legalities of selling items/memorabila with famous signatures?

[Deleted User]

can you sell re-printed autographs on custom items say if the person is deceased?

dj1471

A signature could well be covered by copyright (in the UK, they’re not eligible for copyright under US law which may be relevant) and many famous people will trademark their signatures too.

Neither expires on death of the person in question and trademarks are more likely to be owned by a company in any case (record label, agent, whatever).

It’s not illegal as such as it’s a civil matter rather than criminal.

RFW

dj1471 wrote: »

It’s not illegal as such as it’s a civil matter rather than criminal.

It can be criminal if there's an attempt to deceive. Attempting to deceive can cover quite a lot too.



If in doubt as to what you can or can't do within the law contact Trading Standards via your local council.

soolin

There are official machine signed autographs available from authorised stockists- they are popular at fan conventions and the like. Sold as 'machine signed' or 'digitally signed' and clearly marked as such.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

If there was a button to magically remove everything infringing copyright or trademark half the listings on eBay would disappear.

RFW

soolin wrote: »

There are official machine signed autographs available from authorised stockists- they are popular at fan conventions and the like. Sold as 'machine signed' or 'digitally signed' and clearly marked as such.

It's pretty much always been done, although they never used to be sold. Big names used to have stamps to save time. The only genuine signature you can be guaranteed of is one that was signed for you in person.

soolin

RFW wrote: »

It's pretty much always been done, although they never used to be sold. Big names used to have stamps to save time. The only genuine signature you can be guaranteed of is one that was signed for you in person.

As I'm sure you remember, sci fi, collectables etc was where I started my trading career. It is an interesting discussion- signed photos, autographed items etc. For instance for resale a generic ' All the best Paul Darrow' is worth more than a personalised dedication ' To Soolin, great to have met you- Paul Darrow' purely because someone buying it can pretend they got it signed for them- which you can't if it is personalised.

I have autographs, mine are all personalised except for some of the later Terry Pratchett's as I got them to keep not to sell. I have never paid for a signature - only paid for the book or whatever to get it signed.

I still have several boxes in storage of sci fi and other collectable items that include official digitally signed photos , by co incidence I have one here that I've sold locally and is due to be collected (it is framed and glazed) that states clearly on the back that it is digitally signed - and explains what that means.

Real autographs though are a minefield anyway , remember the incident with the Beckhams claiming the official signed items from them sold by a major company were fake? Even today on my US groups there are several arguments going on about fake signatures- connected with the recent sad death of a player.

NBLondon

soolin wrote: »

As I'm sure you remember, sci fi, collectables etc was where I started my trading career.

The avatar is a bit of a clue...

I have never paid for a signature - only paid for the book or whatever to get it signed.

Ditto. I have two which were not signed in my presence but I'm reasonably confident they are genuine as they were prizes in a Radio Times competition and signed for that purpose.

pulliptears

RFW wrote: »

The only genuine signature you can be guaranteed of is one that was signed for you in person.

That and Beckett authentication. I dabble a lot in the Star Wars world and Becketts are the best at authenticating those.

Some of the autographs you see on eBay though are hilarious. For example, a brand new Star Wars Last Jedi poster, released after the death of Carrie Fisher, yet miraculously signed by her.

Most autograph buyers collect in person and those they can't will go to trusted sources or mail in's.

The only signature I really want now is Mark Hamill but thats one of those I need to get in person.

soolin

pulliptears wrote: »

That and Beckett authentication. I dabble a lot in the Star Wars world and Becketts are the best at authenticating those.

Some of the autographs you see on eBay though are hilarious. For example, a brand new Star Wars Last Jedi poster, released after the death of Carrie Fisher, yet miraculously signed by her.

Most autograph buyers collect in person and those they can't will go to trusted sources or mail in's.

The only signature I really want now is Mark Hamill but thats one of those I need to get in person.

Not just eBay have the really dumb fake autographs. I was at a proper B and M auction once where they had a book about Princess Diana that included her death - catalogued as 'signed by Princess Diana'. When it was pointed out to them it took them a while to twig what people were laughing about.

pulliptears

soolin wrote: »

Not just eBay have the really dumb fake autographs. I was at a proper B and M auction once where they had a book about Princess Diana that included her death - catalogued as 'signed by Princess Diana'. When it was pointed out to them it took them a while to twig what people were laughing about.

It's hilarious isn't it?
Oh for the good old says of standing stage door and getting your autograph for free.
These days some celebs want £20 for a blooming selfie.