I believe in pink
I have a question that I’m hoping someone might know the answer to. What is the copyright rules on reproducing quotes? For example. I found the above quote on someone’s facebook and I decided I liked it. I copied and pasted the quote into my beloved Adobe Illustrator and then made myself a pretty little graphic to put up on my blog. So here’s the question … would I be aloud to sell said little graphic (printed out in a frame perhaps)? Can you just reproduce any quote you feel like as long as you give credit? I see cute little framy things like this all the time at Target. I feel like I need a class on the legalities of graphic design. Perhaps some of you legalites can answer this question for me.
April 13th, 2008 at 2:38 am
You should post the question in the Answers Forum on LinkedIn. There are a lot of lawyers on the site, so you’d have an answer in 48 hours tops. Do share whatever the answer ultimately is!
April 13th, 2008 at 9:04 am
Hm, I really don’t know! As long as you say “Audrey Hepburn” said this, I think it’s fine (but again, I don’t KNOW). People use quotes all the time to make money, on greeting cards, etc…
Anyway, I think it’s a wonderful quote. I definitely like it.
April 13th, 2008 at 9:39 am
I have no advice to offer, but I really love this quote.
April 13th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Oh, that’s darling.
April 13th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
if the quote is actually registered with the copyright office, you have to get permission to use it. i doubt, though, that it is. i’m not sure how to conduct that search, but you might be able to find the information you’re looking for at www.copyright.gov.
also, just google the word “copyright” and there is an incredible amount of information. i’m betting it wouldn’t be hard to find the answer that way.
http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-fairuse.html
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Copyright-Patents-915/Copyrights-quotes-1.htm
April 13th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
i think these girls have the right idea. do some research on this to make sure you can use it… but i don’t see a huge problem with using the quote as long as you credit it…. that poster would be really cool. make them
April 14th, 2008 at 7:00 am
i always wonder about stuff like this. let me know what you find out!
April 14th, 2008 at 8:58 am
I assumed that if you name the person who did the quote, then it is allowed. Not sure - would love to hear your answers.
April 14th, 2008 at 10:41 am
I’m no expert on copyrights, but if this was on a print or a T-shirt, I would definitely buy it!
April 15th, 2008 at 8:14 am
Noooo idea, but I feel that properly credited should be legal.
That said, this quote irks me because people who are already sad should hardly be told they’re also not pretty.
April 15th, 2008 at 11:39 am
When it comes to quotes or phrases that are relatively unique, they can be trademarked. You can check to see if a particular quote or phrase is trademarked by checking the USPTO. Chances are if it’s not on there, it’s not trademarked and you are thus able to sell it as a shirt.
If you plan to use an image with the quote that is from someone else (for example, the one presented above) then of course that would be copyright infringement. Unless you receive expressed written consent.
In the event that you do have an over site and miss that the quote was trademarked, it’s likely unlikely that the original “owner” of the quote will notice it unless it gets into large stores like Sears. Assuming the owner does, chances are they will just send a cease and desist letter. If they’re particularly unkind, they may try to sue you for punitive damages, recovering whatever profits you made from their quote (unlikely this will happen to you as often times it will cost them more in legal fees than what will be returned. Or they don’t have the time or money to take away from their company).
All that said, if you’re thinking of selling some shirts. I’d just do your diligence and then go for it! I love new products/company ideas and such. If it’s unique, it can certainly render great results, too (VCWear is a good example).
Hope that helps!
April 15th, 2008 at 11:51 am
p.s. I like your design work to the quote
April 18th, 2008 at 7:58 am
I’d say you can definitely reproduce it, as long as you don’t claim you said it. I always wonder, though, how could Audrey Hepburn have said soooooo many quotes in her life? Having a conversation with her must have been ridiculous.