Decoupage - Magazine Copyrights

MikaMoma

Hi folks,

Hopefully I can get some help with my query.

When out of the office, I decorate furniture with magazines. For what started as a hobby, it's now caught the attention of someone well known to the public eye. I'm thrilled to bits but my only fear is that I'm going to get sued by magazine companies for using their material!

Maybe I'm overreacting but I really need to find out what to do in this regard. Hopefully someone out there for advise me on what to do!

Cheers,

MM

Chorcai

I hope this will help, there are loads of books on appropriation as well.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appropriation_%28art%29

JansStuff

I'm just starting out with decoupage. I want to do a class with kids. Can you recommend the best place to get the varnish? Is it special or just furniture varnish from woodies? Would it be too toxic for children to use? Thank you !

looksee

For decoupage with children I would not consider using varnish - give the project a coat of pva to finish it.

MikaMoma

Hi, I would agree with 'looksee'. The varnish I use for my decoupage furniture is a spray varnish from Kennedys art shop in Dublin. I take each piece outside to varnish it.

Coating the pieces in PVA would defo be better if working with kids and it's also a lot easier on the pocket!

Hope it works well for you

TOMP

Dont think you have much to worry about.

If the magazine makes a complaint then just stop.

However, it keeps them in the public eye so cant see why they would be upset. There is no threat to their magazine, imho.

looksee

TOMP, your argument, while apparently logical, does not have anything to do with copyright law. However if pictures are sufficiently cut up and altered you would be ok. If you re-used them un-altered - simply copied and framed a photograph from a magazine, for example, then you could be in breach of copyright law. I say 'could' because the whole area is a bit of a minefield. You should be safe enough with decoupage though.