posted on December 9, 2002 02:26:30 PM new
I was browsing some auctions and came upon this seller who makes personalized street signs...but he/she uses, what I would assume are copyrighted names, etc.
[img src=http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=1314&item=745948773] *I hope I posted that link correctly.
Is this against ebay's rules or is that ok to use all those names, and movies on their products?
posted on December 9, 2002 02:50:49 PM new
They can use names like German Shepherd, pharmacist and pirate but not movies, cars, star's names, etc. as those can only be used if one gets licensing for it.
If he gets these wholesale from a big manufacturer that has a trademark agreement with all these names it is okay. If he is making them himself in his garage, it's not.
posted on December 10, 2002 10:11:59 AM new
I remember once reading a magazine article on ancient Sparta. ( the lower part of presentday Greece ) The article said that it wasn't against the law to steal but it was against the law to get caught stealing. Kind of reminds me of ebay a little.
posted on December 10, 2002 12:25:50 PM new
"Baum survived his hospital operation but spent his last year bedridden, dying nine days before his 63rd birthday in 1919"
Current copyright law in the US allows 70 years from the death of the producer. The law was changed in 1998 from 50 years after death to 70 years. That would mean The Wizard of Oz went into public domain in 1970. No royalties would be owed by the producer of those street signs.
You should note that the new copyright law was supported by congressmen and senators of both paries, most of which received large campaign contributions from Disney and Time Warner (bugs bunny, daffy duck, Porky Pig, Etc. Mickey Mouse's copyright was about to expire, but has since been extended by 20 years. There is a suit in front of the Supreme court challenging this law. Oral Arguments were Nov 9, 2002. See "Free the Mouse" for more information...
http://www.eldred.cc/
[ edited by Dejapooh on Dec 10, 2002 12:31 PM ]
[ edited by Dejapooh on Dec 10, 2002 12:33 PM ]
