personalised greetings cards

[goldheart]

Not sure if this is the right place to post but....

I'm currently producing personalised funny greetings cards for people, for example putting someone's head on another persons body - like popstar / bodybuilder / ballarina or placing someone driving their dream car with their dream girl - that type of stuff, basically anything the person wants... Anyway my question is how do I stand legally with regards to copyright law? I want to advertise in my local newsagents that I can do this for people, however someone told me that as sometimes I get images from google or I might put someone's face on an album cover or film poster, it would be illegal for me to use them. Someone else told me that as long as I am supplied the images by the client it is ok to use them, or that I get the client to sign a disclaimer putting liability with them. If this is the case Im happy to produce a disclaimer - but has anyone got any idea what Id need to write and if it would be enough to cover me in case I used a photo of that I shouldnt and someone rams "copyright" down my throat!!

[chris-n-vick]

ok i am assuming you are making a small charge for these cards.......??

as i understand it, any image you are allowed to use "royalty free" is only "free to use" as long as it is used non-commercially (ie: you do not charge anything for its used on). that would also apply i guess even to images your client supplies you UNLESS they are the outright owner of that image.

some people will allow you to use their image commercially for free as long as the image is credited to them, and others will either charge a small fee or even say no totally.

i think your first and easiest course of action would be to e.mail the webmaster of the site you wish to use an image from, explain to them why you want to use the image and ask for written permission from them for its use. be aware that this will only work if the image is owned by that website and they have not "borrowed it" themselves.

2nd course of action would be to purchase one of the 100's of commercially available "clip-art" packages... PC-World or any good software retailer have these available... they usually come with over 50,000 images on many different subjects and can be purchased for as little as �15.

now also FYI i actually know a lady who does the exact same thing as what you are wishing to do and am happy to talk to her for more information for you if there is anything more specific you wish to know.

[goldheart]

Thanks v. much for your answer. I would be very grateful if you could have a word with your friend, any more useful bits of information would be great. 

Regarding these clip art packages, are they sort of cartoon-like images or photos?

[chris-n-vick]

the clip-art packages are generally cartoon style images.

i will be seeing my friend this thursday and will ask her then for you.