Re: [DML] QAC label with DMC logo - PATENT INFORMATION

[mike.griese@xxxx]

Uh, nice sentiment, but wrong.

Trademarks have value. Sometimes lots of value - think of Pepsi,
Coca Cola, IBM, HP, Ford, the Chevrolet bowtie. It takes a lot of
time and effort to build the reputation that is behind those
trademarks. Just seeing those logos gives you an immediate 
impression in your mind about the brand they represent.

Defending trademarks is a Very Serious Thing. If you as a trademark
holder do not aggressively protect your trademark, you can and will 
lose it. Inspecting products that others produce that use your logo
is not enough to protect the trademark. You must have agreements 
in place that define precisely the terms under which the logo may
be used. The price charged for licensing a logo is a measure of the 
effort to protect it. If you as a trademark holder freely license your
logo to anyone you are diluting that logo's value and you are giving
a lot of the brand definition to others. Should you later decide 
that you want to charge for use, you can be sued and lose not only
your attempt to charge you can also lose exclusive use of the trademark.

--
Mike



> I was hoping you wouldn't bring this up since I already have a patent 
> attorney working on it.
> But since you brought it up....
> 
> Yes, when I made my shifter medallions using the old "DMC" logo, James sent 
> me a letter
> telling me that I should have approved it with them first, and to promise 
> not to sell them
> or else he would "take legal actions".
> I talked with James on the phone and asked:
> "How is it that all these other Delorean related parts sellers sell logo'd 
> merchandise then?"
> He says that they have signed "License agreements" to do so.
>