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So I have a bit of a question I thought maybe Dakka could help me out with.

I've noticed that despite all the 3rd Party companies in the hobby, there really isn't one that makes shirts. Is there a legal reason for this? I was wondering if somebody had some more knowledge on the whole situation with the GW ip and how that would affect shirt printing. With Chapter House able to make specific legion shoulder pads etc I would think there has to be some leeway to make shirts with specific legion logos on them. I would like to get into this business if there is a place for it.

For example, are the individual legion's symbols all copyrighted? Could anybody offer some guiding light on this topic? Thanks!

Because producing other peoples' trademarked artwork is infringement. The logos and such are copyrighted.

I understand that is the major element of it, that's why I was hoping to get clarification.

How can a model company print said copyrighted logos but a shirt company couldn't?

morgendonner wrote:I understand that is the major element of it, that's why I was hoping to get clarification.

How can a model company print said copyrighted logos but a shirt company couldn't?

-Image removed by insaniak. How about we not insult someone just because they don't happen to know as much as you do about how trademarks work, hmm? -

Because they OWN the logo.
They OWN all Trademarks associated with the games they produce, and that's why a third party company can't print/produce items that infringe the copyright without explicit permission from Games Workshop.

If you own a DoW game, load it up and on the main load screen read the large block of text at the bottom and you'll understand or just pick up the BRB and read the very last page, just after the "Roll of Honour".

Knights-Abhorrent wrote:
Because they OWN the logo.
They OWN all Trademarks associated with the games they produce, and that's why a third party company can't print/produce items that infringe the copyright without explicit permission from Games Workshop.

If you own a DoW game, load it up and on the main load screen read the large block of text at the bottom and you'll understand or just pick up the BRB and read the very last page, just after the "Roll of Honour".

I fully understand that, so my question (if you actually read it) is what allows 3rd party model companies to use things like the Salamanders or Iron hands logo? I would appreciate some amount of courtesy, I don't think my question was that stupid.

This is why there is currently a lawsuit between GW and some of those (ok one of those) companies.

NOTHING allows a 3rd party to do it. Except written permission and contracts stating they can do so between themselves and Games Workshop.

I thought the court case ended in Chapter House's favor? That's the reason I'm trying to get clarification, thank you for a civilized post.

morgendonner wrote:I thought the court case ended in Chapter House's favor? That's the reason I'm trying to get clarification, thank you for a civilized post.

Nope. That case is still ongoing, man. There's a 70+ page thread on it. The case is still alive and kicking.


edit: Linky here, man! Have fun reading through it.

That's a shame, because I'd really like a 40k T-shirt. Perhaps with an Eldar/Dark Eldar theme. Or with an Avatar of Khaine on, yeah.

Not sure I'd wear it outside though

Uh, because GW owns the rights to everything about it, and without their expressed written consent, you cannot reproduce it in any way that would make a profit for you.

Having said that, it can't hurt to send them an email, if you really think you have the means to do such a thing. They used to have a cypher shirt... can't find a pic ATM...

Why hasn't GW taken up the offer of making a line of t-tshirts and hoodies. I mean I would like to have The Adaptas Mechanicus logo on the back of a t-shirt or hoody.

Yeah, really. I would love a shirt that's like a Word Bearers legionnaire's torso, with some brutal script on the back, scrolls, books, flames, etc. It could work. Put that design team to use GW!

LORD_PANTERA wrote:Why hasn't GW taken up the offer of making a line of t-tshirts and hoodies. I mean I would like to have The Adaptas Mechanicus logo on the back of a t-shirt or hoody.

They've had them from time to time in the past. They used to sell a Games Day T-shirt each year, along with shirts for any of the major events.

The Black Library also sold a series of shirts featuring characters from the books and comics.

They were usually fairly pricey though, and I doubt they sold well.

Have you not Googled '40k t shirts'?

One of many results from a simple search. And some nice t shirts too (The Ork glyph one is a particular favourite).

http://www.zazzle.co.uk/40k+gifts

I've seen some excellent Nurgle t shirts online too.

The_Happy_Pig wrote:Have you not Googled '40k t shirts'?

One of many results from a simple search. And some nice t shirts too (The Ork glyph one is a particular favourite).

http://www.zazzle.co.uk/40k+gifts

I've seen some excellent Nurgle t shirts online too.

Yes I have, and I know sites like zazzle or cafepress are sure to have a bunch, but I was just curious in the world we live in with so many 3rd party companies why there isn't one specializing in clothing. Even if it had labels like "space elf runic shirt" or "rage and skull shirt" etc. It just seems like a market that could have a large demand and nobody catering to it.

There are plenty of 3rd party shirts out there.

My buddy has a camo green T-shirt with a 5+ on it. He tends to wear it when he plays guard.

Samus_aran115 wrote:Uh, because GW owns the rights to everything about it, and without their expressed written consent, you cannot reproduce it in any way that would make a profit for you.

Having said that, it can't hurt to send them an email, if you really think you have the means to do such a thing. They used to have a cypher shirt... can't find a pic ATM...

Does that mean you can make your own shirts (ie iron on transfers) and as long as you don't sell them, you are good?

The Mad Tanker wrote:
Does that mean you can make your own shirts (ie iron on transfers) and as long as you don't sell them, you are good?

As long as you're not selling things you can generally do whatever.

Brother SRM wrote:

The Mad Tanker wrote:
Does that mean you can make your own shirts (ie iron on transfers) and as long as you don't sell them, you are good?

As long as you're not selling things you can generally do whatever.

Yup.
You can sit at home all day drawing space marines and that's dandy. But if you sell a picture, you're breaking the law.

The only 40k shirt I own is the first '40k Radio' podcast shirt created in the early stages of the show (before the whole Spencer-gate downward spiral). It has a Space Marine image on the front of it...which of course was a big no-no and led them to promptly ditch the shirts for new ones featuring the (then) newly created 40k Radio logo.

So yea, the only 40k shirt I have is 'illegal'. I feel like such a bad-ass now! :p

What I really wanted was one of the Ultramarine shirts that they had when Space Marine the video game came out. Unfortunately you couldn't buy them. They were studio only - but man they were really cool looking.

I would buy shirts and other product if they released it. They used to sell it but I think they basically decided that it wasn't worth the effort on their part. (Cost to benefit)

cvtuttle wrote:What I really wanted was one of the Ultramarine shirts that they had when Space Marine the video game came out. Unfortunately you couldn't buy them. They were studio only - but man they were really cool looking.

I would buy shirts and other product if they released it. They used to sell it but I think they basically decided that it wasn't worth the effort on their part. (Cost to benefit)

There's these ones though...





http://www.play.com/Search.html?searchstring=space+marine&searchsource=0&searchtype=clothingall

I've got a few Tanith ones from black Library, sadly all my tank ones wore out from over use, and Aura has a Skaven one and a Stone Troll.

I do ponder why no one has had a go though, when you look at a company like JINX, that is rolling out multiple game lines now, with some high quality and nice ideas for T-shirts based on things such as WoW, The Old Republic, Valve, LoL and Minecraft.

I have to wonder if they would be a market for GW themed shirts. I think there would be a fair bit of interest.
Hell if you just did the Ork Klans, A selection of the main Marine chapters and the like, I think they'd be popular, never mind before you start on themed or comedy ones.