Why does Zippo always deny any public domain images on their Lighter’s? Do they not know public domain law? I guess they only want repeating flower patterns. Even when I use one of my original designs. I suspect Zippo would interrogate me about the design. Zazzle, I would suggest not even doing business with Zippo. How many times has a customer transferred a design onto a zippo lighter, only to be told we can’t sell it?
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I tried to put colorful palm leaves on one a few weeks ago and it was rejected. I have never had one approved either.
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I am not sure where the product rules are posted these days since we are on the new board but I remember reading that public domain images are not permitted on Zippos. They might be allowed if they are significantly altered - maybe someone remembers or can weigh in.
Besides not allowing public domain images, there’s quite a list of if’s, and’s, and but’s in what’s acceptable and what isn’t acceptable. If they think, for instance, that the design might attract children, it’s rejected. My experience with that rule has shown me how very subjective it is. I have a cute cartoon cat playing a saxophone, but the not-cute sax was rejected when I tried to use it all by itself.
Look at it as either a dead end or a challenge. It can be both.
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For us they reject flags (other than USA) and designs that appeal to children.
https://help.zazzle.com/hc/en-us/articles/227351367-Review-Policy-for-Custom-Zippo-Lighters
Just an aside: How many of us who’ve dealt with toddlers have had to rescue them from small, shiny objects that were no prettier than a bolt or washer? Not being “attractive to children” is a laudable thought but not necessarily effective.
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Gosh. I’ve sold quite a few of them, and I don’t think they’ve ever rejected one of my designs. Just lucky, I guess!
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Only 1 of 21 designs I’ve submitted have been rejected, but I can’t remember what was not accepted. All were created February of this year…no sales yet, but forever hopeful.
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I seem to recall that the Z mods were asking for more designs on the Zippo lighters (in the old Z forums).
I’ve never submitted any designs for the Zippo lighters, because what is considered acceptable content isn’t clearly defined or black and white (this was much better defined for hand sanitizers, masks, and matchbox favors).
Then again, it was the Z content management who would vet for the latter products, whereas it was Zippo would who aye or nay the lighter designs, correct?
W.H.
It does not matter how old and popular is the public domain painting. It’s always rejected. I take the time to find the highest highest resolution public domain art. I clean up the images in photoshop. Many other PD stores just download off google and that’s all. Some of my PD art isn’t even on public display, I need to find it in a collection. I just saying it’s not rejected form zippo for low quality in my case.
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I had trouble with a design where I used a public domain old map from the 1800’s, just for the background of a pattern. you can hardly even see it! It took several emails back and forth before they accepted it. They wanted an email from the site I got it from confirming that I had a license to use it, but naturally that site couldn’t provide an actual license, because it’s public domain, which means NOBODY has or needs a license! The poor people I emailed back and forth with must have thought I was nuts! Finally we figured out some wording in the email that Zazzle would accept, without actually being a license.
A few that have sold
Artistic Jazzy Trombone Musical Customizable
by JLW_Photography
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I got rejected like twice before, and I stop bothering with this lighter. I haven’t even sold a single one yet. I hate products that are too strict with designs.
Two and 1/2 years later and they still reject leave patterns no matter what you do to them.
Maybe they don’t know the difference between a pot leaf and an oak leaf?
I’ve had three accepted, and never had an issue before the past few days when two in a row were rejected. One was rightly rejected because the phrase I used was just trademarked (as of May 8, 2025!) so I’m not going to whine about that one. The second one, though, was not trademarked. What I’m seeing here, though, is that flags should be avoided, as well as public domain images.
So thanks to all the comments here; you’ve helped assuage some of my fears/concerns about the Zippo item.
I’ve had a few sales with astrology designs.