Stupid Copyright Question... (1 Viewer)

[DeathStar1]

First, a little background setup..
Evey year, for the last ten years, the Local Radio Station goes down the Jersey SHore to celebrate what they call the Summer Blast Off. Just like the Price IS Right, if you where something neat, or with the station logo on it, they might put you on the radio.
For instance, Two years ago, someone brought in a big, life size card board cut out of their traffic reporter and they brought them right up(Traffic guy is one they love to make jabs at ).
So, this year I was planning on making a shirt, that one of the DJ's suggested they should have made up, if only jokingly. So, This is what I came up with Link Removed and Link Removed . The images don't make much unless you listen to this 'Show Stopper' bit , since he always claims to have celebrities to do his bit intro, but 95% of the time never delivers.
Anyway, my we went to try and get a T-Shirt made out of it, by using the K-Mart Photo Printing machine, so they can have a print to use. But a Copyright notice came out, and not to print any copyrighted material.
Now, I know you can copyright a station logo, but can you copyright a publicity 8X10 as well? As stated, a couple dozen other people had made their own shirts using photos from the site, and they didn't seem to mind. Since it's their photo's anyway, I was going to present them with three shirts. Two for the main DJ's, and one for the Traffic Reporter. Thought it would be a good joke and get a few laughs ..
Anyone think I might run into any problems printing these things out?
Thanks!

 

[Joseph DeMartino]

The station logo is probably trademarked, not copyrighted. Trademarks don't expire, copyrights do. And yes, you can copyright a photo, a painting or any other work of "art" that can be reduced to tangible form. Ideas and titles can't be copyrighted, actual finished goods can't.
Sounds like the K-Mart machine uses a fairly unsophisticated system for determining what should and shouldn't be copied. Given that the station is promoting the idea, I'm sure they'll have no problem with what you're doing. I'd suggest going somewhere else, like Kinko's. If you have a scanner for your computer and an ink-jet printer you have another option. If you think you might want to make other novelty t-shirts (using your own photos ) you might just want to scan the picture and pick up some iron-on transfer paper and (if necessary) special ink. Then you can just print the picture and iron it onto any cheap white t-shirt.
Regards,
Joe

 

[DeathStar1]

Yep, we tried the Iron deal with one of my own pictures, but it didn't turn out too well :frowning:. We figured we'd try to have it done proffesionally this time, and they can use the idea to give away as cheap prizes if they like it enough. Hence why I was going to make up a few extras for the DJ's..