Thoughts on Custom Cards?

[Archangel1775]

I understand the couple members here that do custom cards to get signed. However, I'm seeing an influx of custom cards on eBay that can clearly confuse the regular collector. The Warner Brothers cards of the previous DCU are the most concerning. So Batman, Flash, Wonder Woman, Beetlejuice, etc. There is a seller or two that list complete sets for $60-$120 that appear to be licensed with the Warner Bros copyright line on the back. These types of sets would normally be convention exclusives, theater promotional giveaways and similar. I'm starting to see them added to the tcdb database, which is starting to put up alarm bells. With PSA/DNA recently declining(for the most part) to grade autographs on custom cards designed after official cards(sorry thuy and duke), its a step forward in protecting the hobby. I've also seen a few hundred custom President Trump cards. So my question is, what do you guys think about them?

[dd316]

They don't bother me in the slightest. If it's what people want to collect, I'm all for it.

I do get your point where it might confuse newer collectors, but everybody has a starting point and should do their homework before a large investment. This goes for any type of collectible.

I'm a little confused by what you're saying would be convention exclusives or theater promos - are these not legit cards?

[DynaEtch]

I view custom cards as more a thing to have in your own collection, rather than a burgeoning market around them as things to sell. More for personal enjoyment/collecting. Although a few cases I remember customs actually selling for decent amounts- someone once had a Snape and Hagrid HP artbox auto on eBay made just to look like the official card design (those two never were in HP artbox, so would be desirable autos to some completionists). Then again, you certainly don’t have the same confidence the auto is legit compared to an official HP artbox auto…

I would not be for putting license logos like WB on the back since they’re not licensed, and also would be against including them on tcdb. That should be reserved for officially released, licensed cards, not homemade custom jobs.

[Archangel1775]

Originally Posted by dd316

I'm a little confused by what you're saying would be convention exclusives or theater promos - are these not legit cards?

Originally Posted by DynaEtch

I would not be for putting license logos like WB on the back since they’re not licensed, and also would be against including them on tcdb. That should be reserved for officially released, licensed cards, not homemade custom jobs.

Yes, my focus of the custom card world aren't set fillers or one offs. The focus is on cards made with the intention to deceive. I'd have to find the sellers on eBay but I did go through one of the stores and though I could be mistaken, they are custom cards made to look like "promotional cards" given out at the venues I mentioned. Obviously being made at home, they weren't. I know Warner Bros made cards going as far back as 1979 but they don't do it often. I just have a hard time believing the cards listed in this seller's eBay store were a recent find especially with how hard collector's were going in 2020-2023.

[DynaEtch]

Originally Posted by Archangel1775

Yes, my focus of the custom card world aren't set fillers or one offs. The focus is on cards made with the intention to deceive. I'd have to find the sellers on eBay but I did go through one of the stores and though I could be mistaken, they are custom cards made to look like "promotional cards" given out at the venues I mentioned. Obviously being made at home, they weren't. I know Warner Bros made cards going as far back as 1979 but they don't do it often. I just have a hard time believing the cards listed in this seller's eBay store were a recent find especially with how hard collector's were going in 2020-2023.

Yea I’d be against this also…just making sets to pass off as real-deal releases…especially with trying to sell on eBay.

[finfangfan]

I encountered a weird Wolverine/Deadpool promo set earlier this year on COMC that many thought was likely a custom. The cards have the Marvel copyright on back.

https://www.blowoutforums.com/showthread.php?t=1605792

[fabiani12333]

If the cards are unique and appealing, why not? They should have a disclaimer on the back, though, stating they are not officially licensed.

If a card design becomes popular, the manufacturer should copy it -- it's only fair.

[HiltonL]

Collectors have enough officially licensed issues to deal with, given pack-ins like movie house giveaways, Hanes, Pizza Hut, VHS tapes, and old bagged magazines. Not to mention the complexity of re-imported cards that are officially licensed outside the US (e.g. Kakawow, Phantom, etc)

Customs may float a fan's boat, but they should never be given any kind of approval like listing on TCDB or nslists. IP lawyers are always looking for inappropriate use of characters and trademarks, so you can't even actually share them without exposing yourself to trouble.

[HiltonL]

Originally Posted by Archangel1775

Yes, my focus of the custom card world aren't set fillers or one offs. The focus is on cards made with the intention to deceive. I'd have to find the sellers on eBay but I did go through one of the stores and though I could be mistaken, they are custom cards made to look like "promotional cards" given out at the venues I mentioned. Obviously being made at home, they weren't. I know Warner Bros made cards going as far back as 1979 but they don't do it often. I just have a hard time believing the cards listed in this seller's eBay store were a recent find especially with how hard collector's were going in 2020-2023.

What you're describing is counterfeiting, which is going to happen regardless. That's distinct from the more common definition of the term 'custom' in trading cards

[webjon]

I dislike anything that can be confused for a legitimate product.

Even if a buyer tries to 'do their homework' it isn't like it is easy to research a card set and find out if a given card existed or not.

Most of the entertainment card manufacturers are long out of business, and few had much information available on their websites when they existed.

I personally have had a lot of trouble determining if certain sketch artists were included in the set or were aftermarket. That type of information can be difficult to figure out when a set is released, let alone years later.

[Archangel1775]

Originally Posted by HiltonL

What you're describing is counterfeiting, which is going to happen regardless. That's distinct from the more common definition of the term 'custom' in trading cards

There lies another problem, on the sports side of the trading card hobby, a "counterfeit" is typically described as a copy of a card meant to look like the original and deceive a buyer into believing that. A "reprint" is a licensed copy of a card, intended to look like the original(think Topps Mantle and Ryan insert reprints). An "unlicensed" card is produced by someone using the NIL of a player without the rights to do so. Typically using an original design. Which are also not restricted by those rights, in other words, if they made them in 1990, they could still print them in 2025. Usually described as "broder" cards. Think the numerous Bo Jackson broder cards or the 1986 Donruss Michael Jordan card.

These wouldn't fall in any of those categories, at this point. You could argue the last but they have a fake(allegedly) "copyright" line. Personally, they were intentionally designed to confuse the very standard the hobby is used too.

[Archangel1775]

Here are the questionable Beetlejuice ones. Again, maybe they were a giveaway somewhere but you would think someone would have noticed.

[Archangel1775]

Originally Posted by finfangfan

I encountered a weird Wolverine/Deadpool promo set earlier this year on COMC that many thought was likely a custom. The cards have the Marvel copyright on back.

https://www.blowoutforums.com/showthread.php?t=1605792

Yeah, I appreciate that. I'm all about collecting nice cards but I do want them to be licensed. I'm still digging on a few and actually contacted Warner Brothers Studios but not sure if I'm going to get a response. We shall see.

[glorbgorb]

I've bought some custom cards that are obvious customs (i.e. Seinfeld characters on mimicked Topps card designs), but that's all I'll pick up. And they are clearly marked as such.

EDIT: I'll also add that I once wished to dabble in custom hockey cards for my son--we were going to make some game-used cards for him. I say "dabble" in that I had some older card designs I wanted to use, but I stopped there. Is there some custom card group where people get templates of card designs from? For non-sports I will admit I was never really interested in customs for in-person signings until I saw Thuy showing some of his off.

[Chuck Bartowski]

I think custom cards are fine. Fraudulent cards are not. If they are trying to pass something off as a licensed card and it's not licensed then it's fraud which is not okay.

[thuy]

For my personal collection, my "card sized photos" are just meant to be that, so I can have them signed for my PC. I only make 1 and I have them authenticated for my collection. Not meant for any deception or monetary gain. In fact, most of the time, it monetary loss but I am happy to have in my collection

[fabiani12333]

Originally Posted by thuy

For my personal collection, my "card sized photos" are just meant to be that, so I can have them signed for my PC. I only make 1 and I have them authenticated for my collection. Not meant for any deception or monetary gain. In fact, most of the time, it monetary loss but I am happy to have in my collection

Your cards are tasteful, one-of-a-kind, meant for a PC, and have signatures that were paid for -- if any custom cards are worthy of being allowed, it's those type of cards.