Is printing a custom alter copyright infringement?

Custom Cards forum

Posted on Dec. 11, 2015, 12:52 p.m. by RedUndead40

I was trying to get a custom alter printed at a local print shop and they refused claiming copyright infringement.

Does anyone know where I can find Wizards' official stance on the matter?

I had removed all Wizards logos, wasn't going to sell it, and the art isn't copyrighted so I was under the impression it was fine.

smackjack says... #2

Go somewhere else

December 11, 2015 12:54 p.m.

scopesightzx says... #3

ultimately, there shouldn't be any issues. There are plenty of people either on here or somewhere else on the web that do custom alters of cards all the time.

For play legality purposes, you can only use the card in casual formats. Tournament play is illegal, even if you do have a real copy of the card.

For copyright legality, as long as you aren't making so many that it takes away from wizard's market enough for them to take notice and make them want to take action, you should be fine

December 11, 2015 12:58 p.m.

RedUndead40 says... #4

Does anyone know if Wizards has an official statement on this somewhere? I looked but couldn't find much

December 11, 2015 1:41 p.m.

filledelanuit says... #5

TO would rather that we not address these questions here.

Having said that I will give you a short answer.

Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer and this should be taken with many large grains of kosher salt.

Technically it is a copyright violation and the print shop is probably right to refuse to print that. However I don't know of anyone ever being sued for what you are doing.

You should also leave the WotC stuff on it. Taking it off is implicity saying that it's your's.

December 11, 2015 1:42 p.m.

Izu_Korasu says... #6

sounds like your talking about printing your own magic cards rather then altering them, so the short answer is yes, yes it is. At its core you are counterfeiting wizards property, even if the forgery is just for your personal use/enjoyment.

(alters involve modifying existing wizards property, and using the modified card as the card it was printed as) (also not a lawyer)

December 11, 2015 3:33 p.m.