Copyright and Trademark 101 guide
At DYLI, we want to help you bring your creative ideas to life while respecting the rights of others. Here’s a quick rundown on copyright, trademarks, and what’s acceptable to use in your designs.
What counts as intellectual property?
Intellectual property (IP) is any creation of the mind, like artwork, photos, music, software, logos, or brand names. IP laws protect creators so they can benefit from their work.
Copyright vs. Trademark
Copyright protects original works of authorship, like text, art, music, and film.
Trademark protects brand identifiers (like logos or company names) used to distinguish one business from another.
Copyright law basics
In many countries (including the US), copyright is automatic as soon as a creative work is made public in a tangible form (e.g., saved to a file or posted online). You can’t just copy someone else’s protected work without permission—even if you’re not making money from it.
Fair Use
Under certain circumstances—like commentary, research, or parody—you can use small portions of copyrighted work without permission. However, this is often a complex legal area, and commercial use typically doesn’t fall under Fair Use. When in doubt, consult a professional.
Public domain
Works that have expired copyrights or were never copyrighted at all fall into the public domain. If something’s in the public domain, anyone can use it without asking permission. Still, it’s best to cite the source as a courtesy to the original creator.
Stock images and assets
Not all “free” images are truly free to use for commercial products. If you’re using stock platforms, double-check licensing terms and confirm the uploader had the right to offer that work. When you’re unsure, create your own design or find materials explicitly marked as public domain.
Best practices to stay safe
Create original art. If you make it from scratch, it’s yours.
Double-check records. Use resources like the U.S. Copyright Office or USPTO databases to see if a work is copyrighted or trademarked.
When in doubt, ask for permission. Written consent from the IP owner is your best bet if you’re set on using their content.
Consult a lawyer. IP laws can be tricky, so professional advice is invaluable.
At DYLI, we take copyright infringement seriously. We use a combination of human review, user reporting, and automated artwork scans to identify and address potential violations. If content is flagged or confirmed as infringing, we remove or halt production of the design, stop sales of the drop, refund original purchasers, and comply with all relevant laws (including the DMCA). This multi-layered process helps ensure our platform remains secure, fair, and respectful of every creator’s rights.
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