We all agreed to that from the beginning. Many people don't understand the difference between home use and not charging or not making a profit. That's was my point from my first post before we were all forced into a tangent.

You can use/make an image for HOME USE. You cannot charge. You cannot cover your costs. You cannot leave your home with said design. You cannot carry it to your niece's birthday party at your sister's home, your Dad's retirement party at the lodge or carry it to the location of your own son's bar mitzvah. You cannot post it online. It cannot leave your home. Period.

At one time it did state immediately family only - that has obviously changed since I looked it up a few years ago. So make it for your second cousin twice removed - for the party being held at your house because it cannot leave your home.

Pretty easy, really. Have a hay-day!

I get about 3 or 4 calls a month from someone wanting a Mickey Mouse birthday cake. When I explain that I cannot replicate Mickey but will put a pre-purchased Mickey toy on the cake and decorate it with complementary colors, they always ask (again) why I can't do the Mickey ears or Mickey himself. I refer to copyright again, at which point they thank me, tell me they will consult their spouse, and hang up.

I NEVER hear from any of them ever again. Wonder why?

Thank you all for the responses. I always hate when you have to hire a lawyer to decipher most of the stuff that these companies post. lol

I do appreciate the healthy discussion about what qualifies you to be able to have the permission to use the characters. It never even crossed my mind that it would be illegal. I guess it is not something that I think of.

HAHAHA karateka! I am sure they go somewhere else and someone makes it for them, but if they are anythign like me, they probably do not know better. We shall give them the benefit of the doubt.

I guess I just always saw it as free advertisement. lol

My uncle works for Disney and I have a friend who worked in their bakery for 20 years. They are crazy strict about any of their images being used. You can not use them for sale. HOWEVER, you can use them for home use and home use only. Altering the image so Disney won't come after you doesn't work either. You can make Flounder purple and it won't matter. If it's recognizable as a Disney character you can get busted. There is a large team of people who's job is to just find those using their images.

So with copyrights it is all the way or none. Make sense, just not something most people think about, you know.

and yet you can find any number of mickey cakes in the CC gallery

Ok I made a Mickey cake for a niece / nephew party. Free I don't sell my cakes. Am I understanding I am not supposed to post the photo.

Oops thanks

Great information! Thank you!
At the risk of sounding stupid, I have a few more questions:
What about images other than the characters?
For example, a mystery machine cake but with scooby doo cake toppers or toys?
A Captain America SHIELD cake but with a Captain America cake topper?
I've done both, NOT for money, but would like to know for future info. :/

Any original character, logo, or other art that was created by another individual or business is protected under copyright, and you cannot copy that art without the permission of the copyright holder.

Buying a licensed topper and using that in a cake is fine (even if you are selling the cake) since you are not copying the art, you are purchasing a product authorized by the copyright holder.

Thank you!

This is a very interesting read...I've seen multiple pictures of Minnie/Mickey Ears on top of cakes, purse cakes, designer shoes, Tiffany boxes and what not on this site alone. So, all of those examples are forms infringement if the decorator did not get permission...wow. Hope everyone is filing the proper paperwork =)