Copyright Policy
How we protect original work and third-party marks, what we need from you when you personalize a stole, and how to report a concern. Clear, fair, and specific to our products.
Jump to SectionsOur Commitment to Intellectual Property
MyGradStoles, operated by HRV Enterprises INC LLC, designs and manufactures graduation stoles, religious stoles, custom graduation stoles, and blank graduation stoles. We respect the creative and trademark rights of schools, organizations, faith communities, artists, and individuals, and we expect our customers to do the same.
This Copyright Policy explains who owns what on our website, what you may and may not upload for personalization, how we handle rights-holder complaints, and which U.S. and Canadian laws apply. It works alongside our Terms & Conditions, Custom Order Policy, and Privacy Policy.
What We Own and How You May Use It
- The text, product photography, mock-ups, layouts, graphics, color guides, and original stole designs on mygradstoles.com belong to HRV Enterprises INC LLC or are used under license.
- You may view and print pages for personal, non-commercial use, such as planning your own order.
- You may not copy, scrape, resell, republish, or use our photos, descriptions, or designs on another website, marketplace, or advertisement without our written permission.
- Our name and logo are our trademarks. Using them in a way that suggests affiliation or endorsement requires our written consent.
- Written permission requests go to contact@mygradstoles.com.
Artwork and Text You Submit for Personalization
Custom and religious stoles are produced from the names, text, crests, logos, and files you give us. Because we reproduce what you submit, you carry the responsibility for having the right to use it.
What you confirm when you upload
- You created the artwork, or you own it, or you have written permission to use it.
- If it contains a school, university, chapter, honor society, or church mark, you have authority to use it for this order.
- It does not infringe anyone's copyright, trademark, privacy, or publicity rights.
What you give us permission to do
- Use your files only to prepare proofs, embroider or print, and fulfill your order.
- Resize, recolor, or vectorize artwork as needed for production.
- We do not display your artwork in our marketing or sell it to others without your separate consent.
School Crests, Greek Letters, Honor Societies & Religious Symbols
Schools and universities
Names, seals, mascots, and logos are usually trademarks of the institution. Orders placed or authorized by the institution, such as through our Bulk Order program, are treated as authorized. Individual students should confirm that their school permits personalized merchandise carrying its marks.
Fraternities, sororities and honor societies
Letters and insignia are often protected by the national organization. Chapter officers ordering for members should confirm national approval where the organization requires it.
Religious symbols and Scripture
Ancient symbols such as the cross are generally free to use. Some modern translations of Scripture, hymn text, and ministry logos are copyrighted, so please use public-domain wording or confirm permission. We reproduce what you approve and do not check denominational accuracy.
Fonts and clip art
We use licensed or open fonts for our own text options. Custom fonts or clip art you supply must be licensed for commercial embroidery or printing.
We are a manufacturer, not a licensing authority. We may ask for proof of permission, pause an order, or decline artwork that looks unauthorized, and we refund any amount paid for an order we decline.
Content We Will Not Reproduce
We may refuse or cancel an order, with a full refund for that item, if the artwork or text falls into any of these groups:
- Counterfeit goods or unauthorized copies of a brand, school, league, or organization mark
- Copyrighted characters, cartoons, film or music artwork, or lyrics without permission
- Artwork taken from another seller's listings or designs
- Content that is hateful, threatening, sexually explicit, defamatory, or unlawful
- Photos or names of identifiable people used without their permission in a way that breaches privacy or publicity rights
If we decline a design, we contact you before production to suggest alternatives.
Reporting Infringement - United States (DMCA)
If you believe content on our website infringes your copyright, send a written notice under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (17 U.S.C. 512) to contact@mygradstoles.com or by mail to HRV Enterprises INC LLC, 1105 W Cottonwood Ln, Apt 15F, Mount Prospect, IL 60056, United States. A complete notice includes:
- Your name, address, phone number, and email, and your physical or electronic signature
- A description of the copyrighted work you say was infringed
- The exact page URL or order reference where the material appears
- A statement that you have a good-faith belief the use is not authorized by the owner, its agent, or the law
- A statement, under penalty of perjury, that the notice is accurate and that you are the owner or authorized to act for the owner
If material is removed and you believe this was a mistake, you may send a counter-notice with your contact details, a description of the removed material, a statement under penalty of perjury that it was removed by mistake, and consent to U.S. federal court jurisdiction. We may restore the material in 10 to 14 business days unless the complainant files a court action. Knowingly false notices can lead to liability. Customers who repeatedly infringe will have their accounts and future orders restricted.
Reporting Infringement - Canada
- Canada's Copyright Act uses a notice-and-notice system (sections 41.25 and 41.26). If a rights holder sends us a compliant notice about material tied to our online service, we forward it to the responsible person and keep records as the law requires.
- Notices should identify the work, the claimant, the infringing material and its location, and the claimed infringing act and date. They go to contact@mygradstoles.com.
- Trademark concerns are handled under the Trademarks Act, and we respond to well-supported complaints by pausing or declining the order concerned.
- Quebec customers may request this policy in French at contact@mygradstoles.com.
How We Handle a Complaint on an Order
1. Review
We read the complaint, confirm it contains the information we need, and respond within 1 business day.
2. Hold or remove
If the claim looks valid, we hold production or remove the listing or file while it is checked.
3. Resolve
We cancel and refund the affected item, or restore it if permission is shown. Orders already shipped follow our Returns & Refund Policy.
Marketplace and Shopping Standards
Everything we advertise is a real product we make, described honestly. We do not sell counterfeit or unlicensed merchandise, do not copy competitors' product photos, and do not use another brand's name, school logo, or product images in product titles, ads, or search terms unless we hold the right to do so. Product images on our pages are our own or properly licensed. Customer-submitted reviews and photos remain the property of their authors, who allow us to display them.
U.S. State and Canadian Provincial Reference
Beyond federal law, state and provincial rules shape what you can put on a stole. This table summarizes the main ones. It is general information and not legal advice.
| Jurisdiction | Key law | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| United States (federal) | Copyright Act, Lanham Act, DMCA | Protects original works and brands. False association, counterfeiting, and unauthorized copying can lead to damages. |
| California | Civil Code 3344; Business and Professions Code 17200 | Names and likenesses need consent for commercial use. Unfair competition law covers copied or deceptive goods. |
| Florida | Statute 540.08; FDUTPA | Commercial use of a person's name or likeness needs permission. |
| Illinois | Right of Publicity Act (765 ILCS 1075); Trademark Registration and Protection Act; ICFA | Our home state. Names and images need consent, state trademarks are protected, and deceptive practices are prohibited. |
| New York | Civil Rights Law 50 and 51; General Business Law 360-k and 349 | Written consent is needed for commercial use of a person's name or portrait, and trademark dilution is actionable. |
| Texas | Property Code ch. 26; Business and Commerce Code ch. 16; DTPA | Protects personal identity and state trademarks, and prohibits deceptive trade practices. |
| Other states | State right-of-publicity, trademark, and UDAP laws | Each state adds its own rules. We follow the law of the customer's state where it gives greater protection. |
| Canada (federal) | Copyright Act; Trademarks Act; Competition Act | Moral rights, notice-and-notice, trademark infringement and passing off, and false-advertising rules. |
| Quebec | Civil Code art. 36; Consumer Protection Act; Charter of the French Language | Image and privacy rights are strong, and French-language documents are available on request. |
| Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta and other provinces | Provincial consumer laws; BC Privacy Act; provincial privacy acts | Truthful-advertising rules apply, and BC and others recognize statutory claims for unauthorized use of a person's name or portrait. |
Consumer Rights Stay Protected
Nothing in this policy limits your rights under the FTC Act, state unfair and deceptive practices laws, implied warranty law, the Competition Act, or provincial consumer protection statutes. If we make a production error or ship a defective item, we replace or refund it. Complaints about this policy can also go to your state attorney general, the FTC, or your provincial consumer affairs office.
Updates to This Policy
We update this policy when laws or our practices change. The date at the top shows the latest version. Changes will not reduce protections for orders already placed.
Copyright Questions or Reports
We reply within 1 business day.
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HRV Enterprises INC LLC · 1105 W Cottonwood Ln, Apt 15F, Mount Prospect, IL 60056, United States