unforum

[Worker]

[Omnie]

[niobexrev]

Perhaps he could change the topic to [OFFTOPIC]Purchase Metacortex Memorabilia

Something like that.

[King Mob]

Okay, I found this article on copyright law, written by Kathleen Brockel (she presents a sampling of opinions and predictions about the application of copyright law to Net photos in relation to contemporary photographers; stock photo agencies; publishers; and Net users.)
http://www.gsu.edu/~lawppw/lawand.papers/KB4.html

In summary (of that part which concerns us), she says that the policing of those people who do not make a profit of a distributed photo is difficult at best. So, if we keep the number of people who get the t-shirts, etc. fairly low (how many people are playing this game, on this forum, anyway?) and without making a profit, we should be fine.
If we also put the photographer's name under the photo, in small lettering, that should also cover us; but also consider that the photograph we are using has been altered, so how much less (or more?) is it worth to the photographer?
Since the photographer would only sue if he/she felt we were infringing their ability to make a profit, which I seriously doubt we would be since the photographs are specific to only those who have played the game; and since they presumably already sold these photographs to the PM's, they knew the photographs would be altered.
And we can't be infringing the PM's ability to make a profit on future merchandising because, as Omnie noted, they would have spoken up.

EDIT: Ultimately it seems, ''Fair use is always subject to interpretation.''

[Wix]

[SpaceBass]

Because of the copyright infringement issue, which is complicated by the fact that the owner of this shop is earning a profit on each sale rather than selling the items at the base CafePress prices, I have removed the links to this shop from this thread and from the shop owner's forum signature. Unfiction is not associated with this store and will not support it until and unless these issues can be resolved satisfactorily. Please do not repost these links on any Unfiction resources.