Stacey has done her smalltown research and knows allllll the gossip.
I wouldn't necessarily call small town gossip research. May be fun to listen to (it just depends), but doesn't always lend itself to the most accurate of "research".
I don't see how that applies to the professionals in the sign industry. The word "professional" is interesting here too. We can act in a professional manner, conduct business professionally. But is there such a thing as a "sign professional"? Usually that term is reserved for heavily regulated professions like lawyers/doctors etc.
Almost all businesses are regulated to some point. Now barrier to entry, that is something where lawyers, doctors, accountants, vets etc that is something different.
Is signage not regulated in some fashion? Some signage that needs people with certain education to "sign" off on etc (structural loads, electrical etc)? Some municipalities have their own restrictions on size and other considerations as well. Localization and special needs regulation? The type of regulation may be different, but regulation is regulation none the less. Some of it is bunk to get extra money for sure, but regulation is regulation.
I'm not saying people have to be an expert, but if one is going to be in business (which makes one a professional in my mind), then there is also the expectation that there will be more research done on "your" part. If one doesn't want to do that, or feel that it's not their job to do that, well that's fine. It may not work out in the long run, but that's fine if that is the method one wishes to do.
So if you run your shop and don't care or know what the product is, do you send the artwork to your lawyer before printing?
Most images have metadata in them (I know I use that on all my original designs). Google reverse image search. Does one have to do every design that way, I would say not, but I certainly would do the ones that seem dubious. Although based on previous answers from other threads, that wouldn't work out either.
I think it's a reasonable assumption that if a client gives you artwork, you can assume they have the rights to get it printed. If they ask you "go to this website, and take the image and retrace it..", that's a different story.
Really? Someone comes in with a
vector of a Disney character and you think that John/Jane Doe has the ability to get it printed? Now Disney/Marvel/Lucas Film (and whatever else they own) is an easy example, but the same could be said for lesser known brands as well. Even if they come from the Disney store, say a manager, I wouldn't touch it. Bare in mind, Disney was going after a person that posted a picture of a toy that they bought from a retailer that sold it to them too early (it was before The Force Awakens was released). I could understand them going after the company that sold the product before they were allowed to (Disney was arguing that it released info before the movie was released or something along those lines), but they went after someone that posted a picture of a toy that they had legitimately purchased.
Here in the states, especially, it is geared for companies to be more pro active then anything. Even if they are in the wrong, do you actually think that any one of us could survive that type of litigation if it went that far (there are steps, cease and desist etc, so it won't actually get that far from the get go)? Only way around that is if there was public outcry (like what happened to Bass Pro a few yrs back).
I knew some embroiderers (yes embroiderers, not sign people mind you) that got into trouble because they were selling embroidery of Disney designs that came with their Disney special edition machine. Their license did not allow them to sell even the finished product (usually there is a distinction between reselling the actual design file versus the finished good, they weren't allowed to sell the finished good according to their license (which how many people really read?)).
I keep on mentioning Disney and that is an extreme example, however, bare in mind, Disney is also the reason why we have these type of laws as well (at least in my estimation, so take that for what it's worth). Nintendo would be another one, although they have at times been more forgiving then others.
