<human>: Can you provide a brief overview of the text?

So I was wondering what the legal take on using popular cartoon characters for t shirt designs.

I manage a retail store and noticed quite a few high priced t shirts and sweatshirts with Mickey Mouse and a brown paper bag over his head, Chicago Bulls logo with added wrinkles on its nose, and amongst other shirts in the past.

I have also seen so many designs online that literally just adds a bar or x's over the eyes or some other slight variation to the original cartoon. I know for a fact that they don't have the rights of permission to use those characters but are still in business years after.

To my understanding smaller businesses use the cartoons regardless of legality issues because they are small fry and companies won't chase after them.
<bot>: I just want to know what the legal limitations we have on taking a popular cartoon character and using it for a design.