The George Orwell estate has gone after a t-shirt producer for using the number “1984” in a design. The estate claims that the use of the number represents a quote from the work which has not been licensed to put onto merchandise and was a violation of the copyright. However, the designer of the t-shirt responded by pointing out the relevant law does not cover titles which has prompted him to form his own website on which he will continue to sell the shirts. This entire incident makes you wonder what Orwell would say if he were alive today.
See Jamie Condliffe, George Orwell’s Estate Is Issuing Copyright Takedowns for the Number ‘1984’, Gizmodo, October 27, 2015.
Special thanks to Brian Cohan (Attorney at Law, Law Offices of Brian J. Cohan, P.C.) for bringing this article to my attention.
