Disney-Themed events?

[Mr Tees!!]

...hey gang, check out the attachement. This is not the first time I have gotten a request to print something along these lines, and I do not know if I am okay to print something like this.

...its weird to me that these church-groups feel they are immume to the laws regarding copyright infringement, but I guess thats a discussion best left to "the cage". OR maybe they just dont think about that, but still seeem kinda put-out when I mention it.

...anyway, How would any of you handle something like this? If some of you would throw caution to the wind and print it, be honest. Or if you would do so with some sort of caveat attached, I would like to hear about that too.

...Thanks!!

[blue moon]

If there is any doubt they have the permission to print it, we would bring it up and require proof they are authorized to do it. 'would not print unless our behind is covered!

pierre

[Frog]

I'm afraid the the castle crosses the line.

[Croft]

font no problem but the castle not interested thanks.

[3Deep]

Change the castle and your good to go!!, but is the Pastor's last name Disney?

Darryl

[jason-23]

Well if you didn't put it on here I would have said print it....send it to me.

[Dottonedan]

Several things to mention here.


1, Someone posted not to use the castle but could use the font. Actually, that font style is unique to Disney. It gets vague, but in general, techincally, it's Disney's. There are some fonts available on the market or free downloads, but it also not really allowed. When you read the disclaimer, it's not four public or commercial use.  Will they come after you for using it on 40 tees?  Prob. not.


2,  The use of the Castle is a NO NO. They will and can get you for that (provided they care enough). My "opinion" is that they don't care that much to hunt down the person that printed an order for 40 tees (for a group that was coming to the park for an event).  It's ALL OVER THE PARKS.  hundreds per day walk the parks in a custom made tee for the Swim team, CHurch group, family reunion etc. They don't go after them. It would be a bad experience for the guest.


3,  They (Disney) have recognized an opportunity in that and provide a service themselves for custom (DTG) orders with characters and all. You just have to contact them ahead of time and plan it out.


4, It's done every day. I do not recommend it, but its done.


5, Be careful what we post on here and ask if we can get away with....as some members that frequent here often do print for Disney. A few of them for sure that I know of.
They may not care, but if by chance they do, they can drop a dime on you and THAT is when they do give you a call and say, Hey buddy, Lemme see your Disney contract.
    Just say'n.

[blue moon]

here's a simple way of looking at it:

will not printing those shirts potentially kill your business?

will printing those shirts potentially kill your business?

my guess is 99.999% the answer is NO to both of those. In other words, the chances of it saving your business and killing it are the same, so why risk it for a couple hundred bucks . . .

pierre

[Sbrem]

If there is any doubt they have the permission to print it, we would bring it up and require proof they are authorized to do it. 'would not print unless our behind is covered!

pierre

And you would want proof of the permission. We do some jobs like this for schools, say Aladdin Jr., and the school provides materials that came in the package they bought. As for this, the type is available, and you could use a different castle perhaps, and retain the flavor. I don't think Disney is going to come after you for a small order like this, if it is indeed small. I see Dan says that the font is a no-no. I've dealt with a number of church groups before, and told them when there could be copyright infringement, and they usually say something like, "Oh, I didn't realize..." and go with something else. In the end, it's your ass (pun intended)

Steve

[tpitman]

My experience with doing some work for Disney or conventions being held there was, there were a few generic pieces of art of the Epcot dome and the castle, or some hotel logos and whatnot that they'd let you use IF you were holding an event on property, but the logos had to be small in relation to the event graphics so there was no mistaking it for being a Disney-sponsored event. Coupled with that, they made you show them a proof of the final art before printing.

I don't know if that typeface itself is actually owned by Disney, or just the words Disney or Walt Disney used as a setmark or trademark in that typeface, but on the piece you're showing, it looks like there's some formal connection to Disney. I doubt Disney would give permission to use it, so I wouldn't do it. Rumor has it that they get their ba!!s in an uproar over stuff like that.

A similar situation happened with a local high school and the use of the Dodge "Ram" logo. The school had used it for years, but a couple of years ago when Chrysler found out they'd ripped off the ram's head logo, they forced the school to remove it immediately from everything emblazoned with it . . . stationery, signage, football uniforms, gymnasium, the works. Got expensive. An apology and a promise to not use it on any new stuff going forward wasn't enough.

The old adage, "It's better to ask forgiveness than to ask permission" doesn't hold water when lawyers on retainer are involved . . . JMHO.

[Dottonedan]

I say it's a no no, only because they actually created that font style just for them (after) they designed a unique ad on to some letters. Once it took, I am almost positive the protected it as they do with everything else. At the time of creation, they were well aware of trademarks and copyrights of their brand.


It actually never had the full alphabet till years later. Then, eventually, it got re done by outsiders just like every other font style out that has been re-done, Aka Helvetica and Arial. But just because other font makers re-create something similar and call it their own, won't fly with Disney.  For example, if the counterfeit creator wanted to copyright that font style, you'd see that they could not. I think they now have that entire alphabet font style trade marked.  I'm not certain of it tho.

[Gilligan]

Sounds like some Mickey Mouse operation there.   

[Mr Tees!!]

...Thanks for chimin 'in, gang! We had a close call with some copyright stuff earlier this year (not our fault), and wont be taking any chances going forward.

...yeah, this is for 30-35 tees, so im not cryin a river over here. This doesnt appear to be for a trip or anything, I think its more like a childrens play or something. Oh and of COURSE its a rush job.

...DTD, I was purposely NOT careful about posting this here, because I really wanted a no-frills, worst-case scenario type of answer. And I KNEW you would be the goto guy on this.

..I think my main concern here was that, in addition to the font and the castle, the word "Disney" is actually included in the design. So what alternatives could I offer? I mean, there are essentially three elements here that toe the line: the font, the castle, and the word "Disney". What would you offer to change up? OR, which one is just an absolute no-no?

[Dottonedan]

After reading some of the copyright info on font creation, I don't know.  They say from what I'm reading, (Here in the US), you can't copyright a font style or letter. The founder can protect the name of a font style and it's family, (thus why you have all of these fonts in the same style and look, but wiuth different names.  Ala Helvetica and Arial. But from what I read, the entire alphabet cannot. Letters of an alphabet can't. When it's used in the case of WaltDisneyWorld, That can be protected as that is a trade mark (used all together).  So as I understand it.


Here is a font similar.


http://mickeyavenue.com/fonts/waltograph/

[ebscreen]

In order of no-no:

Castle
Word Disney in Disney font
Word Disney
Disney font