Copyright/trademark issues when printing images of casino chips (1 Viewer)

[Bender3000a]

I know that copyright/trademark issues have been discussed many times on this forum in respect to creating a custom chip set using an existing casino's chip design. I'm curious what copyright/trademark rules apply when we take a photo of a casino chip that we own and print that image on an item being sold for profit, like a t-shirt or poster? Does the casino own the rights to that image of the chip? Anyone have experience or knowledge with this? Thanks.

 

[Amarena Fabbri]

You don't own any casino chips - they're all property of the casino.

 

[Windwalker]

I know that copyright/trademark issues have been discussed many times on this forum in respect to creating a custom chip set using an existing casino's chip design. I'm curious what copyright/trademark rules apply when we take a photo of a casino chip that we own and print that image on an item being sold for profit, like a t-shirt or poster? Does the casino own the rights to that image of the chip? Anyone have experience or knowledge with this? Thanks.

This isn’t legal advice, and I do not practice law. Please consult an attorney before doing anything.

If the chip you’re taking a photo of has a recognizable trademark (logo, wordmark, symbol) and that trademark is still live (meaning, the casino you’re using the chip from still exists, uses the trademark, and has maintained its trademark status), then you cannot do what you describe without violating / infringing on the trademark.

The only right you have to use anthers registered mark, without permission or a license, must be in accordance with the rules of "Fair Use." For example, you could publish an article with copy of the logo and make the point that it is an ugly logo and unsuitable for human eyes. But you definitely cannot print it on a commercial product without infringement.