Copyright printing clothes with logos etc

april319

Just wondering how this works. You see stalls at shows etc selling clothes with logos such as stands at truck shows selling ‘scania’ jackets etc. These are clearly not official merchandise so how can they get away with it? Are you allowed to do this or are you asking for trouble re copyrights?

Peregrinus

The owner of the trademark that you are reproducing can let you get away with it if he wants to. Or he can pursue you. Or you can get a licence from him to reproduce the the logo on your clothing.

Assuming you don't have a licence, the logo owner has a decision to make. On the one hand, there's the cost of pursuing you versus the likelihood of actually getting any money out of you. On the other hand, maybe he doesn't want money out of you; he is mainly concerned to stop you reproducing his logo. On the third hand, maybe he reckons that having his logo reproduced in this way is actually good for him - increased brand awareness, etc. On the fourth hand, maybe he himself is producing clothing with the logo, or making money by licensing others to do so, in which case you are competing with him/undercutting his revenue stream. On the fifth hand, maybe he isn't.

So, there's a lot of variables here which will affect his decision about how to act. The bottom line for you is that you are running a legal risk, and you have little control over that risk. Someone else will decide whether you get sued or not.

Caranica

Also the risk of the goods being seized as counterfeit?

Peregrinus

Yes.

LawBoy2018

The owner of the trademark would normally just send a cease and desist letter and that would be the end of it if the supplier of the counterfeit goods has any sense.