Legal Question in Business Law in Michigan

copyright and merchandise

I am a business student and would like to start a small business from home. I would like to design tee shirts and sell them over the internet and ebay. I have some legal issue's concerning the copyrighting of tee shirts that I can not get a straight anwser from the copyrights office, small business administration or SCOR. The Copy right office told me that they just copyright graphics on a shirt , Small business administration told me that wasn't true because they have a client that makes tee shirts with graphics and words on them and the whole t shirt is copyrighted. My question is do trendy t shirts have to be copyrighted and can they copy right words? Can I make a shirt with a saying like a made up school mascot like the harrison hares track and feild and put a picture of a bunny on it. How can I find out if my graphic is not infringing on some one elses copyright, since there are so many shirts out there?Can I make shirts with sayings and shapes( common things) and on them. thanks


Asked on 7/22/04, 2:13 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Blake Lipman Law Office of Blake P. Lipman

Re: copyright and merchandise

I must confess that I am unsure of the answer. You should direct this question to a specialist in intellectual property law. If you have further questions, you may contact my office at (248)851-3171.

Read more
Answered on 7/23/04, 9:33 am


Related Questions & Answers

More Business Law questions and answers in Michigan