Maker Tip: Let’s Talk About Trademarks

Ever scroll through Etsy or Instagram and spot someone selling Disney ears or a Nike logo keychain and think,
“Wait... can they actually do that?” 👀

Spoiler alert: probably not.

What Is a Trademark?

A trademark is a word, phrase, symbol, or design that represents a brand — and it’s legally protected.
Some of the most recognizable examples include:

✅ The Nike swoosh
✅ Starbucks’ mermaid
✅ Disney’s Mickey Mouse silhouette
✅ Even small business names and logos you recognize online

When something is trademarked, only the owner (or someone they’ve given permission to) can legally use it on products or designs for sale.

So even if you “just found the image on Google” or it’s “for a customer request,” it’s still off-limits.

“But It’s Just for Personal Use...”

This one comes up a lot, so let’s clear it up.

Our legal team has made it clear that the “personal use” argument doesn’t hold up when it comes to uploading or producing trademarked designs.

If you’re running a business — even a small handmade one — you should absolutely have your own lawyer to confirm what’s safe for your specific situation.

But here’s the big takeaway:

Even if you personally were somehow allowed to use that design for yourself, it’s still not okay for us, as a business, to print or profit from it.

That means we can’t produce or ship trademarked files, period.

Why CMB Takes This Seriously

At CMB Acrylic, we’re big believers in supporting creativity the right way.

We don’t print trademarked designs — and yes, every custom order is reviewed before production.

If a file contains a trademarked design, the order will be canceled and charged a 15% cancellation fee to cover processing time.

This policy isn’t about being strict — it’s about protecting makers and the integrity of our creative community.

The Moral of the Story

✨ Protect your creativity.
✨ Don’t copy others’.
✨ Always double-check before you upload.

You can search the USPTO Trademark Database to see what’s protected.

Let’s keep our community smart, respectful, and original. ❤️

Have questions about what counts as a trademark? Drop them in the comments — we’re always here to help makers create confidently and responsibly.