talkmagic.co.uk

This might be an odd question but does anyone know if the face card design on bicycle cards are copyrighted?

For example, if I was to 'reproduce' one of these images, say the Jack of Hearts. as part of a gimmick for general sale would I potentially be in hot water? Do I need to approach the USPCC first?

Im sure on the latest wizard product review someone has a new trick deck and they could only get it similar to a bicycle deck not a 100% copy

USPCC have copyright on all their products so you could only produce 'something similar' but why not contract them and ask for permission? They can only say no but you might get lucky!

I think I will (I'm not at home at the moment so can't just yet) If the gimmick was to be sold consumers would also have to buy a bicycle deck to go with it, or one could be supplied with it, so that's a +ve for them.

As far as im aware the bicycle back design, the Ace of spades and the jokers are copyrighted. The rest of the faces, particularly the spot cards are more or less standard and can be used by anyone.

jim

One definitely legal source is Lybrary's card design files. Also much easier than making up your own from scratch!

They're standard card designs, and if not exactly identical to Bicycles, will at least be extremely similar. Near enough for almost all purposes I can think of, anyway.

I would not use the Jack of hearts as this may in fact be of copyright. In Uk it last for 50 years after the authors death but in US its now longer due to Disney pressure

If you ask USPCC they will 100% put you off and in fact would not be surprised if they change the Jack Design to keep version in Copyright ad infinitum

copyright can extend across country borders without any registration unlike other forms of IPR, this is due to the World Copyright Convention which i believe still holds

The chances of being found out are probably slim but if you get a writ it cost 500 bucks to issue it and 250,000 to defend it

Ive been there

Also note in copyright law you just cant make little changes and hope for the best as usually the guys putting the boot in have big cheque books and will take it to the court doorsteps by which time your broke...

Ace T PM'd you

It is also my understanding that the card faces are not copyrighted. As a matter of fact, there is a gentleman offering these Free Vector Playing Card Graphics...Mr. Aguilar requests that you give him the proper crediting, should you these these graphics...a small price to pay for these beautiful images. He also has ESP symbols included for download.

http://vectorized-playing-cards.googlecode.com/files/SVG_and_EPS_Vector_Playing_Cards_Version_1.2.zip

or

http://sourceforge.net/projects/vector-cards/files/


Check out his posted information on the "Green" site
Here

Best Magical Regards,

Mark Williams