From time to time questions arise on a tee shirt forum I'm a member of, about copyright.
The general idea is that if something is copyrighted it is a no go area and however good the design or idea for a shirt might be, it is best left alone in case legal proceedings ensued.
There is never a question about approaching the copyright holder to get permission.
I think the feeling is it would cost the earth and the small amount made would not cover the costs or make it worth it if margins are tight.
You are also trading against those who are breaking the copyright.
There is no one answer to the question, but from anyone's experience how much does it actually cost to by the licence to use something on a tee shirt.
The figure will vary of course. If the tee shirt were not presenting the IP in a negative light it is promoting the work and the owner of copyright is getting some money they would not otherwise get. Win win situation.
Cost of Permission
six gun,
I agree that no one should be put off from asking about licensing the use of an image. It is impossible to give you a 'typical' figure for the cost of a license because it will entirely depend on the source. It could be pennies from a microstock site, or thousands from a famous artist or photographer. There are several different types of licence, to suit different purposes: exclusive/partial, restricted by territory, rights managed (RM) or Royalty Free (RF) and so on. Each will have its own cost. The biggest challenge may be finding out who is the legitimate owner. The Google Search by Image facility can be useful for this (click on the little blue camera icon on the Google image search box).
I agree that no one should be put off from asking about licensing the use of an image. It is impossible to give you a 'typical' figure for the cost of a license because it will entirely depend on the source. It could be pennies from a microstock site, or thousands from a famous artist or photographer. There are several different types of licence, to suit different purposes: exclusive/partial, restricted by territory, rights managed (RM) or Royalty Free (RF) and so on. Each will have its own cost. The biggest challenge may be finding out who is the legitimate owner. The Google Search by Image facility can be useful for this (click on the little blue camera icon on the Google image search box).
Advice or comment provided here is not and does not purport to be legal advice as defined by s.12 of Legal Services Act 2007