Copyright infringement
This is a PITA for everyone.. The laws change depending on the mood and possibility of profit. Anyone remember Clayton Moore? He wore the "distinctive" Lone Ranger mask for years at appearances without a hassle. Suddenly, a new Lone Ranger film was being made and the film company sued the hell out of him for wearing the mask. Basically, the court told him to change the mask...
That lawsuit did a lot to damage the credibility of copyright holders since Moore was the "Lone Ranger" in many people's eyes. The fact he wore the mask for years without interference until someone decided profit came first changed things. And not for the better, IMO.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
