Hi everyone!
 
After careful consideration, I have decided to change my pen name and the name of my business from Hannah Disney to Hannah Lynn, Art & Design.

When I first started putting artwork up on eBay almost 3 years ago, I would never have considered using anything other than my true name on my work.  All artists want recognition for their names and signatures on original artwork. I had also not, at the time, considered the ramifications of turning this into a full time business and all the legalities that come along with doing business nationally and internationally.  But through the support of my wonderful fans, family and friends, my business has blossomed from a hobby into a full-fledged career with a very bright future.

Although I believe I have legal rights to use the Disney name because it is my legal last name, it could cause potential problems for me in the future as I pursue the growth of my business to a greater, more marketable, level.  A few years ago there would never have been any confusion between my art and the Disney empire, but as my art and style have grown my artwork has become more polished and professional. I am putting more time and effort into developing the business side of my company, researching and creating products, and signing contracts with companies to turn my art into all sorts of consumer-end products. When it comes to trademark law, if the customer is confused about where a product originates, there is likely to be a case of trademark infringement. As of now, my fans know that I am not related to the Disney Corporation because I have always publically denied that I am, and because my art is different than Walt Disney’s.  I have never attempted to confuse people intentionally. However, as my products are purchased from wholesalers and then by retailers, and subsequently placed in stores, a customer who buys a product with the Hannah Disney name on it will likely have an assumption or at least a question of relation to the Disney Company.
 
Now, if I were selling tires or muffins, it might not be such an issue. But, because of the industry I am in and the subject matter being mermaids and fairies, there is a very close relation to the products being created and presented to the end consumer. Because of this risk of confusion, I have decided to change my company name to Hannah Lynn, Art & Design. Lynn is my middle name, so I am assuming it as my last and dropping the Disney. It is a difficult change to make, but I feel it is necessary. Please keep in mind this decision was solely my own; I have not been contacted by any attorneys or any representatives of the Disney Company.

This change, while it appears to be negative, is a positive move for my growing art business. It will benefit me in that I can create a recognizable brand of my own and remove the question of relation to the Disney Company. It will also protect my assets from potential legal trouble, because even if I have a legal right to use my own name, and I ultimately win in court, my business wouldn’t be able to withstand all the legal fees and scrutiny. Even knowing my rights, and knowing they might lose, the Disney Company has the right to file a lawsuit if they think I am infringing on their registered trademark. Which, in the end, would certainly be my loss regardless of the actual verdict.

If I grow my business the way I want to, then I might become “big enough” for the Disney Company to consider legal action against me, as is their right. I have big plans for the coming years to sign more contracts, create more products, and promote my name and artwork in person at fairs and shows around the country. This takes a tremendous amount of capital and energy and puts my company at greater risk. If any time is the right time to make this change, it is now, before I launch an aggressive campaign under the Hannah Disney name.

I hope that you will continue to support me while I make this change. Logistically, I will make a steady transition from one name to the other over the next few months as people get used to the idea. The first change that has already taken place is the new logo on the header of my website at www.hannahdisney.com. It encompasses my new signature and company name. I know it is disappointing, but I have decided in order to avoid further confusion that my physical signature must change as well to reflect my new pen name. So, if you own a print or an original with the Hannah Disney signature on it, it’s about to be worth a whole lot more!

I will be posting and managing a timeline of the switch on hannahdisney.com so you can follow along and stay informed of the changes. My website address will be changing to hannahlynnart.com in the near future, but I still own hannahdisney.com and will be forwarding from my old site to the new site automatically for a while. HannahDisney.com will still be live for a bit longer until I decide to make the official switch. Anything else that says Hannah Disney will say Hannah Lynn, but everything else will stay the same. eBay listings will be all need to be changed as well to reflect the new name, as will licensed products through respective companies. The signature change will take place October 1st, 2009 so as to establish my use of the new name in commerce as soon as possible. I am planning on keeping my Myspace page, Facebook profile, and email the same because it is my personal name and they are not changeable. I will, however, add a Facebook “page” for my business that will reflect the new name, and I have created a new email account with the new business name: hannahlynnart@yahoo.com.

I know this is going to take some adjustment; it will take some adjustment for me too. You can still count on these things: the same, wonderful Hannah art and quality, and the same exceptional customer service. I value your business tremendously and appreciate your support! Please, if you have any questions, feel free to contact me at hannah_disney@yahoo.com.  Thank you and I look forward to all the new and exciting things to come!