sell a mug already printed with a design that is not yours. You then become a merchandiser and not a printing service.

Morally you may be on shaky ground, but that is up to you to decide not the law

As an example I have a website that prints items for Disney bands. Customers can upload their image and design their own band, many obviously put Mickey Mouse on them. We have been to see Disney in Florida and they agree that there is no infringement and allow us to trade. Trust me, if Disney allow it then you are OK

[JMugs]

Interesting point and I handn't looked at it that way before, although I have considered it in the past. I decided it was a bit like "handling stolen goods", if you know they are stolen you are in the wrong. But it would appear not. Thankfully it's not an aspect of my business that crops up very often.

[Earl Smith]

So with the same understanding. If someone brings me the Harley Davidson logo and asks me to embroider that onto a Jacket, then I am not breaking the law? Or if someone brings me the Mecedes or BMW logo and asks me to plot it and print onto a t-shirt, its ok to do?

[socialgiraffe]

Aha, that is where it gets muddy and I am not sure to be honest....

With my website people create their own artwork. Its run off the Gateway 3D engine which allows customers to upload images, add text etc then checkout and pay. The artwork is created and then emailed through to me.

If someone was to walk in, give me a disk with the Harley Logo on it (with their name below for example) and it was in a format I could use to digitize for embroidery then I would say yes. The digitizing is simply formatting the artwork in to data that the machine can interpret. However, if you needed to edit the artwork in Corel or Illustrator first then I think you start to push the boundary. Having said that, Gateway have just released an automatic embroidery creation engine which if you brought into would certainly mean you could do whatever the customer asks as they are creating the file, not you.

By the way, I do not do embroidery - gave that up when my ex business partner scum stole the machine

[Earl Smith]

I think I would be on extremely dodgy ground if I Printed or embroidered these logos. Better to leave well alone, but thats only my opinion. My rule of thumb is that if it can be interpreted in any way as to be breaking the law, then it probably is.
I have a couple of friends who are Court Judges, next time I see them I will ask them for their opinions.

I see Simon that you still love and worship your ex partner.

[socialgiraffe]

I think the best way to work it out is by asking yourself... have I effectively just hit "CTRL P" or have I needed to do something else to get it to work? If you need to do something else to get it to work then it probably is copyright infringement. However I think that the Gateway site where the customer creates the DST file will change it for embroidery.

I see Simon that you still love and worship your ex partner.

Its a fine bromance

[wayupnorth]

Old lady received congratulations on reaching a milestone birthday from a well known monarch.... asked me to copy picture to send to all her friends. Politely refused.

[socialgiraffe]

Old lady received congratulations on reaching a milestone birthday from a well known monarch.... asked me to copy picture to send to all her friends. Politely refused.

You would not have broken any laws by doing so. However I do reserve the right to say that when the monarchy are involved there are probably different laws.

[jonna]

does anybody else get customers sending you links to other ebay stores asking if you can do it cheaper? Happened to me twice both occasions were refused