Copyright infringement - Page 2

My panties certainly aren't in a "wade" (I believe you meant "wad")... However, when you link to a website, the person you are linking to is aware of it... and often checks out why they are being linked. I just wanted to make sure people were aware of that - so they could perhaps phrase posts differently so as to avoid any potential trouble.

Asking how businesses IN GENERAL can recreate copyrighted work is different than linking to one particular person and making an accusatory statement.

I've probably worked in the legal field too long, but when I see someone doing something that could potentially bite them in the butt, I do feel compelled to say something - panties be dam*ed.

Ok..so your panties aern't in a WAD. They are still in a bunch. Here is a quick hint. If you put your finger on each side of your panties and pull down, they will come out.

but where do you draw the line? my golfball says calaway. that is a copyrighted image. Duff made a scrabble board thats copyrighted. I think the biggest copyright problem are kids characters. Why because it is so much more money than a cake here and there. What about Gucci bags? Is there a difference whether you are doing a character image or a product?

Schildwaster-I have no idea where to draw the line either. I really hate this law! I don't really follow it too well, as I only bake cakes for people I know or know of, but I've heard that the one that gets people in the most trouble is Mickey Mouse! So if someone you don't know at all wants a mickey mouse cake, be wary!!

Fragglerock-You didn't offend me or anyone else I don't think. I understand what you meant. No hurt feelings! I don't know if there are ways around it, I know sometimes you can buy the rights to these things and use them, but who knows. It is just so stupid. We have way too many things to worry about as Cake decorators, don't ya think?

How can I find out if someone has posted a link to my website? I use Google analytics, but don't understand all that much of it.

Thanks!

Ok, so it's NOT OK to offer a different (less popular) opinion - but it IS OK to be rude to someone who does.

I get it. Thanks.

I'm not sure how google works - I used Site Meter, and it tells you the amount of time people spend there, if they found you through a link, their entry and exit pages, etc.

I know most servers will have that info, but they may have it set up differently. I'd check out there help section.

Probably a good idea. I'll have to check out Site Meter as well.

I was wondering because it showed that someone came to my site from another forum, but I couldn't find out where my site was linked. Weird.

Thanks Brandi!

We have done Dora, Disney, Nick Jr etc... & have put them up on our site but they have so far all been for family & friends. No $ made. We put them on our web site just to show what we can do. Ya'll think that will get us in trouble?

Copyright laws are copyright laws for a reason. We may not like them, but they exist and we have to be aware of them. (I heard that the "Snoopy" people are very tenacious about protecting their copyrights.) I don't think you run a huge risk making the items, but I would never advertise the fact that I made them.

When it's for personal use you are fine. If you look on the wilton character pans it says it's not for commercial use or it says for home use only-something like that.

And just changing the name or color of a character won't keep you out of trouble-a red Barney is still a Barney. If it's easily recognized as the character, it's still the character.

For any character or licensed product (Gucci, Coach, etc) you must have a licensing agreement to reproduce their product images and the permission is usually very specific and you pay for the agreement. The exception would be the deco pacs(character cake kits like grocery stores use) you can buy. The cost is built in and the company know their intended use. Companies spend a fortune to develop and market their products/characters. The lic agreements is one way companies protect their brands and how their brand is represented and used. One exception would be when using a product for art. Remember the guy who put Barbie in a blender and different things for his art show.
http://barbieinablender.org/ Different than edible art though unfortunately.

Disney, Sesame Street, Peanuts, Curious George are very stringent about their character use and will come after the "little guy" to stop the use of their product without an agreement. People can get away with things because the corporate eyes can only look so many places at once.

Duff has reached a level in his business where it is going to be easier for him to secure a licensing agreement and it's advantageous to the company to allow him to reproduce their product in cake given the popularity of the show.