Licensing of Costumes and Parts of Costumes

[dx503]

I'm looking to do a store where it specializes in helmets/masks/accessories of popular characters of tv programs. (sold as unlicensed products)
(think like a high end replica of batman mask made into DOT approved bike helmet or a batman gauntlet made into a replica grade pair of gloves and etc)

I was looking online at various stores that sells such merchandise at a profit and none of them seem to have licenses for reproduction of such helmets/masks. They way the make these helmets/masks is usually either they create a mold in the likeness of the the helmet/mask themselves or they buy a studio prop and make a vacuum mold with it and then sell it either as a part of a kit (unpainted, requires manual sanding, etc) or as a already painted/finished mask (through delivery from another country).

I was wondering if such activities would be legal (if I produced and sold these products on U.S. soil or produced on foreign soil and sold in the United States.)

[flyingron]

And you know if they have a license how?

If the studio or whoever owns the copyright and trademark rights wants to make an issue of it, you'll be in a world of hurt.

[dx503]

They have said so on the forums that they do not a license. And they are mostly enthusiasts making the helmets out of their garage to sell.

[Browne]

I wouldn't get involved with them if I were you. They seem to be the "weekend warrior" type when it comes to this, while you want to go big time. I'm not saying they're bad people, they're just not on the same business level as where you want to be.