Yeah, you can put a picture on a shirt and sell it. But there’s a big “but” here. You gotta have the legal right to use that picture. What does that mean? Well, it means you can either make your own original artwork. You know, something you create from scratch. Or you can use images that are in the public domain. These are pictures that anyone can use ’cause there’s no copyright on them anymore. Another option is to get permission from the copyright holder of the image you want to use. If you don’t do this right, you could get into big trouble!
Key points to remember:
Copyright infringement:
Don’t use images without permission or proper legal rights. Otherwise, you could be in big trouble.
Always make sure you’re on the right side of the law when it comes to using pictures on shirts for sale.
Get permission:
Here’s how you can get permission:
Find Out Who Holds the Copyright：
First off, you gotta figure out who owns the copyright of the picture you wanna use. It’s not always easy, you know. If the image has been shared all over the place or you got it from some mysterious source, it can be a real headache. But if it’s from a famous artist or a pro photography agency, it’s usually simpler to find the owner. For those pictures you find on the internet, you’ll have to do a bit of sleuthing. Look for any copyright signs, watermarks, or credits that go with the image. That’ll help you work out who the owner is.
Reach Out to the Copyright Holder
Once you know who the copyright holder is, you gotta get in touch with them to ask if you can use the image. You can usually do this by sending an email or a letter. When you do this, be nice and professional.
Tell them clearly what you’re planning to do with the picture. Like, say you want to put it on a shirt and then sell the shirt. Also, give them the lowdown on your business or the project you’re working on. Let them know how many shirts you’re thinking of making and where you’re gonna sell them.
In your message, make sure to mention that you know how important copyright is and that you’re looking for the right permission to use their image. It’s a great idea to offer them something in return, like a royalty payment or a share of the profits from selling the shirts. This way, they’ll see that you respect their work and are willing to pay them fairly for using it.
