Copywrite on the coloring books

[Kazzellin]

Are the coloring books from our childhood in the over-20-years-old-copywrite-is-over category? My mother wants to program some coloring book images into her embroidery sewing machine so she can make some pony bags, or a quilt or something (she's not sure), but doesn't want to violate copyright laws.

Of course, I have to find my one coloring book first...

Are there any websites that have the pages on them, like a database or something? Also, I seem to recall someone mailing out pages with the ponies purchased on ebay...?

Thanks!

[sailorstitch]

G1 coloring book pages
http://mlparena.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.ShowItem&g2_itemId=45533

sailorstitch

[Kazzellin]

OH wow! Thank you, Sailortitch!

[hathorcat]

Copyright in the US would be 95 years not 20, so yes the publisher/creator does still hold copyright and in "theory" yes it would be violating copyright laws.

But, and its a big but, we have so far [fingers crossed] been very fortunate with Hasbro - they are not Disney they don't tend to have the time or energy or resources or simply consider it a bad pr exercise to chase down every single fan/collector use of their images/copyright. I am sure just a quick google or ebay/etsy search will show you the scale to which Hasbro copyright is technically being violated! Lol!!!

As long as you are not using their images to start commercially making lots of money on a large scale, I would be pretty sure you will be safe to use the images.

[Kazzellin]

Copyright in the US would be 95 years not 20, so yes the publisher/creator does still hold copyright and in "theory" yes it would be violating copyright laws.

But, and its a big but, we have so far [fingers crossed] been very fortunate with Hasbro - they are not Disney they don't tend to have the time or energy or resources or simply consider it a bad pr exercise to chase down every single fan/collector use of their images/copyright. I am sure just a quick google or ebay/etsy search will show you the scale to which Hasbro copyright is technically being violated! Lol!!!

As long as you are not using their images to start commercially making lots of money on a large scale, I would be pretty sure you will be safe to use the images.

95 years? Whoa! That's good to know.

I suggested she not do a google image search, as she could potentially end up using someone else's art sans permission, and that would not be a good thing.

Thanks, Hathorcat!

[hathorcat]

You should be safe with the link sailorstitch posted...those are all MLP Hasbro licensed colouring books. Hand on heart I dont think you have anything to really worry about especially as you are not a giant company out to make profit from Hasbro's intellectual property.

In all my years of collecting I think I have only twice see Hasbro do anything about infringements over MLP - one of them was probably down to the price of the item and the other was more because items were being sold in what looked like MLP packaging. 

[LadyMoondancer]

I think you are "safe" using coloring books as references, even though they are technically under copyright.     Even if you do attract Hasbro's attention, the most that will happen is they'll send you a cease and desist letter.   They won't fine you or throw you in prison or anything.  And like HathorCat said, they have ignored MLP fanworks for the most part.

Even that plushie maker who they contacted, they didn't actually tell her to stop making plushies . . . they just told her not to list her commission prices in public. 

[Evening_Moonstone]

You should be safe with the link sailorstitch posted...those are all MLP Hasbro licensed colouring books. Hand on heart I dont think you have anything to really worry about especially as you are not a giant company out to make profit from Hasbro's intellectual property.

In all my years of collecting I think I have only twice see Hasbro do anything about infringements over MLP - one of them was probably down to the price of the item and the other was more because items were being sold in what looked like MLP packaging. 

The only other case I've heard of Hasbro going "cease and desist" is if you're using their characters in a very inappropriate way to make money.  There was a plush of Lyra that, um... did not reflect well on the pony fandom or the Hasbro brand.  That plush maker got a cease and desist, but that's really the only case I've heard of.