Using quotes legally

[parismason]

[B]What is the name of your state? Virginia.

I want to find out if it is okay to use famous quotes from either dead or living people and use it for resale, or would I have to obtain permission from a specific group? For example if I wanted to sell baseball caps with a famous quote such as " I hope I shall always possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider to be the most enviable of all titles: the character of an "Honest Man."--George Wahington~ embroidered on them. Would this be okay? If the person is still living I would assume that one would have to seek their permission, but what if the person is dead, but the family runs a foundation in their name such as Dr. Martin Luther King, must permission be obtained through them, or because he is dead are his famous quotes open to the public usage as long as they give him credit? Also what about the case for a dead president such as jefferson, or washington? Or confucious, or einstein, or what in the case of famous anonymous quotes? I have also taken into account seeking a patent for my idea, but what steps if any do I need to take in order to use these quotes legally? Please give me knowledgable feedback ~~thanks

 

[Aurorien]

In general you can use any famous quotes as long as you site your sources, e.g. author. I am not 100% sure about resale, but since you are selling baseball caps and not the actual quote, there shouldn't be a problem unless the quote is trademarked or copyrighted.