Band on Tshirt

[slimfandango]

Do I have to pay a band to use their image on a Tshirt I want to make?

[Ray the DJ]

If you took the photo then you hold the copyright.
If it's someone elses photo, you'll need their permission.

[montyy]

who's gonna know? i wouldnt bother paying them. its not like they actually need the money if they want to sue you...

[Rystan]

Here in the U.S., as Ray states, if you took the picture, you have the right to use and or resell the image itself. You could NOT, however use an image you took to produce goods for profit, such as t-shirts. This trades on the innate value of the people themselves, whom you do not have a right to.

If you didn't take the picture, there are exceptions if you are an educator using the image for educational purposes or an archivist or librarian using the image in conjunction with a not-for-profit work.

While using someone else's copywritten work is technically a violation of the law here in the U.S., it's mostly written to keep people from profiting from another's work. It is unlikely anyone would come knocking on your door for making *one* t-shirt for yourself. If you intend to make them for sale, however, you will need to obtain permission from the band and/or photographer. Should you receive it, be prepared to fork over a portion of profits to the owning entity and the band.

[slimfandango]

many thanks for those very excellent answers