Coffeeshops and Copyright

[HitTheNorth]

Every New Years Day is also known to those in the creative industries as Public Domain Day. This marks the day when previously copyrighted works pass into the Public Domain and as such are free to use. The length of public domain depends on the country and type of work, but generally, it's 70 years after the creator's death for most creative works (books, music, art) in places like the UK and EU, while in the US, works published before 1929 are in the public domain, with a current rule of 95 years from publication for works from 1929 onwards. Once a work enters the public domain, anyone can use it freely without permission.

Last year saw "Steamboat Willy" starring Mickey Mouse enter the public domain, this years big one was the character Betty Boop, and it kinda got me to thinking...

How did Coffeeshops get around using IPs like Betty Boop without a load of legal headache. From Cease & Desists to actual proper lawsuits. I can't imagine the copyright holders would be thrilled to have their creations associated with the murky world of the Dutch soft drug trade. Did the coffeeshops pay them off or just wild west it? Did the copyright holders even know? Were any shops forced to rebrand? Does anyone except me even think about this stuff?

Off the top of my head, shops that this concerned would be:

Betty Boop
Balou
Popeye
Twilight Zone
Cheech & Chongs
Blues Brothers
Hill St Blues

Any more? Anyone shed any light?

[Smokeybee21]

The old Doors/Doors Palace perhaps? Im sure I read somewhere on here years ago that the original owner once picked up Jim Morrison from the airport and asked verbal permission to use the name, but I can't imagine that would hold up in court

[HitTheNorth]

The old Doors/Doors Palace perhaps? Im sure I read somewhere on here years ago that the original owner once picked up Jim Morrison from the airport and asked verbal permission to use the name, but I can't imagine that would hold up in court

Haha I really want that to be true.

[free_phil_spector]

I was told by a barman in Amsterdam that Doors/Doors Palace had to change their name over a copyright threat. Apparently whoever controls these things launched a worldwide copyright purge following the death of Ray Manzarek in 2013.

How true that is, I don't know, but that's what I was told by a fairly in-the-know barman in Centrum.

[avfc-herbalist]

Does anyone except me even think about this stuff?

This is why I love this forum HTN I’ve had a few thoughts about copyright but not about the characters. I’ve always been intrigued by the Hard Rock establishments.

Off the top of my head, shops that this concerned would be:

Betty Boop
Balou
Popeye
Twilight Zone
Cheech & Chongs
Blues Brothers
Hill St Blues

Any more? Anyone shed any light?

The only ones I can think of quickly without too much thought are Hard Rock, Pink Floyd & The Wall.

There’s also a photo on the Directory of Bom Shankar Chai Shop with having a massive Spiderman attached to the wall above the windows. Would they be allowed to use the character without the name or are the characters as well as the names copyrighted?

[HitTheNorth]

Does anyone except me even think about this stuff?

This is why I love this forum HTN I’ve had a few thoughts about copyright but not about the characters. I’ve always been intrigued by the Hard Rock establishments.

Off the top of my head, shops that this concerned would be:

Betty Boop
Balou
Popeye
Twilight Zone
Cheech & Chongs
Blues Brothers
Hill St Blues

Any more? Anyone shed any light?

The only ones I can think of quickly without too much thought are Hard Rock, Pink Floyd & The Wall.

There’s also a photo on the Directory of Bom Shankar Chai Shop with having a massive Spiderman attached to the wall above the windows. Would they be allowed to use the character without the name or are the characters as well as the names copyrighted?

It's a bit of a minefield. I used to do music/film/tv fan art stuff and flog it on redbubble - I've had a few copyright strikes over the years. Some IP holders are more litigious than others - I've made £££ out of a Breakfast Club design so I guess the estate of John Hughes doesn't care. The band AC/DC on the other hand have it on lock.

I believe these days theres all sorts of "fair use" like education, satire etc but I'm not sure about back then. And I doubt there'd be a fair use category of "cannabis shop branding" anyway

I think Bom Shankar would be OK as it's just a decoration I suppose, If they called the shop Spiderman I think they'd fall foul. But I am by no means knowledgeable about copyright law.

I remember there was a greeting card shop on our local market back in the 80/90s called Cards R Us. And Toys R Us sued them.

Hope yer well mate

[HitTheNorth]

I was told by a barman in Amsterdam that Doors/Doors Palace had to change their name over a copyright threat. Apparently whoever controls these things launched a worldwide copyright purge following the death of Ray Manzarek in 2013.

How true that is, I don't know, but that's what I was told by a fairly in-the-know barman in Centrum.

That'd be the Doors on Singel that is now the Store I guess. Doors Palace is still there as a smoker friendly bar.

I miss the OG Doors shop. I really liked the vibe in there and have fond memories

[DazG]

The old Doors/Doors Palace perhaps? Im sure I read somewhere on here years ago that the original owner once picked up Jim Morrison from the airport and asked verbal permission to use the name, but I can't imagine that would hold up in court

I hope this is true

[Smokeybee21]

I was told by a barman in Amsterdam that Doors/Doors Palace had to change their name over a copyright threat. Apparently whoever controls these things launched a worldwide copyright purge following the death of Ray Manzarek in 2013.

How true that is, I don't know, but that's what I was told by a fairly in-the-know barman in Centrum.

That'd be the Doors on Singel that is now the Store I guess. Doors Palace is still there as a smoker friendly bar.

I miss the OG Doors shop. I really liked the vibe in there and have fond memories

I believe Doors Palace is now just called Cafe Palace, so I think they lost their branding at the same time, even with a personal endorsement from Jim himself

[Smokeybee21]

I found the original comment on the Doors review thread the OP even says he's unsure of how truthful the story is (turns out it was a whole tour, not a ride from Schiphol )

I popped in for a few hours last summer while strolling around Centruum. I really dug the vibe, but then again I'm a fan of old school rock music so that's not a surprise.

The budtender was cool, we talked about how they could use the name The Doors and not break copyright. His story was the owner drove the Doors around the Netherlands on a tour they did back in the day. So when he opened the CS he called them and they let him use the name for free. Not sure how true it is, but cool story anyway.

Forget what we bought, a gram of hash and a gram of weed, and both were ok. Nothing great but fine. Was with a friend and we were digging a mostly empty shop with some good music until a couple 18 year old girls came in and starting talking really loudly and asking people at the tables to roll joints for them, basically just wasted and not handling it well. Killed the vibe so we left.

I'd go back and give it another chance, seemed like a chill place to hang and enjoy a coffee and a few joints.

[HitTheNorth]

I found the original comment on the Doors review thread the OP even says he's unsure of how truthful the story is (turns out it was a whole tour, not a ride from Schiphol )

I popped in for a few hours last summer while strolling around Centruum. I really dug the vibe, but then again I'm a fan of old school rock music so that's not a surprise.

The budtender was cool, we talked about how they could use the name The Doors and not break copyright. His story was the owner drove the Doors around the Netherlands on a tour they did back in the day. So when he opened the CS he called them and they let him use the name for free. Not sure how true it is, but cool story anyway.

Forget what we bought, a gram of hash and a gram of weed, and both were ok. Nothing great but fine. Was with a friend and we were digging a mostly empty shop with some good music until a couple 18 year old girls came in and starting talking really loudly and asking people at the tables to roll joints for them, basically just wasted and not handling it well. Killed the vibe so we left.

I'd go back and give it another chance, seemed like a chill place to hang and enjoy a coffee and a few joints.

Nice find detective Smokeybee.

Didn't realise the Palace changed it's name too. That would make sense

[avfc-herbalist]

It's a bit of a minefield. I used to do music/film/tv fan art stuff and flog it on redbubble - I've had a few copyright strikes over the years. Some IP holders are more litigious than others - I've made £££ out of a Breakfast Club design so I guess the estate of John Hughes doesn't care. The band AC/DC on the other hand have it on lock.

I believe these days theres all sorts of "fair use" like education, satire etc but I'm not sure about back then. And I doubt there'd be a fair use category of "cannabis shop branding" anyway

I think Bom Shankar would be OK as it's just a decoration I suppose, If they called the shop Spiderman I think they'd fall foul. But I am by no means knowledgeable about copyright law.

I remember there was a greeting card shop on our local market back in the 80/90s called Cards R Us. And Toys R Us sued them.

Hope yer well mate

It's all very interesting. Just seen that there's a Coffeeshop Balou t-shirt for sale on ebay from the 90s.

Screenshot_20260128_195050_eBay.jpg

And this one from Betty Boop.

Screenshot_20260128_195458_eBay.jpg

It's quite funny how they didn't get any hassle about it, or maybe they did. I don't think Coffeeshop Balou use the character these days though do they? Just the name I think.

You've tested the waters with some copyright infringements then fair play to you mate. Like you say, perhaps some care way more than others.

Hard Rock is another fine example as they state they first opened in Amsterdam in 1999, but there's pictures from the 80s with the Hard Rock Cafe logo and Coffeeshop logo with the ® on the signs and t-shirts. Someone really went all out and even used the registered trademark logo or it really was Hard Rock and they pretend like it never happened at all

Good thanks mate, hope you're keeping well