It's been about 4 months since those Obama Joker images showed up. From day one I refused to just "copy and paste" that artwork on products. But noting the popularity of the "joker" design I made my own... and they have been quite popular.

Today... some 4 months after they were first posted a few have been flagged by the Content Usage Team?

As usual there is no explanation... just the generic email...

If you search Joker Obama you will see hundreds/thousands of the Joker Obama images... so why flag mine?

By the way... my text associated with these images is simply "socialist" and "why so socialist?" Not exactly trademarked phrases?

So if the artwork is original and the phrases are common... "why pending images in media basket?"

You'll have to ask Cafepress directly. The CUP forum is just shopkeepers trying to help each other. CUP matters are often just speculation on our part in here.

Maybe others weren't reported, maybe there's a fine line you crossed but they didn't, tags, description, product name, accompanying content on the page, maybe you're experiencing a media basket glitch, or any number of other things?

It's possible that the specific image you used of Obama might be the problem. At least one of his most well-known photos is copyright protected. Can't say otherwise, since I didn't see the design in question.

Thanks for the responses... Yah... I understand nothing gets resolved here... it's just nice to bounce it off other shop owners... people who might have experienced the same issue... I thought that's what this forum was for.

Which is nice... because the CUP is so secretive... just a generic email... leaving you to guess why your products have been removed from the marketplace. I realize these guys must send out about 9 thousand of these things each day... but imagine if they spend another 10 seconds with each says... "The reason YOUR image was flagged was because ___________ " Then I wouldn't have to respond... then they would save time in the long run because they wouldn't have to respond to my response...

Once I got to actually talk to a person about a flagged design... a pair of handcuffs interlocked... with a caption that said... Beijing 2008... the rep was very polite and I appreciated his time... but he could give no reason other than "we don't feel comfortable with that design.

Wait... this just in... and email from the content usage team...

We originally placed the image in question on ?Pending Status? due to a potential Intellectual Property issue. Upon further review we have decided to reinstate your image. However, if we receive a notice or determine at a later time that it is potentially infringing on a third parties Intellectual Property Rights, we may place the image in pending status again.

Cool! So... it DOES pay to respond and ask.

Thanks all... hope this helps somebody...

Right on.

Good for you, it's back, eh I also had an Obama design reinstated after I let them know it was made exclusively of public domain material.

Also had an olympic design taken down, I really wish they would not rely on the robo-letters though. I still have stuff on hold that I have unfinished research for.