Charlie Schmidt poses for a photo with Natto, one of his cats who plays Keyboard Cat in some of his famous videos in front of a painting of Bento, another one of his Keyboard Cats, recently in Spokane. (SR photo: Tyler Tjomsland)

Spokane artist and actor Charlie Schmidt often gets emails from friends and strangers reporting yet another appearance by his long-dead, still-famous cat, found on a website, blog or product catalog. Sometimes the reports are of websites simply using his viral video, “Keyboard Cat,” the 55-second clip he made in 1986 that became a web sensation 13 years later. Other times, he finds a business selling merchandise using the Keyboard Cat name or the image of Fatso, the feline in the video. Using the video or the image of his cat without a license violates his copyright; using the name Keyboard Cat for profit violates Schmidt’s trademark for that phrase/Tom Sowa, SR. More here.

Question: Do you seek permission to use the artistic work of others online?