Louis Vuitton Leather

[veedub3]

if its done with tact its not trashing anyone's brand, in fact its glorifying it in some degree.

This is clearly your opinion and in the end a Judge would be the one to determine if your view is correct or not. Although I believe it is highly unlikely LV will even see your holster, and yes their time would be better spent going at those Chinese makers that are clearly ripping them off, you are still at risk for being sued. LV could very well be against guns and to have their logo emblazoned across a gun holster could be considered damaging to their brand for which you would be liable. LV is recognized across the world and even if you market it as a "McCabe's Custom Leather" holster, all anyone is going to see is the LV design, and identify it as such. One photo on the internet of the finished project is all it would take to have their Attorney's oya!

To the original poster - It is a risk you would take, and I would seriously ask myself is the amount of money I would make on a project such as this is worth the risk. All the Trademark holder have to do is drag you into court, and you will have to pony up to defend yourself. Whose pockets are deeper, your are theirs?

[billymac814]

I sill don't believe there to be any risk or wrong doing in doing it. I would really like to find out from a lawyer or someone else who could provide facts as to whether or not this would be a trademark infringement. I highly doubt it. You are not copying anyone's design or copying their trademark.

So if you had a customer who brought you a belt buckle with the Harley Davidson Logo would you not make a belt for it? I myself would, I would not however tool a Harley Davidson logo onto a belt. I made a belt with a S&W buckle on it as well, a buckle I purchased directly from S&W. is that a problem too?

[WScott]

Here is a posting from etsy. Is this ok or not???

IMHO I think not, it is a legal action waiting to happen.

"http://www.etsy.com/...earch_type=all"

Edited February 3, 2013 by WScott

[billymac814]

Here is a posting from etsy. Is this ok or not???

IMHO I think not, it is a legal action waiting to happen.

"http://www.etsy.com/...earch_type=all"

I'd say its not ok, for one that is made with fake LV material and their vague description is probably meant to mislead buyers into thinking that is an LV product. That's far different than a customer commissioning a single item to be made with a real used LV purse which is what I'm saying I would do. Its cool looking though.

Again my only problem with the OP is that the customer wants to use fake material and that already means their intentions are wrong.

I recently repurposed a suitcase that was my customers grandfather and turned it into a planner. The suitcase was no good and she wanted to be able to continue using it in another form. No matter the brand I would have gladly taken the job. Wouldn't be any different if it was an Lv bag or not. She rightfully obtained it and is doing what she wants with it.

[WScott]

Totally agree with you BillyMac.

I like the idea of re-purposing the old item's leather. Recycle it instead of chucking it and letting it rot.

You will only harvest a small amount of useful leather to make a small item for a single person who already purchased the original (ie the company got paid already) and has sentimental attachment to the leather.

What that etsy seller is doing looks a little greasy to me

[veedub3]

Here is a posting from etsy. Is this ok or not???

IMHO I think not, it is a legal action waiting to happen.

"http://www.etsy.com/...earch_type=all"

Did you notice the seller is located in China and that her Etsy store opened Jan 15, 2013? Trademarks mean nothing to them. Of course this stuff is fake and illegal and as soon as the Trademark holder pursue it, they will shut down and open up another site using a different name with a different address. What I think is going to happen in this case, is that the Trademark holder will contact Etsy and they will shut her site down.

[Leather Guru]

the stuff by Vuitton is not leather . It's in fact plastic. Only leather is used to make straps & so forth & it's veg leather & it's coated these days with polyurethane so it wont turn color

[WScott]

the stuff by Vuitton is not leather . It's in fact plastic. Only leather is used to make straps & so forth & it's veg leather & it's coated these days with polyurethane so it wont turn color

and people trip over themselves and pay a fortune to get these status symbol bags.....if it was handmade and real leather I could understand

[Jazznow]

Talked to a guy who runs a bag and baggage shop. He's an expert on industrial bags. He told me the Luis Vuitton fakes are in fact better than the real ones, lol.

[Feraud]

My wife owns a few high end bags including LV. The quality of knockoffs are definitely not better than LW. She has has pointed out to me the quality difference based on shoddy construction and low quality parts.

Based on this thread I noticed today my wife was carrying an LV wallet. I asked her thoughts on the quality and she pointed out that particular wallet had little wear and she has owned and used it for 15 years. I doubt many Chinatown knockoff (where most New Yorkers get their knockoffs) will last that long.