I’ve had an idea to create a t-shirt design for a very long time. It has a catchy phrase and symbol that will represent an organization and/or business I plan to start in the future.
I’d like to sell the t-shirts or offer them for donations to raise money for this project and spread the word. Yes, I know this idea has been done over and over, but I really think this will catch on with the public. Won’t hurt to try right????
Ok, is there any way to market and sell the t-shirt without others attempting to take credit for the phase and logo/symbol design?
Where could I buy t-shirts in bulk and/or find someone to draw the design I have in mind for the t-shirts. Thanks
Also, the t-shirt logo will be the name of the organization or business I’d like to create, if that makes a difference with legal rights.
Dont have an answer but have always wanted to know as well.
Contact a patent/copyright attorney.
Though copyrighting something does not prevent someone from duplicating your idea, it provides legal remedies if someone does.
first of all, you need to have the market now. not some time later because then your t-shirts will look like a scheme for money. someone might come up with that name and create a market or business before you.
for the credit, see patents on logos and images. there are many but this is necessary unless you want to get charged sometime along the way.
you could buy t shirt in bulk in any public market. it may be wiser to go to a public market instead of a mall because you actually get a discount if you purchase goods in retail amount.
you can have your design printed and you can give it to printing companies and they will prin the design onto the t shirts. you can also do a test run at home. have your image inverted (because when you iron it down it will become in mirror view, !ih intead of hi!; and unless you want your logo in mirror, you must invert your image). then print it on a regular acetate and iron it onto the t shirt (have something between the acetate and the iron or the acetate will melt and you will ruin your shirt.
You don’t need a copyright attorney.. just look up the copyright laws and follow the procedure.. in 1978.. copyright laws state that when an idea is first created and written or recorded.. the copyrights start right then and there.. It is easy to send your work samples to the office and get your copyrights.. just look it up.. google will guide you.. the copyrights and you will have federal number to back you up.. be sure to note on all your products that they are copyright protected..post the number where it can be seen.. as far as tee shirts.. you can buy them by the gross..again..google can guide you to the companies who sell them.. be sure to get good ones.. good luck
Very difficult to protect your copyrights on a T shirt. I suggest you set up your company and then put the company name on the shirt – that way someone can not copy your business name. They can get close to your design though – Ask Nike!
With respect to design go to guru.com/elance.com – there are a lot of good designers there. Ensure your maintain copyrights.
Cafepress.com might be a good place to start – you can sell your t shirts and other stuff as they are sold. They are a very well established company.