carving movie figures?

[takeaction]

Question...

Is it legal to carve movie figures? Like, if I wanted to carve hellboy... Is this legal? If you made a really good one, could you sell it?

[Claude]

Probably Fox Chapel has this book: Woodcarving Adventure Movie Caricatures: <span class="subtitle">Carving Your Heroes from the Silver Screen</span>

Claude

[takeaction]

thank you. That was one of my newbie questions.

[Eddy-Smiles]

Depends on where you plan to sell it. Advertise it on the web or some other widely commercialized spot and you might run into copyright problems. Sell it at a local craft show and you'd proably be alright, or at least your chances of getting caught would be greatly reduced!

[takeaction]

so is that a "no, it's not legal"?

[Claude]

More of a "maybe"...if it's in the Fox Chapel book, you can make a carving and sell it. You can't sell the printed pattern, though, unless you sell the entire book. It is legal to sell a book you've purchased - that's how used book stores thrive.

If a character is not in that book, then the answer is "maybe". Some movie/TV companies might object; others might consider it free advertising. I've heard rumors that the Mouse won't allow any of it's characters to be copied/produced by anyone else in any form.

When in doubt, go to their web site, search for "Contact Us", and send them an email and ask permission.

Claude

[vacation212]

Ice CreamI doubt very much if you would get permission to do such a carving particularly as current as Hellboy.

[chuckbolton]

it would have to be a near prefect duplicate to raise much objection in most cases-- and u cant produce enough of ur pieces to cause them much trouble. i wouldnt worry about it-- i do some john deere signs-- i change the logo enough that its not a duplicate-- and only do 5-6 a yr--

[Eddy-Smiles]

Again... Just don't go around waving red flags in anyone's face! You can visit any local craft show and see questionable carvings and designs but they're not done enmasse and they're not advertised except for laying out on a table. In this situation the chances are highly unlikely that anyone would raise an objection.