If I make something and say put winne the pooh on it and sell it

[Curiousmama]

Is that illegal? I'm in the process of starting up a small business custom making something. Every one I make will be geared towards the person who orders it. But if say they ask for Mickey mouse or something on it I'm assuming I'm unable to do that? Or do I just ask for permission? Obviously with it being a new business I can't afford to pay for rights.
I'll be making them for friends free to start with so they can promote me. I won't worry too much about copyright at this stage though.
TIA

If you're using branded fabric it will say on the selvedge 'not for commercial use' or somesuch. If you're thinking of, e.g. embroidering characters I think it's a reasonable rule of thumb that most won't be allowed. I know a lot of etsy sellers receive cease and desist letters for trying to sell items with copyrighted characters/images. Although I also know a seller who asked permission for a series of individual items (I think it was a hungry caterpillar theme?) and got permission for a couple of one offs.

On the other hand, if you're going to sell through word of mouth, not online or bricks and mortar shops, it's unlikely anyone will track you down

Thanks so much for that. Am thinking it'll be online though so will stick with my own designs. I'll be painting with fabric paints and sewing on generic things, butterflies etc.. so should be ok with those? As the items are all one offs aimed at each buyer I wanted to know where I stood?

I'm sure someone told me once that after a certain amount of time copyright runs out and anyone can use the images, hence why suddleny we had an influx of mickey mouse on tops in lots of differnet shops, it could be worth checking out? I could be talking bollox of course

A lot of the big manufacturers already have licences to reproduce Winnie the Pooh (Coats/Anchor and maybe DMC) and similar characters which presumably they have paid a significant amount of money for. Even to sell those kits in an internet shop you have to acknowledge the copyright and you aren't even copying them, just selling something that somebody else has paid to produce.

I think you are wise to stick to your original designs.

Winnie the Pooh copyright is owned by Disney. Disney are well known for cease and desist letters and taking trangressors to Court, so unless you have a license for the image, I would strongly suggest that you do not use it. You should also be aware that they do check the internet for images... I used to work for a TV company and we did the same.