Generally no, not without permission — using an existing cartoon, character, or branded design on products for sale, even on a very small scale, typically involves copyright or trademark protections that apply regardless of how small the business is. Original designs, or characters your kid creates themselves, are a safer and more educational path for a kid-run business.
A kid wanting to put a favorite cartoon character or popular design on products they're selling is a completely understandable impulse, but it runs into real legal protections that apply regardless of the business's size or the seller's age.
Why existing characters are protected
Popular characters and designs are typically protected by copyright and often trademark as well, meaning the people or companies who created them have exclusive rights to control how they're used commercially. This protection doesn't have an exception for very small sellers or for kids running a business.
Size and age don't change the underlying issue
It's a common misconception that a business is too small or too informal for these protections to matter, but the size of the business or the age of the person running it generally doesn't affect whether using a protected character without permission is allowed.
Drawing it themselves doesn't necessarily solve it
If your kid draws their own version of an existing, recognizable character rather than using an official image, that typically doesn't resolve the issue — what's protected is usually the character itself, not just one specific picture of it, so a hand-drawn version can still raise the same concern.
Original designs are a safer, more educational path
Encouraging your kid to create their own character or design gives them complete ownership over what they're making and selling, sidesteps the legal issue entirely, and is genuinely good creative practice — coming up with something original is a real skill worth building.
Use this as a teaching moment
This is a good opportunity to talk through why creators and companies protect their original work, and how your kid would likely feel if someone else used something they created without asking. Understanding the reasoning behind these protections tends to land better than just being told "no."
Check specific situations if genuinely unsure
If there's ever real uncertainty about whether a specific design or use falls into a gray area, it's worth looking into the specifics or asking someone knowledgeable, rather than assuming a small scale automatically makes it fine.
Key takeaways
- Existing characters are usually protected, regardless of how small the seller is
- Selling items featuring them without permission generally isn't allowed
- Original designs created by your kid are a safer, more educational alternative
- Permission or licensing for popular characters is realistically out of reach for most small sellers
- Use this as a chance to talk about why creators protect their original work
Frequently asked questions
Can my kid sell products with a cartoon or character on them?
Generally no, not without permission — original designs are a safer path.
Does it matter that the business is small and run by a kid?
Not really — size and age don't generally change the underlying issue.
Is it different if my kid draws the character themselves?
Usually not — the character itself, not just one image, is protected.
What's a good alternative to using existing characters?
Encourage your kid to create their own original character or design.
Want help thinking through situations like this before they come up? See Kebloom's workshops and pricing, or browse real kid business ideas for inspiration.
Key takeaways
- Existing characters are usually protected, regardless of how small the seller is
- Selling items featuring them without permission generally isn't allowed
- Original designs created by your kid are a safer, more educational alternative
- Permission or licensing for popular characters is realistically out of reach for most small sellers
- Use this as a chance to talk about why creators protect their original work
Frequently asked questions
Can my kid sell products with a cartoon or character on them?
Generally no, not without permission — existing characters are usually protected by copyright or trademark regardless of how small the business is. Original designs are a safer path.
Does it matter that the business is small and run by a kid?
Not really — the size of the business or the age of the seller doesn't generally change whether using someone else's protected character without permission is allowed.
Is it different if my kid draws the character themselves?
If it's still clearly meant to be a specific existing character, drawing it themselves usually doesn't change the underlying issue — the character itself, not just a specific image of it, is typically what's protected.
What's a good alternative to using existing characters?
Encouraging your kid to create their own original character or design gives them full ownership of what they're selling and avoids the issue entirely, while also being a genuinely creative exercise.
This article is general information for parents — it is not legal advice. Consult a qualified professional for guidance specific to your situation.
Workshops that end with a real business
Kebloom workshops are live, small-group, and end with a real business your child launched.
See the workshops