It's certainly advisable to get permission -  especially with Big Mac.
(I think Macdonalds included claims of breach of both copyright and
trademark rights when they first launched the extraordinary 18 months
"McLibel" trial in London against the two vegetarian activists as I
remember it.)

Most big organisations (especially US ones) have either in-house legal
departments working full-time on trademark and copyright protection and
licencing, or standing contract arrangements with an appropriate
specialist law firm.  The initial approach should be by letter to the
corporate HQs of each firm, whch would pass these on to their appropriate
internal office or outside law firm.

Patrick Boylan

P.S. Didn't I read something recently about Warhol's arrangement with
Campbell's over the famous giant soup can?  Come on your modern art-ers!

========================================

On Wed, 21 Jan 1998, Alyson B. Stanfield wrote:

> Subject: use of corporate images in art
>
> I'm working with an artist who has used (in a somewhat altered state)
> the McDonald's Golden Arches, Mr. Potatohead, and Big Bird in her
> quilts.  Her publisher for her upcoming book is telling her that she
> needs to get permission from McDonald's, Hasbro, and Sesame Street to
> use print those quilts in the book.  She and the publisher will receive
> royalties from the sale of the book.
>
> She has no idea what she needs to do to get permission or if it's even
> worth it.  Anyone know the process?
> Thanks.
>
> ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~
> Alyson B. Stanfield
> Curator of Education
> Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art
> The University of Oklahoma
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