Copyright Logistics for Pokémon Card Sellers

General
1

Hello All,

First post here, love the forum! This question is pretty specific to my situation, but may be able to help others in the future too. I’ve just started a business and launched a website for selling Pokémon Cards when a thought popped into my mind. Are some of the images I’m using copyright protected? Could I get sued?! Went down a rabbit hole and I’m not great with this legal stuff, but to me it seems the legal speak says that even posting pictures of the product I’m trying to sell could be considered copyright infringement!

I know Pokémon wouldn’t come after me for pictures of their product that I’m selling for them, but I would love to know if anybody has any insight into what promotional images I can use for the product and if there’s a location to find what is approved for use?

Currently these are the promotional pictures I’m using that I’m unsure of the most. If these are not allowed are there any suggestions what I could use instead?

Thank you so much!
Pokévolver

2

I suggest you turn to lawyer who knows copyright laws of your country / state so you don’t get accidentally misinformed.

5 Likes
3

When in doubt, assume the affirmative.

Any time you want to use copy-written or trademarked material you should seek permission, especially for your commercial use.

4

If you’re just decoratively featuring those images on your website, you’re not going to be given any legal trouble (even if it technically violates trademark protections).

What could give you trouble is if, for instance, you started to sell clothing featuring those images. But if you’re just putting those images up on your website decoratively and/or to indicate that you’re a Pokemon-related business, then you’re not going to have any issues.