I might 'sack' this and go into cakes!

[AdamB]

As we all know, we are constantly making sure that we follow strict copyright guidelines in creating our products.

If I was to have a window full of Toy Story Mugs and Spongebob T-shirts (that I made myself) I would no doubt sell them all but it would be a ticking time-bomb waiting for the 'copyright police' to come knocking at my shop door.

BUT, in the town where we have a shop we have a couple of cake shops who constantly make cakes with spongebob, mickey mouse, toy story etc and display them in their windows and facebook pages ................... and no one bats an eyelid - and they come under the same copyright law as anything else!

"Copyright law not only applies to software, books, pictures, and video; it also applies to a bakery selling decorated cakes and other cake items. At one time or another, most people have ordered a cake for a special occasion. Especially for birthdays, many people request that their cake be decorated with popular cartoon, television, movie, or comic book characters. Most people don't realise is that it is a violation of copyright law for a Cake Decorator to decorate any product they make with an identical copy or close likeness of copyrighted movie, TV, cartoon, or comic book character without permission of the copyright owners. To do so can cost the Decorator and the customer a great deal of money for damages under the law."


You could argue that they may be using the licenced figures but come on, most are decorated with icing that has been made/moudled into the specific character or even iced with a piping bag.

Look - I'm not bitter and twisted, far from it and I wish anyone well in business - I posted this for opinions not arguments.

[Stitch Up]

Shi**y job looking for the evidence too ...

[AdamB]

Shi**y job looking for the evidence too ...

lol John - I had to think twice about that then!

[purpledragon]

tut that joke was the icing on the cake for me

[Ian M]

Adam you have just listed all the decorated cakes on the shelf in my local Asda.

I've just been adding some very subtle watermarks to images on products I'll be listing on Ebay this week just to make sure nobody nicks them this time. I'm pleased to say I do have permission to use them & just hope this time there isn't a load of copies appear yet again.

Ian :biggrin:

[AdamB]

Adam you have just listed all the decorated cakes on the shelf in my local Asda....

surely their cakes 'must' be official cakes that are licensed merchandise Ian ???

[Lee]

also...what about fancy dress shops etc - is selling those against copyright - or what if you make one yourself, is that illegal?

[Matt Quinn]

also...what about fancy dress shops etc - is selling those against copyright - or what if you make one yourself, is that illegal?

Yes it is indeed potentially a breach of copyright!

Costumes are licensed exactly the same way as other goods; and the legit costume hire stores pay a pretty penny for properly 'icensed' costumes... If you make one yourself technically it could be a breach too... With that said it's a less-easy one to chase if they're only approximate and don't carry any copyright logos or badges.

[Lee]

.....ok, so Ive asked this before.....if all this stuff is subject to copyright law, how come sooooo many people are doing it, making a living and not getting 'caught'? You would think it would be really easy for an investigator to sit and browse ebay or the local market and find a constant supply of illegal products?

[Stitch Up]

Geez, I'm so fed up with that 'bloody button' and again, I lost everything I typed!!!