Saw it Off!
March 28, 2007
Be careful when using the names and logos of other companies. It could be trademarked.
So I went on vacation for a week to KC where I did something I rarely do… picked up a copy of USA Today. Right on the front page was an interesting article about the Texas A&M students wearing tee shirts that have the UT logo with sawed-off horns.
Of course, this was yet another opportunity for attorneys to make a living but the basis for the case raises an interesting question.
Is it copyright or trademark infringement to alter the logo of another company?
There have been many times that a logo is used as part of a parody. In fact, here’s a site dedicated to it… (click). So where does it cross the line? And doesn’t the use of a logo parody, in effect, verify the brand recognition and reinforce the brand?
In the case of Texas A&M, there is more to it than just sawing off horns. Apparently, the rivalry between the two teams has gone back for eons – this may just amount to hurt feelings. Still… be careful when using the logo of others!
Update: A lawsuit about the logo parody was settled with an agreement by the merchant to slightly alter the logo and pay a $25,000 fine. So now we know . . . .
More Dia-Blogging
Make the Important Fields Required
[hubspot type="form" portal="49125452" id="5a6edad8-16e1-4bc5-ae0b-2ff73ae208f5"...
Good, Cheap, Fast — Pick Two.
The mistake most people make is optimizing for only one corner of the triangle.Or: Why I Finally...
Digital Diablog
Subscribe here for updates!