Have a question, need advice.
I created a t-shirt design about 5 and a half years ago and after getting permission to use a quote on the back from Nelson Publishing, I registered and obtained a copyright on the design. At that time and before getting the copyright, I had searched the internet to see if there was anyone who had done anything close to what I was developing - I found nothing.
Well, recently, I submitted this design to one of the top manufacturing t-shirt companies - they replied today saying they liked the design, it was clever, but they had goggled it and found 3 other designs close to it, though not as well executed as my design. I did my own search and found one. I tried to look into who created it, but was not able to find a name. In comparing the two, my design is totally different in composition and the way I have illustrated the picture. The statement is the same and the person saying the statement is the same, that's it. My design has an added quote as I stated before, there's does not. Problem is, I didn't know this was out there and don't know when theirs was created. My design is rendered completely differently and the composition is completely different.
Am I in violation of copyright law? Does my work stand as a totally new and
different design that I can use on t-shirts, posters, banners, etc. Need help with this - I don't want to do anything that would violate this other designer's copyright and I don't want to just toss my copyrighted idea. I'd like to submit to you the two designs for you to view, if at all possible. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thank You.