Copyright 101: Can I Print This?
Aug 22, 2017
If this question pops-up, most probably you are thinking of using an image or text created by someone else and possibly copyrighted. How to know if a design is ready for commercial use?
We Have Prepared a Visual Copyright Guide of What You Can Not Use
More detailed information can be found in our Intellectual Property Guide.
Can I Print This?
This article is for educational purposes only, not for commercial use. Images used in this article are the property of their authors and cannot be used for commercial purposes.
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Written by
Baiba Blain
Baiba is a content writer and language enthusiast with 5+ years of experience in translation and creative writing. Outside of work she enjoys exploring old castles, spontaneous road trips, and talking back to her cats. 10/10 arguments won so far.
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55 comments
So no classic movie quotes then? Just the words no pictures
Hi Nadia,
I would suggest to reach out to our support team for clarification.
Can I use designs with zodiac signs ?
Hi Gottlieb,
Yes, you can!
Can I use digital artwork drawn by my brother of Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald?
Hi Michael,
You can use designs that you’ve full ownership of, or have a permission to use. Please reach out to our support team for more details.
If I create a design containing few cartoon characters (like sanrio i.e Hello Kitty, Kuromi, etc) or some designs containing celebrities, kpop artists etc. Is that allowed?
Hi Layla,
Unfortunately, no. You can use designs that you’ve full ownership of, or have a permission to use.
I am an advisor designer and I try to have a lesson in every design so I want my designs to be promoted.
Does this count for bible scriptures?
Hey Lisa,
I would suggest to reach out to our support team for clarification.
Hi. Am I allowed to used Bible verses.? I also put on my design what verse it is.
Hi Ciska,
Please reach out to our support team for clarification.
Hi, can I print a generic name (for exemple: “Happiness”) and a logo made of my own?
Hi Lluís,
Yes, you can. 🙂
What about like Parodies of certain movies. Lets say like a cat dressed as Neo from The Matrix? or Lets Say a cat that looks like a jedi with a light saber?. And what about if you take a quote from a movie and change the words?
Hi Rob,
I would suggest to reach out to our support team, they will be able to explain this in greater detail.
I have jazz and racing photography that own the rights to and have taken. Can those be put on shirts or on canvas large prints
Hi Gary!
Yes, of course, if you’ve a full ownership of the images, you can use them as you please.
can I use a design off of canva as a logo?
Is that my intellectual property
Hi Thomas,
Here is our Intellectual Property Policy. In case you need more assistance, feel free to reach out to our support team!
Can I use designs I created on canva for printing on demand?
Hi there,
Yes, you are able to use your designs created on Canva. As long as your designs are not trademarked or copyrighted, they should be good to go.
Hi, I just looked up the ‘slogan’/’logo’ I would like to use, but I just saw that a music group has an album with that specific name, only uploaded like 6 days ago, so I guess they’re new.. What can I do?
Hi Eva,
As long as this design isn’t trademarked or copyrighted, you should be able to use it.
Can the fonts on printify be used commercially?
Hi Lacey,
I would suggest to reach out to our support team with this question.
Hi, can we download templates from Canva, a seamless pattern and use it for clothing? these files are not copyright or trademarked but they are available as standard files on canva
Hi Ally,
Yes, you can use your designs created on Canva.
The designs available to make a mock up product, are these copyright free? Can we simply create a product in the mockup tool using the graphics available here and upload it straight to our store without copyright problems?
Hi Becca,
Yes, that is correct.
Are the graphics from printify mock up generator copyright free?
Hi Yuri,
Yes, the graphics library consists of designs that are free to use. 🙏
Would I be able to use sat for example a sports team logo if I am printing for myself and not selling to anyone else?
Hi there!
Any image can be printed, as long as it meets intellectual property policy and does not contain any prohibited content. You are only allowed to use images that you own or have the rights to use. Please see more information here.
Hi!! If I currently hold the license to print for college logos am I able to contact printify and have them sign the agreement to allow me to print? Do I need to contact my individual suppliers?
Hi Natalie,
If you have the license to print college logos, then you can do that. You can inform our merchant support team, that you have the licenses for your designs, so they don’t get flagged for infringement. There’s no need to contact individual suppliers, as that is also against our Terms of Service. You can instead simply email [email protected], and they will help you.
Can we print anime. With my own design?
Hi Luis,
As long as your designs are original and don’t infringe any copyrights or trademarks, you should be fine. If you have doubts, then I would say, better avoid it.
Is a common term like dog mum allowed?
Hi Parker Jessica,
If you have doubts, it’s best to check if this phrase is trademarked. I would guess, it’s not, but better double-check.
I see above you cannot use quotes from famous people – does this also apply if you give the name of the person?
eg: You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.
― C.S. Lewis
Can I print something like that?
Thank you
John
Hi John,
It’s best to check this sort of stuff on the appropriate websites or by consulting with a legal specialist.
Would I be able to make Pokemon clothing? Would I have to pay royalties to the company that owns it?
Hi David,
I believe, you need to purchase the rights to sell Pokemon designs.
How about Proverbs like Irish, African, Latin proverbs. For example: “Beware of the anger of a patient man – Irish Proverb”. Are those okay?
can I use a celebrity pic but add words to it?
Hi all! Can we print original drawings of historical figures (scientists)? Thanks!
can we use quotes like “it is what it is” in our own way for tshirt design ?
Hi Nima! Thank you for the question. We did an article about intellectual property, hope it will help you – https://www.wix.com/blog/ecommerce/2020/06/intellectual-property-for-print-on-demand
– Elina
Having trouble posting individual artwork
Would witty and or trending phrases be of breach?
Examples:
Quarantine Baby or Mama Hair Don’t Care or That’s what she said
What if I hold a merch license from say Disney or Universal? How do I submit such an agreement with Printify?
I would also like to know the answer to Laurnie G’s question. It seems everyone is printing quotes and likenesses left and right.
What if the design is a modification of a brand’s logo? The elements behind the modification are original but there are elements of the original content used.
How to artists/websites get away with printing and selling shirts that have phrases and quotes from tv shows and songs?