Rules for printing AFOL graphics on garment etc.

[Ulrik Hansen]

I need som help here. What are the legal implications of selling t-shirts with replicated minifig-decorations printed on them? I know I'm not allowed to print the LEGO logo.

Thanks!

[MAB]

If you mean copying LEGO designs and putting them onto T-shirts, you are not legally allowed to without permission. Whether LEGO do anything about it is another matter though. If you are selling 100 T-shirts, I doubt they would notice. If you plan to sell 10 million worldwide, then they might be more interested.

 

[Ulrik Hansen]

Are the figure decorations copyrighted? Many variations are sold online. That is what I'm getting at.

[MAB]

What do you mean? Things like the classic space logo or the black falcons heraldry and so on? They are copyright. Every LEGO image is copyright.

[Ulrik Hansen]

Ok, thanks. I realize it's a dead end to go down that road.

[MAB]

Lots of people do just ignore it and get away with it if it is a small scale operation. There are many sellers on eBay doing just that for classic space T-shirts for example, even using the LEGO name.

[Ulrik Hansen]

Those different sellers are probably some of the ones I've stumpled upon. Since I'm from small Danmark and don't want to hide my activity from the LEGO Group, my plan now is to focus on artistic interpretations that do not infringe. Thank you for your feedback

[dr_spock]

You could contact LEGO and inquire.  Maybe they'll give you permission or license you.  You never know.

 

[Ulrik Hansen]

11 minutes ago, dr_spock said:

You could contact LEGO and inquire.  Maybe they'll give you permission or license you.  You never know.

 

Good idea, asking their legal team that should clear things up.

[Lord James]

Some of the Lego Castle heraldry is generic enough that someone was already using it long before Lego did. I'm thinking especially of the Lion Knights and the shields with stickers from the earliest Castle sets.