Printing video game art

Forums › Digital Imaging › Printing video game art - legal?

Ronsoak

202 posts

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#185686 1-Dec-2015 20:01

So I want to have some HQ video game art hanging in my house.

The exact art I want can't be bought and so I want to go to a HQ printer and have them done.

Will they allow it?

Sorry if wrong sub.

wellygary

8318 posts

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#1438839 1-Dec-2015 20:07

For private non commercial use, there probably isn't a major issue... How would the printer know the source anyway?

richms

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#1438870 1-Dec-2015 21:07

I gave up trying to find someone local that would print art I needed for an arcade cabinet so had a friend find a place in china on tao bao that would do it. Was way cheaper and quality was great.

For an example, a pull up screen that you use at trade shows etc was under $20 to get printed and sent here vs the 100+ locally.

Richard rich.ms

gzt

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#1438904 1-Dec-2015 21:37

Most likely they will be happy to do that.

johnr

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#1438905 1-Dec-2015 21:39

Don't try to sell it and make $$$ you should be fine

richms

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#1438947 1-Dec-2015 22:43

johnr: Don't try to sell it and make $$$ you should be fine

That doesnt work :( The 3 places I tried all refused to print copyrighted characters unless I could show I had a license to use them.

Richard rich.ms

Ronsoak

202 posts

Master Geek

#1438974 1-Dec-2015 23:53

richms:
johnr: Don't try to sell it and make $$$ you should be fine

That doesnt work :( The 3 places I tried all refused to print copyrighted characters unless I could show I had a license to use them.

Would you mind naming which shops so I know?

richms

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#1438983 2-Dec-2015 02:26

Warehouse stationary, some guy in a little shop in Mt Eden and a place with a rocket as their logo. Was about 3 years back now. Maybe for.

Richard rich.ms

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Ronsoak

202 posts

Master Geek

#1439015 2-Dec-2015 07:40

richms: Warehouse stationary, some guy in a little shop in Mt Eden and a place with a rocket as their logo. Was about 3 years back now. Maybe for.

Cheers, much appreciated

gzt

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#1439228 2-Dec-2015 12:40

richms:
johnr: Don't try to sell it and make $$$ you should be fine

That doesnt work :( The 3 places I tried all refused to print copyrighted characters unless I could show I had a license to use them.

Maybe they are oversensitive to Disney characters or characters from one rights holder?

Commercial use sensitivity?

Hammerer

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#1439257 2-Dec-2015 13:15

It's worth saying that any use of copyright or trademarked material can get you into trouble even if you think that you are OK.

The relevant point is that personal use does not allow you to copy whatever you like without getting permission to use the material. Your only safety is that nobody knows about it.

The Copyright Council of New Zealand has a good document on fair dealing which is what could make it OK. Except that it says:

Fair dealing is not a “personal use” exception to copyright infringement.

There are specific exceptions but none of them appear to cover your desire "to have some HQ video game art hanging in my house."

P.S. Most of us are more used to the term "fair use" which is the US equivalent. In the Commonwealth, "fair dealing" is the term for specific exceptions to copyright that do not require us to contact the copyright holder.

Fair use and fair dealing are not exactly the same but near enough for this situation. I couldn't find an example that allows private copying for personal use of copyrighted/trademarked characters.

Can anyone else find an exception?

gzt

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#1439271 2-Dec-2015 14:09

There is a more general case:

"Wikipedia: The factors determining whether copying for research or private study is judged to be fair dealing in New Zealand are its purpose, its effect on the potential market or value of the work copied, the nature of the work, the amount copied in relation to the whole work, and whether or not the work could have been obtained in a reasonable time at an ordinary commercial price."

But if you have a situation where a printer does not want the risk and has a policy in place to avoid it, well bringing your lawyer will not change things.

wellygary

8318 posts

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#1439281 2-Dec-2015 14:24

Hammerer:

Can anyone else find an exception?

If you are making a single copy "Research or Private study" may cover it

Journeyman

1186 posts

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#1439325 2-Dec-2015 15:38

Hammerer:
The relevant point is that personal use does not allow you to copy whatever you like without getting permission to use the material. Your only safety is that nobody knows about it.

It's relevant but... it's not really relevant. The fact that nobody knows that you printed off a one-off piece for your home is a pretty good safety. Even if the copyright holder knew, are they going to be bothered? I doubt it.