Licensing laws

Honeyhoney

I'm not sure if i'm posting this in the right area so please move if not

I run a small business making crafts in my spare time, I make very little money from it (in fact I probably just about break even as I charge very little for what I make!)

One of the things I do make is childrens keyrings with their name and a drawing of them with their favourite animated character.

I have just had an email from a member of staff from the licensing agency for one of these characters stating that their lawyers are getting in touch as I don't have a licence to replicate their character.

It is very obvious that I'm in no way trying to pass off my drawings as genuine characters, they are simply done 'in the style of' - in fact I deliberately change colours and features so they're not too alike the original character.

I know very little about licensing laws so I don't know what I can and can't do but what I do know is I've just searched several selling/trading websites and there are literally thousands of people selling their replica characters as genuine - they don't appear to have been targeted so why have I, the smallest of small businesses, been targeted? And is there anything I can do?

Many thanks

paddyrg

Yes, comply. Or licence the design, but that's expensive, and involves quality guarantees. Doesn't matter that you make only a small profit, you're a business breaching their IP. If they offer you a low cost slap on the wrist, take it.

Sinhanada

I'm afraid you are breaching copyright laws by actively selling their trademark. It does seem harsh but intellectual property is covered by law.

I would engage with them and see how much a license would be to use their trademarks and if it is worth it, adjust your prices accordingly - otherwise do not use their trademarks

Mistral001

Honeyhoney wrote: »

One of the things I do make is childrens keyrings with their name and a drawing of them with their favourite animated character.

If this or anything like it is written on your website, ebay listing or any other advertising medium then you have in fact admitted that you intend to break copyright I should have thought.