Licensing & Compliance

Licensing & Compliance

1. License Requirement for All Non-SDCPRINTS Uses

Clients do not have the right to use, reproduce, distribute, modify, or print any design created by SDCPRINTS unless a written authorization and a unique license number have been issued for the specific project.

  • External Printing & Production: If a client wishes to have a supplier other than SDCPRINTS print any work or create ad campaigns using SDCPRINTS designs, they must:

    • Notify the vendor that a license is required.
    • Instruct the vendor to contact SDCPRINTS directly to purchase a single-use license.
    • Alternatively, the client may purchase the single-use license on behalf of the vendor before use.

  • Marketing, Digital, and Commercial Use: Any use of SDCPRINTS-created work in advertising, branding, digital content, or commercial materials requires a separate commercial use license, priced according to the scope of usage.

Failure to obtain a license for external production, digital use, or commercial distribution will be classified as willful copyright infringement and subject to immediate legal enforcement.

2. Unauthorized Use & Legal Consequences

Unauthorized use of SDCPRINTS designs without a license will result in the following:

Client Violations (Printing, distributing, or modifying SDCPRINTS work without a license)

  • Minimum penalty: $50,000 per infraction
  • Additional fee: 3x the standard Single-Use License rate based on the number of impressions/copies made
  • Forfeiture of all past SDCPRINTS discounts (full standard pricing applies retroactively)
  • Legal fees incurred by SDCPRINTS will be the client’s full responsibility

Third-Party Vendor Violations (Printing, reproducing, or commercially using SDCPRINTS work without a license)

  • Minimum penalty: $100,000 per infraction, per product or marketing material sold
  • Statutory damages up to $150,000 per infringement under U.S. Copyright Law
  • Immediate court-ordered injunction & seizure of all infringing materials
  • Liability for all legal fees and enforcement costs incurred by SDCPRINTS

If both the client and third-party vendor are involved, each party is fined separately according to their level of involvement.

3. Single-Use License Guidelines

The cost & scope of a Single-Use License depends on:

  • Product Type – Print, digital, promotional materials, or commercial advertising
  • Number of Copies or Impressions – How many prints, reproductions, or views will be made
  • Distribution & Commercial Use – Whether the artwork will be monetized or resold

Clients must ensure the correct license is obtained based on their intended use. If multiple variations of a design are used in different formats or campaigns, separate licenses may be required.

4. Vendor Compliance Requirement

If a client requests a third-party vendor (e.g., another print company, ad agency, sign maker, or marketing firm) to use SDCPRINTS designs:

  • The vendor must purchase a Single-Use License from SDCPRINTS before producing or distributing the work.
  • Alternatively, the client may purchase the necessary license on behalf of the vendor.
  • Failure to obtain a license will subject the vendor to direct legal action from SDCPRINTS.

5. Retroactive Licensing & Penalties

If unauthorized use of SDCPRINTS designs is discovered after production or distribution, the responsible party must pay a retroactive license fee along with fines:

  • Clients: Required to pay 3x the standard licensing fee + a minimum $50,000 fine per violation
  • Vendors: Required to pay full licensing fees + a minimum $100,000 fine per violation
  • If unpaid, SDCPRINTS will escalate the matter to legal action.

6. Accrual & Interest on Unpaid Fines

  • A 10% penalty will be added every 30 days to any unpaid fines.
  • Penalty interest is capped at 200% of the original fine amount.
  • If a fine remains unpaid for 90 days, SDCPRINTS will initiate full legal proceedings.

Final Notice

By agreeing to the Terms of Use, clients acknowledge that any unauthorized use of SDCPRINTS intellectual property constitutes copyright infringement and is subject to legal enforcement.