QA

Quick Answer: How To Legally Sell Fan Art

How To Sell Fan Art Legally You can apply to the copyright owner for written permission or consent. List your art for sale on a site such as Redbubble, who already have implemented the processes to collect royalties on your behalf for specific copyright owners.

Do you need a license to sell fan art?

The main way to get permission to sell fan art is to obtain a license from the copyright holder. For most artists who create fan art and do not expect to have the volumes of sales to support the cost of a license there is also the option of paying royalties through a site such as RedBubble.com.

Is it legal to sell fan art on Etsy?

Can I Sell Fan Art on Etsy: Just as you CAN rob a store, you CAN sell fan art and copyrighted works on Etsy, however just as with any form of breaking the law: it’s at your own risk. In some cases you may be protected by fair use but as soon as you’re making money from it, assume that you’re not.

Is it legal to create fan art?

Most fan art work is probably not legally permitted, and most likely infringes on someone’s copyright. If the owner does not consent to a particular use of a work, fan art may be considered infringement of either the copyright and/or trademark of the original work that the art is based on.

Is it legal to sell fan art of celebrities?

You should avoid selling celebrity portraits unless you have permission to do so. In most states, you have a “Right of Publicity” which prohibits anyone from selling or exploiting your name, likeness, or personal features without your consent.

Is it legal to sell fan art on redbubble?

When your fan art is approved, it means that the owner of the IP you used is part of the Redbubble partner program, and has given you permission to use their intellectual property in this particular work and sell it on Redbubble (but it’s important to remember that their permission doesn’t extend to anywhere else).

Is selling anime fanart illegal?

As a short answer, it is totally okay to sell anime art if it’s an original creation and not fan art. It’s okay to sell anime fan art if you have the copyright holder’s permission to do so. Otherwise, it’s illegal to sell fan art.

Is unlicensed merch illegal?

No it is not legal, it can get you into a lot of trouble. Using images created by others without permission is copyright infringement. Some territories have unregistered trademark rights, unregistered design rights, and laws against “passing off” of unlicensed products.

Is Harry Potter fan art illegal?

You can’t use anything from Harry Potter for commercial purposes (i.e. selling it). Saying your art is “inspired by” does not get around the infringement issue. You should create your own art, rather than try to find a way to use someone else’s name, brand, creation, art, or other copyrighted or trademarked work.

Can I sell Disney fanart?

You cannot sell your drawings of Disney characters because, by doing so, you would be infringing on The Walt Disney Company’s copyrights and trademarks. These characters are their intellectual property. If you want to sell your Disney artwork, you have to secure a license from them.

Are fan films legal?

Legality. Due to copyright protection, trademark protection and limited fair use provisions, fan films made without official authorization might exist in a legal grey area. Still, fan films often operate under the radar or IP owners turning a blind eye as long they are non-commercial activities.

Can you draw characters and sell them?

You cannot sell derivative artworks made of copyrighted characters, and the only exception is if you have written permission from the copyright holder. Every day, Disney, and previously Lucasfilm, is sending DCMAs or Cease and Desists telling people to take down their artwork.

Can I paint a picture of someone famous and sell it?

You can sell a fine art painting of a celebrity as long as it is a transformative work of art. This means it needs to be artistic in nature, not just a faithful likeness. The painting cannot copy an existing work of art (including a photo), and cannot interfere with a celebrity’s “right of publicity”.

Is it illegal to draw a copyrighted photo?

Photographs can be copyrighted. A drawing made from a copyrighted photograph is a derivative work; such a drawing can be published only if the copyright owner of the underlying photograph has given his express consent. The artist of the drawing also has a copyright on all aspects original to his or her drawing.

Can you sell paintings of photos?

The creator of the photograph, i.e. the photographer, usually holds the copyright to the photo and unless they’ve expressly given permission for its use, making a painting based on a photo would infringe the photographer’s copyright.

Is it legal to sell fan art prints?

Technically speaking, there’s nothing illegal in the US about making and selling fan art because copyright isn’t enforced criminally. If you don’t want that threat hanging over your shoulder, your best option is to try to get permission from the copyright owner to make and sell your fan art.

Is Ranboo OK with selling fanart?

Profile pictures/layouts: Ranboo does not like people using him as pfps/layouts if they are getting into arguments, indicating he is fine with it otherwise. Fanfiction/NSFW: Ranboo has said that he is okay with fanfiction involving him as long as it isn’t NSFW or overly invasive.

Is it legal to sell fanart Reddit?

So as far as I know, it is 100% illegal to sell fanart. If you don’t have have rights to the character you are not allowed to sell it. Despite this people will always get away with it. This isn’t always a problem with the copyright holder because in most cases, these people are making a very small amount of money.

Can I sell anime art on Etsy?

It is illegal to sell any artwork that resembles licensed anime characters. Shops are shut down for this every day on Etsy when reported for violating copyrights.

Are fan animations illegal?

The key point to remember is this: Fan fiction and fan art are, usually, an infringement of the right of the copyright holder to prepare and license derivative works based on the original. This is almost without exception. There are many lines that a fan artist can cross and wind up in legal trouble.

Is it illegal to sell fan art UK?

The basic law is that whoever holds the copyright to a certain thing has the sole right to make and sell “derivative works” , including sequels, based on the original concept. Even characters in a book or plot elements can have copyright protection. Fan fiction can definitely be considered a “derivative work”.

Is it legal to sell fan art on Redbubble?

When your fan art is approved, it means that the owner of the IP you used is part of the Redbubble partner program, and has given you permission to use their intellectual property in this particular work and sell it on Redbubble (but it’s important to remember that their permission doesn’t extend to anywhere else).

Is fan art protected by fair use?

The fair use doctrine under copyright law does not give carte blanche protection from infringement to entire genres of derivative works like “fan art” or “mash-ups,” or to “noncommercial” depictions of famous characters. (1) The purpose and character of your use of the derivative work.

Can I paint Mickey Mouse and sell it?

You cannot sell your drawings of Disney characters because, by doing so, you would be infringing on The Walt Disney Company’s copyrights and trademarks. These characters are their intellectual property. If you want to sell your Disney artwork, you have to secure a license from them.

Is it legal to post fan art on Instagram?

Fan art is fine as long as you are not profiting from it. Same for “derivative” and “fair use”.

Is selling fan art legal Reddit?

So as far as I know, it is 100% illegal to sell fanart. If you don’t have have rights to the character you are not allowed to sell it. Despite this people will always get away with it. This isn’t always a problem with the copyright holder because in most cases, these people are making a very small amount of money.

Can I be sued on Etsy?

Well, given that copyright law is no-fault, then anytime a user uploads infringing content to companies like Etsy, YouTube, or Vimeo, they could be sued.

Can you get in trouble on Etsy?

When we receive repeat notices of infringement regarding a particular shop, allowing the shop owner to continue selling can put Etsy at serious risk. Even if the seller doesn’t post that particular item ever again, it’s possible that other items in that shop may also have problems.

How many copyright strikes can you get on Etsy?

Etsy has a 3 strikes and you’re out policy.

Can you get sued for making fan art?

Technically speaking, there’s nothing illegal in the US about making and selling fan art because copyright isn’t enforced criminally. Rather, copyright owners enforce their rights by suing infringers in federal civil court.