So a customer wanted their kid's favorite cartoon cake. I explained copyright laws and they asked if I had ever asked for a release. A bit surprised, I said "No, but I can sure try!" Guess what, (like you don't know from the subject 
)
The assistant to the creator emailed back and gave me the go-ahead!!! I'm so excited. This upped their order from a basic $40 cake to an over the top, but super cute $150!!!
It was PBS show and when I looked on the website, it had "contact us" info, so that was where I sent it. I use "Copyright release for Cake" as the subject line!
What a coup!!!! Jill. I'm glad that it upped the cake for you, I bet your client was extremely pleased.
I've called local colleges before and asked what their policy is on using the mascot logos on cakes. They pretty much say that as long as it's an occasional thing they don't mind...It never hurts to ask!
Yay for you! 
It's great you got a better order, but most of all, YAY for doing the right thing!
It's ironic how CC gets upset over "stolen picture" but a few (a vocal minority, I hope) heedlessly "steal" logos from others. Hey -- let's all respect each other as artists.
YAY again! (And, like you, I turn down direct copies of logos, but it's good to know that clearances can be given).
Joffy - even if there was a character pan available it has it stamped on their for home use only. So you cannot sell it. The copyrighted images should not be used without permission. There are many threads on this do a search for copyright. Disney is notorious for making sure their images aren't used in anything without their approval. By selling a cake modeled after their character you are technically making money off their protected image.
HTH
Judi
That's so good to hear! I've been wanting to make a copyrighted character for my son's b-day in a few months. So I've been planning to contact them and ask. Thanks for sharing!!
If it's just for you and you aren't selling it you can do them. It's only if you are selling them that you need permission. I assume you're not going to make your son pay you for his cake, so you should be fine!
Very clever, I love PBS characters and some of them are so difficult to find in paper goods for the party, less getting a cake!
Yes. Their characters are much less commercialized than others. I really like their website. There are tons of free printouts that can be used for parties, from invites to party hats to games. (We've had PBS-inspired parties for the past few years now.) I just get solid color paper goods and use a lot of the printouts for the decorations. This year we did Ruff Ruffman and for the party favors, printed out a pic of Ruff & Blossom onto t-shirt transfer paper and ironed to orange t-shirts for each kids. They loved it, as did the parents. The kids are already talking about what t-shirt they're going to get next year!
I received copyright release for a Transformers cake, but after going through the process, the customer backed out. So now I have the letter sitting in my file cabinet "just in case". It surprised me too when I got the "ok".
I think all they really want is the respect of someone asking to use their work, especially if a profit is going to be made off their design, etc. 
Who exactly are you contacting and how long ago was it for the Transformers cake?
Oh how cool!! And veen cooler for the Transformers... I'd have never thought. I'll be calling to see if it okay to do some characters now. Disney is near impossible... but it's nice to know others are more reasonable.
this is so interesting since every bakery i know does these types of cakes obviously without permission. One of the most well-known cake companies in Orlando has done several for me in the past with my sons birthday (a big Pooh cake and a lightning mcqueen/mater cake as well)
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