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With Christmas coming, I know that so many craft businesses are currently working on holiday products.
Today is a great day to talk about making handmade products related to Dr. Seuss and his characters; like the Grinch, the Lorax, Cindy Lou Who, Thing One and Thing Two, Sam-I-Am, and many more.
Can You Make and Sell Dr. Seuss Products?
Unfortunately, Dr. Seuss designs and quotes are not in the public domain and cannot be used on products for sale without written permission from Dr. Seuss Enterprises. Since Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel) passed away in 1991, all licensing agreements are handled though Random House.
Licensing Information
I emailed Random House for information about the possibility of at home craft businesses obtaining a license to legally use Dr. Seuss quotes and images in products. I immediately received a generic response that included this statement:
“Please know that Dr. Seuss text, characters, and images are protected by copyright and trademark law and may not be used without the prior written consent of Dr. Seuss Enterprises.”
I also received an email back a few hours later from the Licensing & Marketing department, that basically stated that Dr. Seuss Enterprises was not currently offering licenses and “due to contractual restrictions with our current licensees who produce items in these categories” they could not discuss requirements to get a license.
In response, I asked if Dr. Seuss Enterprises ever offered licenses to small or home based businesses and what the hypothetical requirements would be. My email went unanswered.
If you’d like to reach out to Random House for information on licensing Dr. Seuss properties for your Silhouette or Cricut small business, reach them through this page.
I will continue to update this post if I receive additional information from Random House/Dr. Seuss Enterprises. In the meantime, know that selling handmade Dr. Seuss themed products without a licensing deal is an infringement and is illegal.
Since 2015, Christine Schinagl has been helping crafters start and run craft businesses through her blog, Cutting for Business. As a Silhouette and Cricut crafter herself, she has a unique take on what works and what doesn’t work in the craft business world. She also enjoys teaching other crafters how to create digital SVG designs, available through the Design with Me series.
Amanda
Saturday 19th of August 2023
Thank You so much for this information.
Diana
Sunday 12th of February 2023
Does Etsy have a license to sell Dr. Seuss designs?
Christine, Cutting for Business
Sunday 12th of February 2023
Hello! No, Etsy wouldn't hold a license to sell anything, because they don't directly sell products. Etsy is a marketplace for independent sellers to register and sell their goods.
juli
Friday 21st of October 2022
WHERE CAN I REPORT COPYRIGHT ABUSE?
Christine, Cutting for Business
Thursday 27th of October 2022
https://cuttingforbusiness.com/how-to-report-trademark-infringements/#:~:text=If%20you'd%20like%20to,and%20infringement%20you've%20seen.
Jen
Tuesday 12th of January 2021
Question I have is, I own a cricut for the specific purpose of making designer items for myself to wear. Like chanel masks,and Louis Vuitton masks and shirts and shoes. I dont sell these items but would like to showcase them on a blog page or a facebook group of my own. Can I get sued for this even though I dont take orders for selling.
Christine, Cutting for Business
Monday 22nd of February 2021
Hello! Unfortunately, yes. When using them to promote a blog or Facebook page, it is considered commercial use.
Lisa Horne
Sunday 29th of November 2020
How in the world do you get in touch with someone about a license to use artwork? Random House runs in circles. Seussville no longer has a link available for that info. Can you please direct me to where I can actually communicate with someone about licensing information for grinch artwork?
Christine, Cutting for Business
Sunday 29th of November 2020
Hello! I'm sorry to hear that contacting Random House is proving to be difficult. Alternatively, you could pull Grinch related trademarks from the TESS database and use the contact information listed in TESS. Hope this helps!