quote:
However, I have been concerned that would be infringement on copy-right? Unless of course you have permission from the original artists of the picture, but still, is it legal to make a t-shirt like that?
Yes, it is legal as long as you have permission from the producer or distributor depending on the circumstance (like them being one and the same, takes some research to find out exactly at times.) I have only made t-shirts due to absolute lack of any merchandise to be had (PC games I have played, online MUD's without merchandise, and some anime where sadly nothing to little is produced even in Japan, much less the American market.
Some of them I have contacted over the years send back interesting replies. Most of them say:
"Oh, you want to make a fan shirt or two? Go ahead, just don't make a retail offering out of it."
Some replies demand a small fee, like an online MUD I played for years. Interestingly enough, after paying two bucks a t-shirt to them for years (for their logo) they asked me to make some graphic art for their site. In exchange I got to make a few for free. The only shirts they ever made were at their conventions, of which I own most (quality left something to be desired--I didn't say that....) On the downside all of their staff wanted t-shirts of their IG characters, but I didn't mind...
Sadly you also get two other kind of responses: "Don't even think about it!" or the silent treatment. They won't offer anything retail for you to buy, but won't allow you to express yourself artistically either. I have even sent graphics to the company so they could review them for visual content and gotten "no's!" and "no answer."
Sooo...just depends. I respect their wishes and do as they say-it's their right after all. My right to at least draw is protected by the First Amendment so long as it is for myself, so I sometimes just appreciate the material in that way (fanart). I will never understand why some companies won't allow it when they themselves won't make anything, even when I am offering to let them review and approve, pay whatever fee, and promote (by wearing the shirt) their product(s).
Go figure