Copyrights and trademarks.   

A few days ago, we featured a video with a snowman and several other costumed characters.  In the future, we plan on a series of videos that will explain how to build this type of cartoon character for your own use. 

A caveat now, and a caveat for the future is to not duplicate an already existing costumes cartoon character.  If you’ve seen it on TV, in the comic strips, in the movies, it likely has been copyrighted and is illegal for anyone to duplicate without the express permission of the copyright holder.  And frankly, even if it’s for a worthy cause (as in raising money for a charity, for school, for anything) most copyright holders will not be cooperative in allowing you to use or duplicate their characters.

Altering your character a little (different nose, different hat, etc) does not necessarily mean you are not duplicating someone else’s character.  If it looks like ‘Frosty’, then it is ‘Frosty’.

And lastly, even if your character is substantially different, don’t name it the same as an existing famous character.  Don’t call your snowman, ‘Frosty’, for instance.

Be careful! Be creative!  

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