images on cakes. I noticed she had some licensed characters on her cakes and asked her how she got the permission. She replied by telling me that she no longer does licensed characters. She said that the Louis Vuitton company sent her a letter telling her to cease and decist using their logo on her site. She has since removed her Loius Vuitton cake from her site.

So it looks like even some of the famous decorators avoid the whole permission thing.

I have sent a letter to the Disney Publishing Group requesting information on getting permission to reproduce their characters. I'm sure I'll get a response 6 months from now. LOL!

I'll keep you apprised of anything I might find out!
-Krissy

To get a response from Disney quickly, you could write in your letter, "I intend to sell cakes which incorporate Disney characters. If you have any problems with me doing this, please let me know."

You can be sure you'll get a response quickly, and if you don't, then it's tacit permission to go ahead!

NOT!

I wouldn't assume that because Disney's counsel doesn't reply as quickly that it implies it's o.k. to advertise/sell Disney character cakes.

I would expect them to want you to hand over some serious money. I dont know if it would be worth it!

Our laws don't work that way. Their copyright is their protection against any use of their characters. You can't just say "I'm going to use it until you say I can't." The copyright says "You can't."

Any character drawing or recreation no matter how you try to sell it on a cake is illegal. Unless, it is a bought figure from a store which can be resold.

I saw a website for a professional baker ......where they had a separate section of what they called personal cakes done for fun and not for sale... that's one way to get arround the legality

That dosen't fo you any good if you can't sell them. If they are for family then that's another story.