Can I sell a shirt with a logo on it?
Asked by: Reuben Effertz | Last update: February 1, 2026Score: 4.9/5 (34 votes)
You generally cannot sell a shirt with someone else's logo without explicit permission because logos are protected by copyright and trademark laws; using them without a license is illegal infringement, even if you found the image online. You can only sell shirts with logos if you have a licensing agreement from the owner, use your own original designs, or use images in the public domain or under royalty-free licenses.
Can I sell shirts with logos?
To legally use a copyrighted logo on a shirt, ideally, you should seek permission from the copyright holder or consider purchasing a license for the design.
Is it legal to put a logo on a shirt?
Steer clear of putting branded logos on t-shirts
More often than not, logos are trademarked. Even if a logo isn't (or you're unsure whether it is), that still doesn't mean you're in the clear because most logos belong to a registered business, brand, or company. So, only the owner is allowed to use it.
How to avoid copyright infringement with t-shirts?
To avoid t-shirt copyright infringement, use only original designs, public domain art, or images with explicit licenses (like Creative Commons); always assume content found online is protected; avoid branded logos, characters, and celebrity likenesses; and conduct reverse image searches to verify ownership, understanding that even slight alterations usually don't prevent infringement.
Can you put an image on a shirt and sell it?
Copyright protects original works, including t-shirt designs and digital photography, as soon as they are created. Always create original content, use licensed material, or ensure the content is public domain or royalty-free.
Copyright Infringement for Clothing Designs EXPLAINED
Do logos fall under fair use?
Logos are the property of their respective trademark owners. Logo usage must comply with the principles of “fair use,” which allow referencing a brand without endorsement, misrepresentation, or alteration. If you're unsure, consult a legal professional.
What can I legally put on a shirt?
Legally, you can put your original creations, public domain works, common phrases, national symbols, and transformative parodies/commentary on a shirt, but avoid copyrighted characters, logos, lyrics, or celebrity likenesses unless you have a license. Focus on unique designs, facts, or items where copyright/trademark protection has expired for safe commercial use, and always verify licensing for any royalty-free images.
Can I sell a shirt with a quote on it?
You only need a license if the quote is protected by copyright and not in the public domain. For public domain or self-created quotes, you do not need a license.
What is the 3 month rule for copyright?
The "copyright 3 month rule" refers to a key deadline for U.S. copyright registration: you must register your work within three months of its first publication (or before infringement begins) to be eligible to claim statutory damages and attorney's fees in a copyright infringement lawsuit, which can be crucial for remedies beyond just an injunction. Failing to meet this deadline means you generally can only sue for actual damages (harder to prove) if infringement occurs, but registration is still vital for other benefits and to sue at all, notes Donahue Fitzgerald LLP and Cotman IP.
Can someone steal my logo if it's not trademarked?
If your logo is registered with the USPTO (U.S. Patent and Trademark Office), you have a strong legal foundation to stop others from using it. But even without registration, you may still have common law rights if you've been using the logo consistently in commerce.
What is the 3-3-3 rule for clothes?
The 3-3-3 rule for clothes is a minimalist styling method where you select 3 tops, 3 bottoms, and 3 pairs of shoes to mix and match, creating a capsule wardrobe for easier dressing, especially for travel or reducing decision fatigue. This strategy, popularized by TikToker Rachel Spencer, helps you see new outfit combinations (3x3x3 = 27 looks!) with fewer versatile, high-quality pieces, simplifying mornings and encouraging intentional style.
Can I put my company logo on a Nike shirt?
Add your logo to our large selection of Custom Nike Apparel including Golf polos, caps, bags, and more. Our large selection of custom embroidered Nike team apparel like shirts, polos, and jackets will give you the ability to treat your employees and clients to the best in name brand golf and executive logo apparel.
Can I sell a shirt with a character on it?
Cartoon characters and comic-book characters
You can be found in violation of not only copyrights but also trademark laws. The same applies to cartoon characters from TV shows or video games. Don't use these types of characters in your t-shirt designs unless the copyright owner has granted you written permission.
Can I sell handmade items with logos on them?
Not without permission. Even if it's your own drawing or 3D design, if it features someone else's character, logo, or likeness, you may be infringing their intellectual property.
Can I sell t-shirts with celebrities on them?
If the celebrity doesn't own it, then the photographer probably does. Brian Wickstrom the one sticky point with using public domain photos of celebrities is that while the photo is not copyrighted, using a celebrity's image and/or likeness without their permission or licensing is an infringement violation.
Is it better to get a TM or a copyright?
Neither trademark (TM) nor copyright is inherently "better"; they protect different things, so the best choice depends on what you're shielding: trademarks protect brand identifiers (logos, names, slogans) for infinite duration with use, preventing consumer confusion, while copyrights protect original creative works (books, art, music, code) for life plus 70 years, preventing unauthorized copying. Often, you need both, like a trademark for your company logo and copyright for the artwork within that logo, to fully protect your brand and creative assets.
What happens if I don't register my copyright?
Unregistered copyrights still offer protections, and an owner can still take action against infringement. However, the owner would be limited to actual damages, which may be more difficult to prove. In addition, without registration, it may be harder for an individual to prove their ownership in court.
How many seconds to avoid copyright?
In the world of music and copyright, there's a commonly perpetuated myth that using a small snippet, such as 10 seconds, of a copyrighted song won't lead to infringement. Unfortunately, this notion isn't accurate. The truth is, there is no 'safe' duration of use that universally protects from copyright infringement.
What is the new rule of copyright?
The Copyright (Amendment) Rules, 2025 mark an important shift in the way copyright licensing and royalty payments will function in India. The central idea behind the amendment is straightforward: payments made for using copyrighted works must move into a fully digital, traceable system.
How to avoid copyright on tshirts?
Make Custom T-shirt Designs
Avoid deriving from other people's copyrighted work and simply design original ideas. There are two ways in which you can achieve this: Creating the design by yourself using dedicated graphic designing software, or. Hiring a freelance designer to do the job for you.
What quotes can I legally use?
You DON'T need permission:
To use quotes from famous people as long as they are used in a brief and positive or neutral way to support your independent work - and with prop- er attribution. To quote or reference the title or author of a work such as books, poems, movies, TV shows or songs.
Can I sell shirts with car brands on them?
It might be perfectly legal for you to sell clothes with an old El Dorado or a 57 Fury printed on them, but as soon as you put "Cadillac" or "Plymouth" or "Christine" on them, chances are you're infringing upon a trademark.
Is it illegal to put a logo on a shirt?
In general, it's best to assume that you're not allowed to use another person's or company's logo design unless you have explicit permission to do so. To produce custom apparel with logos, make sure you show proof that you are allowed to use it on any merchandise.
What is the rule of 7 in clothing?
The "Rule of 7" in clothing is a styling guideline where you assign points to outfit elements (basics get 1 point, statement/patterned pieces get 2) and aim for a total of 7 or 8 points to create a balanced, styled look, adding items if you have fewer than 6 or removing them if you have more than 9 or 10, incorporating layers, accessories, and textures for depth.
What happens if you use a logo without permission?
If you use a copyrighted work without authorization, the owner may be entitled to bring an infringement action against you. There are circumstances under the fair use doctrine where a quote or a sample may be used without permission.