Hi Don,

> I see the guy has a "copyright" on
> his drawings and is "seeking" a
> patent BUT...what if you were to come up
> with YOUR OWN DESIGNS...your own drawings
> and....
> instead of having an artist draw faces and
> put them on the bodies...
> why not INSERT the photo of the faces on top
> of the graphic body?

Don, that's a great idea! :)

I agree with you though.... You usually cannot copyright or patent an IDEA. So as long as you don't copy his design, and come up with your own design, you should be able to legally use the general superhero business-card idea, to my understanding....

(I'm not a patent lawyer though, so do not take this as legal advice.)

> In 1985 I sold Photo Business Cards when
> they first came out and one creative guy
> actually RENTED a Superman costume from a
> rental place and had me take a photo of him
> entering a PHONE BOOTH.

> I SHOULD have gotten the idea for
> "SuperHero Cards"...THEN!

> See...how NOT being as observant as you
> should be how you can miss something?

> I SHOULD have picked up on that idea THEN.

> Oh well...hind sight.

> I'm wondering if there is some Clip Art with
> SuperHero bodies that could be used on cards
> and overlay the faces.

I don't know if there is, but I'm sure commissioning some art work would probably not be too expensive.... (Though I haven't looked into it myself yet.)

> The creator may be able to get a
> "design" patent on HIS design
> but...I don't see how you can get a patent
> on a business card and prevent anyone else
> from using a cartoon character's body with a
> real person's head.

I agree with you, I think anyone can use the idea, as long as you don't copy his precise design....

There could be other related products too, perhaps? Letterheads? Greeting cards? Family albums? Hmmmm.... :)

Maybe there are other things you can use instead of a superhero? Bill yourself as a King or Emperor, with a picture of yourself with a crown and sceptre, perhaps? Or (to tie in with Harry Potter AND The Lord of the Rings) you could have yourself as a WIZARD? Hmmm....

Thanks Don, you've got my brain working.... :)

- Dien