University Logo's

[Rawhide]

Someone asked me to make a purse with a university logo on the flap. I'm just wondering if anyone has been through the process of getting permission from the choice university, or will they flat out deny approval. I've sent a request to the university and hope to hear back soon, but wanted to see the forum's take on it.

I won't be making a profit on the item, nor do I plan to produce it again. Just wanting your thoughts.

[wildrose]

My thoughts:

I live very close to Virginia Tech. The amount of Hokie stuff around here is mind blowing. I have made ALOT of things in Tech colors (maroon/orange) and nobody has said beans to me. If someone approached me wanting something (i.e. a folio) with the Tech logo on it (a slanted VT), I'd do it in a heartbeat. And I wouldn't check either. Same with Radford University (red/white). Now would I produce, say a bunch of keyrings for sale at events with either RU or VT on it?...no. That would be pushing the envelope a bit too much.

[Russ]

I've had requests for University (and other copyrighted) stuff in both my side businesses, leatherworking and embroidery. I've been through the licensing process for the embroidery work for high schools, as it's pretty easy to find the right person to get permission, but with the universities around me, it was too expensive....licensing rights are expensive. Personally, once I went from hobby to business, I've been a lot more careful and have refused to put copyrighted stuff on either cloth or leather, no matter how small the item. Chances of getting caught are mighty slim, yes......but so is almost everything that's illegal. Still not worth it.

PS: Rose, my Bearcats are gonna whup those Hokies at the Orange Bowl! And I'll be wearing officially licensed UC stuff

Edited December 11, 2008 by Russ

[Luke Hatley]

This has came up before, make one or a few ,no problem, make a lot of them sell everywhere

make a lot of $$$ you will get caught and will have to pay the Piper...

Edited December 11, 2008 by Luke Hatley

[CitizenKate]

I have worked with K-State to obtain permission to reproduce their logos and trademarks.

You can work through a national collegiate licensing organization to get permission to sell products containing licenses for any college or university. There is time and money involved in that route, but will open the door to all schools. Or you can work through an individual school to obtain licensing to produce and sell items withe their trademarks. I have some information about the national organizations to work with... I'll have to look it up and provide it later, if you're interested.

Individual schools will each have their own channels for approval, but they are usually interested in working with people who make items with their logos. My suggestion is to find a local retailer who already deals in licensed items for the school you are interested in. If you can interest them in your items, they will show you and/or help you pull the ropes to get you in the door.

Kate

[Rayban]

I would echo what Luke has said....besides, you could have finished the project b4 you hear back from them.....

[Rawhide]

Kate

I agree with obtaining permission, which is why I asked the university for permission. However, I'm not trying to do business with them, or continually offer a product with their logo.

I'm planning on producing a one time, gift. I still think it's better to get the permission than to pay for it later. I wonder how much a license costs in this case? Oh well, I'll wait to hear from them.

Luke/Ray

I've got a pm from someone that mentioned a person they knew used a NASCAR logo, and only once and it cost that person over 3 grand in court fees, and penalties. I don't think the purse is worth 3 grand nor me in a cell with a guy named Bubba.

[Rayban]

Kate

I agree with obtaining permission, which is why I asked the university for permission. However, I'm not trying to do business with them, or continually offer a product with their logo.

I'm planning on producing a one time, gift. I still think it's better to get the permission than to pay for it later. I wonder how much a license costs in this case? Oh well, I'll wait to hear from them.

Luke/Ray

I've got a pm from someone that mentioned a person they knew used a NASCAR logo, and only once and it cost that person over 3 grand in court fees, and penalties. I don't think the purse is worth 3 grand nor me in a cell with a guy named Bubba.

That seems like an awful small fish in a very large pond to be suing over.....I refuse to believe that an organization would go that far without at first issuing a cease and desist type of letter. Sorry, I just don't believe a judge in his/her right mind would even entertain hearing such a case.

[Rawhide]

That seems like an awful small fish in a very large pond to be suing over.....I refuse to believe that an organization would go that far without at first issuing a cease and desist type of letter. Sorry, I just don't believe a judge in his/her right mind would even entertain hearing such a case.

Rayban,

I don't have any proof of this issue, it was just told to me. I kind of think the same way that they'd be wasting time doing that, BUT I'd rather not be the example made of and the consequences that could ensue. I could be the straw that breaks the back, you know. Plus, more judges are hearing such cases everyday. Do you think it's worth the cost for RIAA to sue 20 people out of the millions that upload pirated music....no, but they did, just to try and make an example that no matter how small you are, you can be held liable.

[wildrose]

You can dream!

LOL!

PS: Rose, my Bearcats are gonna whup those Hokies at the Orange Bowl! And I'll be wearing officially licensed UC stuff

[K-Man]

That seems like an awful small fish in a very large pond to be suing over.....I refuse to believe that an organization would go that far without at first issuing a cease and desist type of letter. Sorry, I just don't believe a judge in his/her right mind would even entertain hearing such a case.

You can refuse to believe all you wish to. I knew the person it happened to. He flirted with the issue, and got caught. There's nothing that says the organization has to issue a cease and desist letter/order. I've known of more than one organization that has gone straight to court on this type of issue.

[Billy P]

Harley-Davidson Motor Co., has a well earned reputation as being one of the toughest co's at protecting their copyrights and products. Some years ago 2 old guys, brothers, had a leather business around here where I live. They had about a 12x12 building in one's front yard, and did the work there and sold some things out of it. They would go to the Harley dealers and buy the Harley patches and then make wallets and sew the patches on them. One bro., did most of the work in the shop and the other did the foot work selling. He cut a deal with a guy that has an indoor flea market type deal and ended up putting in some peg board and a display case and they sold stuff on a commission deal. Anyway long story short, one Sunday morning Sarge, and the owner of the flea market were there and in comes a fellow, he browes's around for a while and then ask's about the wallets and such with the harley patches. He also ask Sarge if he had anymore already made. Ole Sarge figures he's gonna make a big sale, so he tells the guy how many they have in the shop. After Sarge tells him the deal, the guy pulls out his credentials and he is a Harley rep, well he tells Sarge and the owner, that they can sell what they have in the sort and what Sarge and his bro have already made up. He also tells them that he's gonna be back sometime and if they are still makeing and selling that they will be sued. Most of the stuff I make is one of, but I've done a bunch of Harley, Nascar, NFL, NBA, and school logo's. I don't try and put stuff on the net with any logo's of anybodies. I am planning on contacting the local school admin's and see about being able to make some keyring type stuff with the local high schools logos on them. I have 3-D stamps for all the high schools in my county and some for the surrounding counties, but am not gonna use them until I have permission. All the schools, now sell T-shirts, mugs, banners, etc., to raise money to support the atheletic depts in their school, so if I give them a small percentage to use the logo, I don't mind as it will help them and me. In fact if they want to I'll make them and sell them to the school and they can resell them at games and fund raisers as they want to. They will just have to order enough to make it worth while to me, as I'll probably have to get someone to help a bit to get them out faster. I've said a lot, probably too much to get to the point, but I really don't think that doing one item ie notebook, purse, wallet, etc., is gonna get some big school so upset that they will sue a hobby crafter over it. The most they would probably do is ask not to do it again. We have to remember that while they are sueing someone like us that there is a limited amount that they could possibly get and they hae to pay lawyers just like anybody else, and mostly more per hour than a regular person pays at that. Just some of my thoughts on the subject, Billy P

[Ian]

I agree with Luke. If a customer wants a logo on one item you're making for him, I seriously doubt anyone is going to object any more than they would over a sports fan getting in hot water for drawing a picture of the team's logo on his t-shirt. The difference comes when you are using the logo on items you're putting out for sale, like the Harley patches on the wallets mentioned in another post. Or, if you had t-shirts made up for a rock band and sold them outside a concert. I've carved many Harley logos on individual items for customers, just as custom painters will often include a harley logo in their paint jobs. They are not implying that the tank is a Harley product. If I were to make up belts (for instance) and display them for sale, that's a differnt story since you might be giving the impression that they are genuine Harley merchandise.

Harley has reps at every show looking for conterfeit Harley buckles, etc. There was a Canadian Company that was putting out fake Harley buckles which resulted in a huge lawsuit. I have a stock of chrome Harley bar and shield conchos from a defunct factory that used to make Harley merchandise. I wouldn't dare use them on items I sold in the shop.

So, no, if someone asked me to carve a Marine Corp. emblem into a bike seat (as I have), I wouldn't call the Pentagon to ask permission.

[Rawhide]

I received a response today from the university about the logo,

Here's what the rep said:

...Marlon:

Thank you for your request and your respect for our registered protected trademarks. Please accept this e-mail as a "one time" permission to produce a purse... I have attached a copy of the logo for your convenience. If you have any questions or need anything else, please do not hesitate to contact me directly. Thanks again...

I think this is a much better way. I have evidence if this did come to fruition.

Ian, I understand your point of view and I've never made anything with a military insignia. However, I work for a major defense contractor, and I wouldn't use our own program logo on anything unless I got permission, and I work there.

Would I call the Pentagon for permission...no because everything on the military site is considered public domain and here's a quote from the marine corp website:

...Information presented on this site is considered public information and may be distributed or copied. Use of appropriate byline/photo/image credits is requested....

So using militia trademarks vs. commercial trademarks is comparing apples to oranges.

[Ian]

Speaking of logos. Someone gave me their own business card to duplicate their logo on a project. I needed to enlarge it to make a pattern and took it to Staples to use the self serve copiers. The eagle eyed clerk wouldn't allow me to use the xerox machine to copy the logo, even after I explained why I was copying it. So, Marlon, if you need any adjustment on the size of the logo you have, don't go to Staples, or do it on the sly.

[Rayban]

Marion, seems like common sense has prevailed in your case, as with Billy P's story.

As for the Staples guy....or was it a girl??.....Bitch slap comes to mind....

K-man.....oh, never mind.....

[Rawhide]

Speaking of logos. Someone gave me their own business card to duplicate their logo on a project. I needed to enlarge it to make a pattern and took it to Staples to use the self serve copiers. The eagle eyed clerk wouldn't allow me to use the xerox machine to copy the logo, even after I explained why I was copying it. So, Marlon, if you need any adjustment on the size of the logo you have, don't go to Staples, or do it on the sly.

Good info. I can usually enlarge something by scanning it and editing in in a photo software. Hopefully, I won't run into that clerk.