09/09/2026
This is probably a really good explanation of why we will not do trademark designs.
🎓 Vendor Business School | Lesson #68
Copyright + Trademark Infringement
Character tumblers, team-logo shirts, song-lyric signs, and character fabric are common at events. Seeing several booths carry them does not mean those sellers are licensed—or reduce your risk.
Copyright protects original creative work; trademark protects brand names, logos, slogans, and team marks. You may have made the shirt, tumbler, sign, or 3D print, but you may not own the artwork or branding on it.
Buying an SVG, fabric, font, clip art, or product does not necessarily buy reproduction rights. Permission must come from an authorized source and cover that product and how you sell it.
Credit, “inspired by,” disclaimers, design changes, or seeing others sell it are not permission. Some licenses allow personal items or free gifts but prohibit sales. Reselling an authentic item is different from copying its art or logo onto products you make.
Consequences may include photos, test purchases, cease-and-desist letters, online takedowns, or removal under event rules. A court may stop sales, award money, and order goods destroyed or forfeited. Those are court remedies—not automatic booth fines from a private representative.
Keep written licenses showing the product, sales channel, and term. If you cannot verify the rights, pause sales and contact the owner, agent, or an IP attorney.
💡 BoothKeeper Takeaway:
You may have made the product—but you do not own the design. Get written commercial permission before selling protected art, characters, logos, or wording.
✅ Vendor Checkpoint:
If you sell products using copyrighted artwork, characters, lyrics, or trademarked names and logos, are you prepared for a takedown, event removal, or an order to stop selling? What is your plan for the remaining inventory and lost income?
💬 Vendor Discussion:
What is your policy on copyrighted or trademarked products? Do you avoid them, require written commercial permission, or handle them another way? How did you draw that line?
General U.S. education only—not legal advice.
