Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2008/01/14

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Subject: [Leica] Ford Logo problems
From: jshul at comcast.net (Jim Shulman)
Date: Mon Jan 14 14:23:04 2008
References: <200801142152.AJW54512@rg5.comporium.net>

About fifteen or twenty years ago the major US auto companies realized that
there was a huge amount of money to be made through licensing their logos
and images of their products--something that hadn't really captured their
attention previously. From that point on they've gone after all sorts of
folks who have photographed their products, and used their logos.  To be
fair, many of the alleged infringements were for profit-making ventures,
such as people who reproduced vintage car parts and accessories.
Unfortunately, the big US auto makers' staff attorneys don't make much of a
distinction between club enthusiasts and pirates.

A good friend of mine had been involved with the Lincoln (automobile) Owners
Club, trying to get Ford's blessing for an archive of vintage Lincoln
images, including ads, manuals, and other print materials.  After three
years of fighting Ford's bureaucracy (including marshalling the force of
several Ford VPs who were avid members of the Lincoln Owners Club), he gave
up what had become a fruitless battle.

In the LUG yearbook, the vast majority of images do not show Leica equipment
or logos--with one exception: the cover image, showing an M8 ready for use.
If Leica AG really wants to take issue with that, I'd be surprised. 

Jim Shulman
Bryn Mawr, PA


-----Original Message-----
From: lug-bounces+jshul=comcast.net@leica-users.org
[mailto:lug-bounces+jshul=comcast.net@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of Tina
Manley
Sent: Monday, January 14, 2008 4:53 PM
To: lug@leica-users.org
Subject: [Leica] Ford Logo problems

LUG:

Any chance Leica would do the same to our yearbook?

http://www.adrants.com/2008/01/ford-slaps-brand-enthusiasts-returns.php

Tina

Tina Manley
ASMP, NPPA, EP, PI
http://www.tinamanley.com 


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In reply to: Message from images at comporium.net (Tina Manley) ([Leica] Ford Logo problems)