Website & Copyright Question

[grayhank]

As I have mentioned a few times, I have been creating a Fisher Price Little People website. Got the domain name and have been slowly putting the pages together... my question is this:

Do I have to put some kind of disclaimer or get permission to use images like original boxes, catalog pages, original advertisments, etc. I took all of the pictures and scans from items in my own collection. I'm not using any of FP's copyrights, logos or trademarks except for how they originally appeared on the boxes and toys, etc. I really don't want to be sued (like I had any money anyway).

I was looking around even here on the Museum, and didn't see any disclaimers for copyrights, logos, packaging or whatever... so I'm not really sure how all that works. Any help would be appreciated BEFORE I launch the site.

[ctc]

Hmmmm....

It's a tricky question. TECHNICLY what you're doing falls under the "journalistic and/or review" clause, so it's okay. But if they really wanted to be knobs they could apply some heat; which they might do if they thought you were defaming their product or in some way cutting into their recognition or profit. It'd be tough to prove, and it'd be tough to show how they were losing profit from a product that's been dead for 20+ years.... so I don't expect they'd raise any kind of a stink. So I wouldn't worry.

Even if they DID decide they hate you, they'd probably send a C&D order first.

Don C.

[theantiquetiger]

I am in the same boat with my LSU board. I made some business cards promoting my site and have three LSU logos on it (as well as my title header on my page).

[mazinz]

you can just put a disclaimer on the front of your website mentioning all copyrights being property of the owners and then list company names. I see this quite often. Essentially what you are doing completely falls under the fair use clause though so it should be no problem

for example here is the disclaimer from the G-fan webpage:

Godzilla, all related characters and the character designs are trademarks of Toho Co, Ltd. and are used in this website solely for illustrative purposes. G-FAN is a trademark and G-FEST is a registered trademark of Daikaiju Enterprises, Ltd.

[JPkempo]

You could put a disclamer if you want. But the way I see it any thing you put up put the maker in a good light and they won't mind.

[palitoy]

I've actually had experience with Fisher Price's legal department, all they've ever asked me is to put the following on every page:

Fisher Price® is a registered trademark of Mattel, Inc

They're really nice about it too.

[UnderdogDJLSW]

If you are using your collection, your photos, and have a disclaimer saying what the other folks above mentioned, you should be fine.

[grayhank]

Thanks for the tips all! I've got something written now that should cover me. Now to get all those darn pictures uploaded! I've actually starting revising what I've already started. Had to go back and compress all those pictures down to an appropriate size for website viewing. Otherwise the pages will never load for viewers. Good thing I went with the 999 page package!