As I understand that aspect of it - Again with the caution that I'm not an IP lawyer or lawyer of any sort.
If the paper owns it and uses one of the really aggressive IP management companies. You'll get served with a suit for ridiculous "damages".
If they own it and do things reasonably and/or in house, it might simply be a letter saying "we own that, stop selling copies or we'll have to do something" At which point you simply reply that you've stopped (And actually stop) And it's all ok.
I don't think I've heard of anyone making the custom cards getting in any trouble.
The couple ones I have seen get in trouble were the place that was making 3-D ish cards out of three laser cut star cards with spacers. All three big card companies were mad at him. But he was also selling through Toys r Us and maybe one or two other big retail outlets.
Another was making limited edition standups from licensed photos by gluing them to foamboard cutting them to shape and mounting it to a base with a serial numbered plaque. He was somewhat local, and I think the photo producers were ok with him, but the licensing groups weren't.
I have one of the standups, but never bought the 3-D cards. I tried when I heard he was in trouble, but TRU had pulled them.
If you're only thinking of making a few copies for friends or doing a custom card I'd do a quick check of the IP management of the paper and if it's not one of the aggressive companies I'd just go ahead and do it.
Steve B
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