: Copyright question I have small issue, I have found some hand painted characters that I wish to rearrange, create an extra couple letters, by cutting bits off and pasting bits on making a

@Shelley591

Since you say 'high street', I assume you are in the UK?

Legally, you're probably fine...mainly due to the bizarre status of typeface design protection. I am not a lawyer, and protections do seem a bit better in the UK than the US, but there's likely no actual copyright infringement here:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intellectual_property_protection_of_typefaces
After all, many typefaces are based off of existing signage and art.

Ethically, though, it's pretty lazy. If you like the style, why not adopt the style, but come up with your own lettering based off of it? Benefits are that it's then truly original.

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@Cugini998

No, not being able to find authors of copyrights is not a excuse in the eyes of law. Otherwise everybody would use this excuse all the time, claiming they couldn't find the copyright holder.

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