Grateful Dead Music Forum

Looking for some help! I know everyone has done their own variations of the steal your face logo and sold it on shirts, stickers etc but legally are they supposed to get permission for this? I designed my own shirt which has my own version of the steal your face. Someone asked me if they could use it for their own profit, I said no, and now they are selling it in their store. After multiple emails his only response was to ask if I got permission from the grateful dead to use their logo and claimed I ripped them off. This just seems like a cop out to me and he is avoiding the real problem but just looking for real answer anyway and haven't had luck finding it. Thanks everyone!

I think it boils down to whether it's for commercial or personal use. Your version of the Stealie is technically also a breach of copyright but I'm guessing no-one would give a rats if your shirt was a one off. Also, my understanding is that plenty of Deadheads supported themselves on tour by selling T-shirts and similar material with variations of Dead logos and as long as it was done on a cottage industry basis, there were no problems.

However, your friend who is selling the T-shirts commercially may be in breach of copyright. If his shop is a single outlet rather than a chain and he's only selling a few he will probably get under the radar, but from an ethical perspective he should at very least ask the Dead for permission.

You may also have a legal right to that part of the design that could be considered your own work. Establishing it would be a complex legal battle that would cost you a fortune and the likely outcome would be a couple of lawyers being able to pay off their new sports cars.

I don't know if this appies but under terms of service see number 12. Usage Restrictions for Products.

http://www.dead.net/terms

I know this has been discussed here before and there are historical references but I forget what and where. Even though I was one of the ones who had a similar question.

Good luck