I know there are quite a few different mints that do private minting but my question is this: Copyrights and infringements - Am I allowed to mint my own coin of lets say a famous person or landmark, create 500 coins and sell them off as limited edition coins of that person or landmark? My guess is no, so how or where do mints get permission to create coins of famous people and sell them? - Am I allowed to create a coin and use my countries national flag, animal or symbol on a coin and sell it? Just wondering about all the legalities in producing a coin for resale purposes. Thanks in advance
yeah I understand it cant have a face value, as only the government can create a coin of legal tender...
I thinkd flags could be a problem, and depending on the symbol, that could also need proir permission.
Everything is copyrighted! You can't even use the London Skyline! http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2150513/Lawyers-ban-Royal-coin-designers-2012-souvenir.html Nothing related to the Olympics.
Well it's a free world IF you ask the powers that be though the answer will always be no! I know that the major mints will want written permission from said famous person. from first hand experience my bud was having his own coin designed and they wouldn't do Ron Paul without his written permission (lord knows that libertarian would have let him if he ever could have reached him), he ended up doing a NASA Apollo 11 commemorative for some reason. I don't think he ever got any permission from NASA.
The Liberty Dollar produced a Ron Paul round without asking him, granted it did not end well for them with most of the rounds being seized by the FBI but that was mostly unrelated.
Speaking from personal experience - always get approval from whom ever you need to. I have been embroiled in a trademark dispute with a German company since September 2009.
