Does anyone know if you are allowed to use Military Seals on a cake? I wanted to make a edible image, but I dont know if its allowed?
I have never heard that you can't. You can buy chocolate molds with the emblem. And I have seen (as well as done one myself in buttercream) a lot of military emblem cakes. I doubt that anyone in the military would be complaining if someone took the time to do a cake with an emblem that meant so much to them!
Yes, it is allowed, my hubby is in the Navy and I made a cake for his squadron a while back and I made an edible image, I dont see why it would be a problem at all. People do it all the time. Post a pic when you done, would love to see it 
The seals are trademarked which means legally you can't sell them without licensing. The companies that sell T-shirts and mugs and other items with these seals all have to license them. If you're making a cake or edible image to sell by request of someone in the military, they could see about getting you permission. I've had to do this with company logos...they give me permission to make the cake/edible image. The permission is usually restricted to company events. I wouldn't be allowed to sell the cake to the general public.
With all that said...a lot of people make these kinds of cakes without any problems and I would think as long as you're not mass marketing the image, you'd be fine.
Lisa does have a point. The cake I made was for my brother so I wasn't selling it. Don't know if that makes a difference legally or not.
I was told by my boss's daughter-in-law (lawyer specializing in corporate law) that the best way to make sure their are no repercussions for selling a cake like this is to alter a something in the logo, something that most people wouldn't notice just by looking, but that you can point out if ever questioned. She also told me that as a way to cover your behind when making these cakes, take a few pictures of the details, because if for some reason (which isn't very likely) something came about, you would have physical proof that you did not use the exact logo.
I believe that if the trademarked/copyrighted design is recognizable...then it's infringment meaning if someone in the courtroom could point to it and say this is the seal of the US Army...it wouldn't matter if you changed some small detail. They could still prove you copied the design.
Lisa does have a point. The cake I made was for my brother so I wasn't selling it. Don't know if that makes a difference legally or not.
Your cake is really stunning! Yes...it makes a difference. It's more difficult to prove the company sustained damages if you didn't accept any money in connection with the cake. It's almost a non-issue if you're not selling the designs but don't quote me on that. People have been sued even when they didn't gain anything financially...like if the company felt they were damaged in some other way. Mattel wouldn't want you making Barbie look bad 
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the timing for this could not have been more perfect for me.....i am a proud USMC wife.....and now a proud USMC mom .....and would like to attempt a bc transfer using the USMC globe and anchor for the upcoming USMC birthday for my two men.......i have never done one....but this site makes you feel like you can do anything with everyone's help.......my problem is I'm just not good enough to find a picture on the computer that i can use.....if anyone has one...or knows a site where i can get one please let me know.....most of the pics that i have found have been on plagues, belt buckels...etc.....and i need a good one as i will need all the help i can get!!!! 
...........and kerririchards your cake is great.....you're inspiring me!!!!..Donna 
Thank you for all the different point of views. I did a little more research and found out that the Army seal is trademarked and cant be used, but there is another image, like the cake above that is already on an edible image and has been licensed to use. I called a supermarket bakery here and they are able to print it out for me. They use it for their cakes so I am sure theirs is okay to use.
the timing for this could not have been more perfect for me.....i am a proud USMC wife.....and now a proud USMC mom .....and would like to attempt a bc transfer using the USMC globe and anchor for the upcoming USMC birthday for my two men.......i have never done one....but this site makes you feel like you can do anything with everyone's help.......my problem is I'm just not good enough to find a picture on the computer that i can use.....if anyone has one...or knows a site where i can get one please let me know.....most of the pics that i have found have been on plagues, belt buckels...etc.....and i need a good one as i will need all the help i can get!!!!
...........and kerririchards your cake is great.....you're inspiring me!!!!..Donna
I just did one with the USMC logo..
that is gorgeous MrsMissey........you did great honor to the USMC symbol.......that is exactly the picure i need......you did such a wonderful job!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i know mine won't look as good as yours....do you mind telling me where you got your picture from???was it a computer web site......better yet.....i'll fly you down here to Camp Lejeune and you can make it for me!!!!!!! 
thanks........Donna
You can find pics of the seal using google's image search.
http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=usmc%20seal&sa=N&tab=wi
that is gorgeous MrsMissey........you did great honor to the USMC symbol.......that is exactly the picure i need......you did such a wonderful job!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i know mine won't look as good as yours....do you mind telling me where you got your picture from???was it a computer web site......better yet.....i'll fly you down here to Camp Lejeune and you can make it for me!!!!!!!
thanks........Donna
Thanks so much! I'm sure yours will turn out fantastic!!
That image is from the internet somewhere...I'll see if I can find it and get it to you!
Kerririchards - how did you do that army cake! Is it chocolate ganache? And how did you get the emblem on there? What a gorgeous cake. My husband was in the USMC and the Army and he is very impressed by it!
Danielle
I did a 10" square chocolate and covered it in ganache. Then I mixed gold luster dust with piping gel and powdered sugar (got the recipe here at cc) and piped the emblem. I mixed what was left over of that color in with buttercream for the rope border. I was trying to match the copper paper - looks kind of orangey in the picture though. I got the image off of an army photo album from Hobby Lobby. Just scanned it in and then used it in my Kopykake machine. I am glad you liked it. My brother was so impressed. Of course, I am so proud of him, that absolutely nothing would be asking too much in the way of cake decorating for him!
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