Laws regarding American Flag Artwork?

[ActionGraphics]

Anyone up on this?

Can I print banners with stars and stripes (not a true flag pattern)? Will I get accused of violating the desecration statute?

I've done it a lot before and never had an issue, but there is now a question among the ranks.

 

[Solventinkjet]

The American flag is in the public domain therefore you can only get in trouble if you copy someone else's stylized version of the flag. Using the American flag as a theme is the same idea. If there was anything wrong with it, you wouldn't see so many auto dealerships with American flag like images all over the place and in their advertisements. The 1st amendment also protects your right to express whatever you want using the flag. There is really nothing they could do even if they wanted to.

 

[bob]

There is no 'Desecration Statute'.

There is, however, the 1st amendment to the Constitution of the USofA, which is article one of the Bill of Rights, which unequivocally states that there can never be any sort of 'Desecration Statute'. If the local rustics there in your village have taken it upon themselves to enact any such silliness, so much the worse for them. It is unconstitutional. I know one hears that a lot these days, what with each and every misguided specimen proclaiming dubious 'rights' for themselves for any circumstance imaginable, but on this issue the document is crystal clear.

There is flag etiquette which is not law at all, just tradition and what is generally considered good manners by some. But not law.

Thus the answer to your original query is yes, you can print any sort of flag representation whatsoever on banners or any other media, or have it tattooed on each one of your butt cheeks, with complete impunity. Any local ordinance that says otherwise is fraudulent and may be totally ignored.

 

[ColoPrinthead]

It belongs to the American public, no issues.

 

[ActionGraphics]

 

[CanuckSigns]

there was a thread on here not too long ago about using the USMC logo for something. It was deemed that you can't use the USMC logo without written permission from the USMC.

Both the fedeal government and the USMC are funded 100% by your tax dollars, why are you able to use the "logo" of one (the flag) but not the other? why is one in the public domain and one is not?