There’s nothing more frustrating than losing photo resolution with resizing. We’ve all been there. Now that everyone’s posting flawless pictures with their smartphones and top-of-the-line cameras, grainy images just don’t seem to cut it. Read more
Content marketing. It raises brand awareness, it drives traffic and most of all, it’s free. Now is the time where consumers want more. You may have amazing t-shirt designs, but that alone is not enough. Content is what you need to produce long-lasting and loyal relationships with your customers. The more you put out there, the more your brand awareness will grow. Read more
Between smartphones, computers and tablets, there are apps for almost everything. There’s no denying it. Technology is constantly making our lives easier.
When you’re producing new designs for the merchandise in your online shop, a lot of the creative work can get tedious. Well, you’re in luck because we’re about to share ten of the most useful apps for designers. Read more
Who are you selling to? That is one of the most important questions to constantly ask yourself as an entrepreneur. It’s vital to know the top concerns of your audience so you can develop content that speaks to them in the right way. This is buyer persona, and this is why it’s essential for your online shop. Read more
Pinterest is commonly recognized as trendy social platform. However, in recent years, its focus has shifted from a social-centric network to an effective search engine, jam-packed with SEO opportunities. The power of selling on Pinterest is undeniable, but to make the most of it, it’s important to know how to optimize your profile, boards and pins.
You’ve put in the work, the effort and the passion, but where are the sales? The feeling is frustrating but there’s no need to get discouraged. Why? Because we have some tips to help you reel in the big bucks! Read more
With the large variety of fonts online, you’re probably wondering why you’d ever need to create your own. Fonts communicate the tone of written messages. Simply bolding a word can change the whole perception of a sentence. If you’re looking for the right typeface to get your message across, say goodbye to scrolling through font libraries, we’re here to show you how to create your own! Read more
We’re living in a world where people want information fast. Therefore, utilizing image-based social media is monumental. Creative images have the power to capture the attention of your audience in a way that words cannot. Read more
YouTube is known as a video-based search engine. However, YouTube’s videos are also incorporated into Google’s search results. That being said, posting one simple video offers long-term value across two of the world’s most popular search engines. If you’re a shop owner, consider utilizing YouTube to sell your merchandise and grow your brand presence. Read more
Selling designs and opening your own shop is easier than ever thanks to print on-demand. But with the freedom to create and sell in such an efficient way, potential legal risks might arise.
Most shop owners have presumably heard of copyright laws, but many might uninformed about what these laws entail. So, how can you be completely sure you’re not going to end up in the middle of a legal disaster and make designs your audience will love?
Here at Spreadshop, we’ve got you covered. We’ll jump into the most important copyright FAQs that will allow you to continue designing without any legal worries!
Let’s start with the obvious question: what exactly is copyright? To give a broad, technical definition, it’s the proprietorship of a specific piece work; the proprietor(s) owns the right to distribute, commercialize, replicate and profit from it in any other way.
In short, if a design is copyrighted, you shouldn’t start selling it or something similar in your shop. Only the owner of that exclusive design has the authorization to monetize it. This doesn’t just go for t-shirt designs either. Any written, visual, or even verbal content, has the potential to fall under the copyright law.
Now, if you love a design that’s proprietary, you don’t need to trash the idea completely. Use the copyrighted design as inspiration to come up with an even better concept for your shop!
It seems like there’s so many limitations when you’re simply trying to come up with a design for your shop. Don’t let these limitations hold you back. There is still plenty of room for creative opportunity. You just need to think outside of the box!
While certain designs are off-limits, there are countless designs that are available for commercial use as well. We recommend using any of the following methods when designing gear for your Shop.
The public domain is a collection of creative material that is not protected under the copyright law. Everything is available for public use. Content existing in the public domain is either donated content, expired copyright content, or content that has been forfeited in some way. There are thousands of great t-shirt design ideas within the public domain. If you have an idea that you want to bring to life, start looking there!
Although the public domain is a helpful resource, all public content has the potential to become copyrighted. Yes, everything is fair-game, but that doesn’t mean content can’t become copyrighted down the road. It’s unlikely that one of your Shop’s public domain t-shirt designs will suddenly fall under the copyright law, but it’s important to be aware of the possibility.
You found the perfect graphic for your Shop, but you’re not sure if it’s copyrighted. How do you know what to do? Here are a few simple tricks to help determine whether an image falls under the copyright law.
It’s also helpful to be informed on how fair-use is assessed. Each copyright license is different, so it’s important to consider the restrictions and guidelines that follow. Just remember, until you’re certain an image isn’t copyrighted, don’t take the risk of adding it to your Shop.
People are attracted to quotes and sayings because they affect us on an emotional level. That’s why t-shirt designs with quotes are often top sellers among those with Shops. Quotes are free to be used commercially when you think of them yourself. However, things get a bit tricky when using quotes from copyrighted pieces of work.
We don’t want to bore you with the complicated legal details, so we’ve put together a list of do’s and don’ts for t-shirt quotes.
Shop owners automatically maintain the rights to any designs submitted to the Spreadshop platform. Once your design is available for purchase, you’re not required to do anything further for ownership. However, there are many advantages to copyrighting your t-shirt designs though the copyright office. You’ll not only have a public record of proprietorship, but it will also confirm the copyright source to anyone seeking to purchase your design.
To achieve a copyright for a t-shirt design, an application and fee will need to be submitted to the copyright office. This can be done electronically or through mail.
Electronic US copyright registration currently costs $35 (fees are subject change). This fee consists of one form and doesn’t require any lawyers. The current forms can be found on the US Copyright website, www.copyright.gov.
Copyright laws may seem like a lot to take in, but it’s important to know the basics. Don’t let the thought of legal matters keep you from expressing your ideas. As long as you’re creating something new for your Spreadshop, then only good things will follow!
Did you know, you can make money with that creativity of yours? See how you can monetize your designs by opening a FREE Spreadshop today!
