Q: Can I use the phrase “won’t you be my neighbor” on a t shirt
A: This site is not a substitute for an attorney client relationship with an attorney knowledgeable in your business practices. No attorney will dispense free advice over the internet based in such few facts, potentially exposing you, and them, to liability for violation of intellectual property law. Hire an attorney.
A: What I think you are asking is, "if I try to sell t-shirts with the phrase 'Will you be my neighbor'" will you be infringing on someone's intellectual property rights and subject yourself to liability? Maybe. It would depend if the phrase is trademarked. It is certainly well-associated with Mr. Rodger's neighborhood, and I strongly expect it would be protectable and probably has been trademarked, but you would really need to retain an attorney to do the proper searches and give you fine-grained advice.
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