Do I need to ask permission from the author and pay for printing T-shirts with game images?

Game characters and images are increasingly becoming a source of inspiration for many fashion products, especially t-shirts. From characters in League of Legends, Genshin Impact, Minecraft to Pokémon, it’s not difficult to find t-shirts printed with game images being sold on e-commerce platforms or social media. However, many people wonder if printing t-shirts with game images requires permission from the author and payment. Let’s find out more details in the article below!

Are game images protected by copyright?

According to Clause 1, Article 14 of the 2022 Intellectual Property Law, works protected by copyright include various types such as applied art works, visual works, cinematographic works, computer programs, and other works directly created by the author.

In a video game, elements such as character images; graphic interface; character costumes; maps, in-game items; game promotional images; Logos and identifying symbols are the result of creative activity and can be protected by intellectual property law.

In particular, famous game characters are often not only protected by copyright but can also be protected as trademarks or other intellectual property rights. This means that the owner has the right to control the commercial exploitation of these images.

For example, game publishers often allow players to experience the game, but this does not mean that players are allowed to use the character’s image to produce and sell commercial products.

Therefore, finding game images on the internet does not mean that the image is within the scope of free use.

Is printing game images on T-shirts considered the use of a work?

From a legal perspective, printing game images on T-shirts is a form of exploiting a protected work.

Typically, to create a T-shirt featuring a game design, the creator must:

• Copy the image from its source;

• Store or edit the image;

• Transfer the image to the product;

• Distribute or sell the product to customers.

These activities are directly related to the property rights of the copyright owner.

According to Article 20 of the Intellectual Property Law, the copyright owner has the exclusive right to exercise or permit others to exercise property rights such as:

• Create derivative works;

• Copy the work;

• Distribute, import for distribution to the public;

• Communicate the work to the public by technical means.

In the case of T-shirt printing, transferring images from the digital environment to a physical product is considered copying the work.

If the user edits the image before printing, that act may also involve the right to create derivative works.

Many people believe that simply adding text, changing colors, or partially editing an image will no longer constitute copyright infringement. However, if viewers can still identify the character or distinctive image from the game, the likelihood of copyright disputes remains very high.

Therefore, printing t-shirts with game images is not simply a design or production activity, but also an act of using a work as defined by intellectual property law.

Do I need to ask permission from the author and pay for printing T-shirts with game images?

Whether or not you need permission and payment of royalties to print game-themed t-shirts depends on the purpose of use, the scope of exploitation, and the copyright owner’s policy regarding the game’s imagery. Here are some common cases:

Case 1: Printing game-themed t-shirts for commercial purposes requires permission and payment.

According to Article 20 of the Intellectual Property Law, the right to commercially exploit a work is the exclusive right of the copyright owner. Organizations and individuals wishing to use a work for commercial purposes usually need to obtain the consent of the copyright owner.

This means that when using game images to print t-shirts for sale on the market; conducting business on e-commerce platforms; accepting custom orders; or producing large quantities for profit, the user needs permission from the copyright owner or an authorized entity.

Besides obtaining permission, users may also have to pay:

• Royalties;

• Royalties;

• Image usage licensing fees;

• Other fees as agreed upon.

In fact, many large game publishers such as Riot Games, Nintendo, Sony, or miHoYo have strict policies regarding the use of character images in commercial activities. Some cases may be free to use in non-commercial settings, but when transferred to commercial purposes, separate licensing is usually required.

Case 2: Printing game images on T-shirts does not require permission

Some exceptions may be considered under the Intellectual Property Law, such as using the work for research, teaching, or reasonable citation purposes.

However, printing game images on T-shirts for sale or product promotion almost never falls under these exceptions.

Therefore, individuals and businesses should not assume that using game images is legal simply because those images are publicly available on the internet.

Case 3: Is permission required for printing a T-shirt for personal use?

This is a frequently debated case. If someone prints a single T-shirt for personal use, not for resale or commercial exploitation, the risk of dispute is generally lower than with commercial activities.

However, in principle, the right to use the image still belongs to the copyright owner. Therefore, whether or not permission is granted depends on the copyright owner’s policy for each specific game.

In short, images, characters, and graphic elements in games are subject to copyright and other intellectual property rights under the law. Therefore, using these images for t-shirt printing, especially for commercial purposes, is generally considered copyright infringement and requires permission from the copyright owner. In many cases, users also have to pay royalties or licensing fees as agreed upon. Therefore, before producing or selling t-shirts printed with game images, individuals and businesses should thoroughly research the legal status of the images and complete all necessary procedures to avoid copyright risks.

The above is an article titled “Do I need to ask permission from the author and pay for printing T-shirts with game images?“. Using game images for t-shirt printing, especially for commercial purposes, is not always done freely; it may require permission from the copyright owner and payment of royalties as stipulated or agreed upon by the parties.

Sincerely,

FAQ