What do you guys know about making something for wall art that has a logo or company name in it? What are the rules to sell those things? If it is a one off design but has a movie name in it "i.e. Star Wars or a plaque with someones name and harley davidson on it?
If you make and sale ie profit off a copyrighted or traded mark item with out a license its against the law. Depending on what it is most companies don't care typically. Some sports and colleges will come after you. Harley will sue you and win and take your table if they find out unlicensed HD stuff. All it takes is someone reporting you and they have a number to do so. I'll put it this way. Local bike and bar put up a HD shield with its own logo on it. The painted the building Orange and Black. They were open 6 months got a C&D letter from HD and next day they had sign down and were painting the building. lol They don't play at least domestically as they know they can get you easier. As far as altering a logo. Typically if your selling it modified and looks close to a logo its still a violation, really up to judge as you sold it as star wars and profited. So just changing a logo up a little doen't mean you not subject to getting sued. So if you just doing one or two and not online selling I doubt anyone will care, but avoid Harley stuff IMO. If its sports teams like colleges most have a way to get a license to make and sell and its not to bad typically price wise. Now you can make anything for yourself its fine, you just can't sale for profit ie money or trade. So is it worth getting sued for the tiny amount of money you will make off a sign?
Disney and Harley Davidson especially will own your house and all you call dear if they catch you even getting near their stuff. Most collegiate and professional sports teams are the same way. So many people do it but I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of litigation from these giants!
There is a guy on youtube, Ramsey customs or something he tons tons of ford, Harley type things and has a TON of views. How do some people get away with it? Just because it's not painted?
He just does it . Unless he stating he is selling them or paid money or has a website with them on it most get by. Ford isn't as bad. Like I said with the Harley stuff they have an dept for copyright protection. And one call from someone disgruntled and you would get a C&D letter in mail. So like I said the tiny about of money for making a few signs is not worth time and money in court go for it. Your not going to get rich selling those signs anyway unless selling alot of them as the margin isn't there.
Technically under the law for signs, yes, even if you aren’t making a profit off of a trademark, you are still reproducing it without their consent. Of course, there’s not much chance you’d get caught if its for personal use, seeing as you and me, are small potatoes and not worth anything to large companies, and you don't go around telling every one. But openly selling it like I said just takes someone reporting you, and one may get a letter. Now doing it on a youtube channel isn't very bright. lol I do alot of business signs even well known national brands. But they are the trademark license holders (business logos) as they have the rights, I am just making their logo for them. I actually called Harley and submitted designs to get a license to sell. they wanted like $10k or 15k up front then you had to have 1 million in liability ins. So unless you can make and sell a thousand signs+ a year not worth that license. Again like I said its not worth the small profit you make off a sign IMO to risk it, way better revenue streams then unlicensed trademarked items.
Ive heard that if you change a logo or design up to a certain percentage it no longer falls onto a copyright issues, somewhere along the lines of 15-25% change in design.
You get a C/D letter and end up in court it, its what a Judges says and they all have their own opinions and can pretty much do what ever they want, granted you can appeal but even going to court is $$$$$$. If I make something and change the logo or name a certain percent, I am still selling it as what its intended. For example I seen several guys change the U/A Hog logo buy changing scale and design. In the end the paint it red and sell it as a "Razorback" so its still infringement at least the ones I have seen locally and talking to the university it is as well and they have stated (I talked to them on phone) they will go after them. (Granted may just been idle threat). So again in the end its not worth it for the small amount of money you make off a trademarked items to risk your table or even life savings, just making hundred bucks on a sign, well at least not to me. So its not what I say or you hear its what a judges says. If a companies lawyers present a good case then you may be out alot of money.
