Thomas The Tank Engine Cake...copyright
Business By wernie Updated 9 Jul 2012 , 5:50am by jason_kraft
Hi everyone,
So I am new to all of this (the business side of things, anyway). I've been asked my a coworker of a friend about making a 2nd birthday cake and a baby shower cake and she wants to know pricing, etc. The baby shower cake hasn't been discussed yet, but I was told she wants Thomas the Tank Engine for the birthday cake. I can't really use this though because it is copyrighted, right? Has anyone gone about getting the right to use the character? How long does that take?
What would be your suggestions otherwise? Thanks!! 
Cake design is pretty new in Italy so everybody here make fondant characters like Winnie the pooh, Thomas Tank Engine and so on.. I've never even thought about copyright! what can happen if they catch you?
Cake design is pretty new in Italy so everybody here make fondant characters like Winnie the pooh, Thomas Tank Engine and so on.. I've never even thought about copyright! what can happen if they catch you?
I could be wrong, but I believe the fines here run from $150 to $200,000 - - for the baker AND the customer. Not worth it from my point of view.
totally agree.. but I can link almost 100 fb pages with cakes with famous characters.. are they all risking or is there a way to pay the copyright?
Some of them have permission. Some buy the deco paks just for cakes, and some buy actual toys or figurines to put on the cakes. Those are legal. Granted, a lot of bakers feel that the whole copyright issue is a joke. A lot more don't care or don't believe they're breaking the law. And a lot of them will get away with it simply because they won't get caught.
I personally won't do one without permission because it is illegal. But then, I always drive the speed limit and put my shopping cart up. Money is just not adequate motivation for me to risk it.
To request permission to duplicate Thomas the Tank Engine in BC or fondant you can contact HIT Entertainment, a division of Fisher-Price. I would start with the regional office in your area.
http://www.hitentertainment.com/corporate/contact.aspx
Some companies will grant permission, others won't. Personally I recommend having the customer request permission, that way they blame the copyright owner instead of you if they are denied. If the copyright owner denies your request you can still legally use licensed figurines, decopacs, and toppers.
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