asking Al Gore to run in 2008!
Seed Money? I'm in. Copyright Issues?
Posted April 1st, 2007 by sunonwater
Query to those of you with cash and/or legal expertise and/or marketing expertise and/or art/computer expertise...
If some of us want to move forward with producing a T-shirt, shopping bag, bumper sticker etc. with Al Gore's name and the "blue marble" ---
1. Do we need permission from Al Gore?
2. Do we need permission from NASA to use the "blue marble" photo (or have to post a note on the item saying that we are using property of NASA -- see their web site)?
3. Can someone make a logo just as good as NASA's?
3. How do we go about getting the "blue marble" art work ready for print production?
4. Can we market the items directly through this web site and get volunteers to do marketing and sales on this site if all the after cost profits go to AlGore.org?
So far, we've been all ideas and no action in helping to raise money for the draft Gore campaign. I can't afford to make a huge monetary contribution -- and I note comments from others who want to wait to give their funds to a Gore campaign that is declared and well underway. But I think lots of people would spend $$ for a T-shirt, shopping bag etc. --- all which would turn into walking advertisements/endorsements for Al Gore! If we keep recylcling the profits into more product -- we'd have more walking endorsements -- more profit.... (YEAH!)
If we can work out the logistics -- and this generates enough seed money and support to get the ball moving... and this won't be viewed as taking attention away from Al's efforts to raise funds and attention for his environmental efforts ... let's go...
If we can work it out, put me down for $50 of seed money and a vote for Gore 2008 in white letters on a black background with the "blue marble" logo ...
Regards,
Sunonwater
Be part of the Draft Gore '08 campaign!
Gore 2008 promotional merchandise
I completely agree with you. Gore promotional merchandise needs to be made available through the Algore.org web site in exchange for a small donation slightly above cost. DraftGore.com already has this functionality setup for bumper stickers (http://draftgore.com/contribute.htm). We need this on Algore.org ASAP.
Short Run and One-Off Merchandising Option
Hi Sunonwater,
This is a website where you can pay as you go. Profits are not as high for fund raising, as when you print T-Shits, etc. in bulk, but at least Gores image would get circulated on all sort of items. As the demand and budget increases that would be the time for investing in quantity.
http://www.cafepress.com/
I can'y imagine AG suing -- but it is taking a chance I guess.
GRAPHIC ARTIST NEEDED -- Copyright, etc.
Hi Sunonwater,
I worked around digital prepress for 14 years. I'm not great with Photoshp, Quark or InDesign -- on the other hand a bumper sticker is a simple printed piece. Here are some answers. Hope it helps.
1. Do we need permission from Al Gore?
The answer is YES! Technically you would need AG's permission or he could sue you... would he? Is this a risk worth taking. I don't think AG would sue, but technically, he could. I'm not a lawyer, so this is an opinion based on my knowledge of such matters.
2. NASA sells "stock photo" rights to use their images. I doubt the cost is high for this purpose, but that would have to be investigated. Stock photos from NASA are for sale. The cost is more or less, based on usage.Are you referring to the image of the popular satellite image of the earth?
I did a search for Stock Photo NASA and this came up. It looks like their photos are public domain at least many of them are which is FREE ;-)
http://www.photoshopsupport.com/resources/stock-photos/nasa-planets.html
http://gimp-savvy.com/PHOTO-ARCHIVE/
3. I went to http://www.nasa.gov/, and their logo looked quite simple. Is this the one you like? You need a graphic artist. Put out the world for a graphic artist. I bet there are talented designers who support AG and come here.
4. You need a graphic designer who has: Photoshop, InDesign or Quark or illustrator. Then it is simple.
5. The Green Party makes their items available in bulk for distribution by activists at no charge (supplied by supporter funds) or at low-cost (no added profit) to keep the cost down and encourage activism. They will send out packs of buttons, bumper stickers, and printed material for activists to distribute. I suggest that you find people to print these items in Key markets to keep the print work local, and keep distribution/shipping costs low.
6. The T-Shirts could be a great fund-raiser if you get a contest going for the AC CAMPAIGN ARTWORK and choose 5 Brilliant Designs. Some people will want one of each ;-)
Hope that helps,
Love & Peace
Use of "Gore" name? Etc. Issues
http://visibleearth.nasa.gov/view_set.php?categoryId=2363&p=1
Thanks for your reply. The above link has a few "blue marble" photos -- the earth seen from space.
Having a PAC sell items with Gore's name presents an odd legal issue as Gore and the PAC are not supposed to be in contact with each other, yet the PAC wants permission to use Gore's name on products.... I doubt that we'd have a problem, but I guess many of us would not want to put ourselves and our families in any position to take on personal financial or other legal risks. Does anyone out there know of a way around this problem?
Is there any exception to marketing something with another person's name on it when it's for political activism?
Anyone out there that has tackled this issue before?
Assuming we get past this issue, any graphic artist volunteers out there?
I'd also like to hear
about using this site to market the products;
commitments for more seed money to get this going;
comittments for pre-production orders of T-shirts, bags, etc.;
(I prefer we don't print paper throw-away items that may draw
negative feedback about wasting trees etc.)
from activists willing to hit the streets to sell items.
If we did the first order on pre-production orders, we'd be off to a great start.
By the way, Gore is about a lot more than environmental issues ... but this seems like a good start.
Sunonwater