Hi Everyone

This is my first post and thank god I found your forum, as this problem has really been a thorn in my side.

If anyone is kind enough to give me some advice or point me in the right direction I cannot thank you enough in advance !!!!

With regards my question I have phoned up (IPO) twice to verify and also paid a copyright lawyer on (Just Ask) to answer this question they both said the same thing which was no problem go ahead. However just recently when talking to a person involved in the arts (restoration of digital images) he said the opposite!

Basically really need some clarification here before I go any further with my project.

I am building a prototype product, which is built around or uses famous public domain masterpieces of art. The (IPO) and Lawyer both said as they are in public domain they are copyright free and can be used /amended and sold with no issues.

My arts friend said it is much more complicated than that and you have to buy a license to use them like for example the Mona Lisa, Starry night and any other very famous work.

My own personal thinking on this is if you look on the web you will find thousands of both huge and small businesses selling prints of these works. Have they all paid a license? Plus if you go on ebay, café press you will find Mona Lisa mugs, greeting cards, key rings prints, mouse mats all being sold with no problems? Have all these people paid a license?

If the answer is you should really have one but no one does and the chance of getting sued are very remote I will have to take that on board.

If however the answer is you must get a license please could you tell me or direct me where I should go to find out?

I remember hearing the great Dan Kennedy once say if he played by the exact rules with regards direct response law/regulations/rules he would be broke and you should not go out of your way to break any laws but at the same time you cant possibly do everything exactly by the book . He said if you hired a lawyer to check everything before you launch a new product venture it would basically never happen , sometimes you have to just get out there and do it ,if any problems happen then deal with them but if they don't what were you worrying about !

Great advice by a man who has been there and done it however I would still like to check a little bit first before jumping in boiling water with both feet

thank you very much for listening to my ramblings it is much appreciated and once again if anyone is kind enough to give me some advice or point me in the right direction I cannot thank you enough in advance!!!!

Best wishes to you