I have seen alot of websites online that sell decals and licence plates with logos like "Ford" or "The Beatles" for example. How can it be legal to make a product with copyrighted logos and sell them online or at a store? Or am I wrong? Anyone know what's legal or not?
Thanks /David and Jenna Nyman
Posted by Ray Rheaume (Member # 3794) on :
The leegal stuff is produced by companies who pay licensing fees for the design owners or companies.
One local t-shirt company near me has licensed Ford and Chevrolet designs and does very well following the hot rod shows across the country.
There are a lot of small start up companies who do short runs of these designs for the quick buck and are violating copyright laws doing so. Many are not prosecuted simply because they are not doing big distibutions and are not making enough money to upset the corporate owners of the logos. Some have been put out of business for making large runs. They get sued out of exsistance.
Hello Ray, that was kind of what I was thinking, just wanted to be certain. Thanks for the link and appreciate the response.
David and Jenna Nyman
Posted by Bob Stephens (Member # 858) on :
Since we are on the subject does anyone know how to go about obtaining licensing rights from prospective companies and if so what kind of fees or royalties are typical if there is such a thing as typical?
Posted by Mike Pipes (Member # 1573) on :
Bob, contacting the Legal department or sales and marketing is a good start. In Ford's case they hired The Beanstalk Group to handle their trademark and product licensing programs - http://www.beanstalk.com/
Someone once told me there's a $10,000 licensing fee for harley davidson. I dont know how true it is but I wouldn't doubt it!
**Edit**: Well lookie there, Beanstalk handles licensing for LOTS of those popular companies... how convenient!
[ August 25, 2003, 11:04 PM: Message edited by: Mike Pipes ]
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