Ford taking legal action against enthusiasts.
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Joined: Sep 2005
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From: San Diego
This is a classic case of people taking things out of context.
If the members were making the calenders purely for their own enjoyment WITHOUT charging for them (ie profiting), then I HIGHLY doubt Ford legal would be involved. But think about it, they made a legitimate MARKETED PRODUCT that they are SELLING that features FORD created vehicles.
Although I do think it is a little lame, it does also make sense. If they let them SELL these posters, then where do they draw the line from other people making and selling other products which take advantage of products FORD created? It's a tough one for sure, and I see both sides.
If the members were making the calenders purely for their own enjoyment WITHOUT charging for them (ie profiting), then I HIGHLY doubt Ford legal would be involved. But think about it, they made a legitimate MARKETED PRODUCT that they are SELLING that features FORD created vehicles.
Although I do think it is a little lame, it does also make sense. If they let them SELL these posters, then where do they draw the line from other people making and selling other products which take advantage of products FORD created? It's a tough one for sure, and I see both sides.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 710
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From: Southeastern Virginia
They should have just moved forward and sold the posters anyway, gotten sued...settled and let the lawyers have their cut and all would have been fine...
It's the American way...lawyers and the government need their cut.
Ford dont really care.
Some lawyer sitting around saw a way to get paid.
It's the American way...lawyers and the government need their cut.
Ford dont really care.
Some lawyer sitting around saw a way to get paid.
Technical Article Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Sask. Canada
Originally Posted by crash_lucky13
so in other words i CANNOT use my truck or photos of my truck to make profit for anything? exactly where is this going to stop. all businesses better watch out.
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Sorry to break up the party, it's been resolved. The calender is coming out !! 
Get rid of those CENSOR graphics ... the calendar issue (and rights to print images of our own vehicles) has been resolved. After hearing from a few members of the Ford marketing and communications team, I have Ford approval to proceed with printing our 2008 calendar as-is as well as use Danni (and our other vehicles) in BMC logos and all the club marketing materials we have been thus far.
The 2008 BMC Calendar featuring the Members of the Month from 2007 is now on sale! I will not be using Cafepress for printing our calendar or any other materials as (1) they have not yet released our calendar for printing as (2) they are not compliant with Ford, and I do not want to support them for that reason. If you wish to order the now-famous calendar, please ORDER HERE through our own online store, and the calendars will ship in approximately 10 days.
The 2008 BMC Calendar featuring the Members of the Month from 2007 is now on sale! I will not be using Cafepress for printing our calendar or any other materials as (1) they have not yet released our calendar for printing as (2) they are not compliant with Ford, and I do not want to support them for that reason. If you wish to order the now-famous calendar, please ORDER HERE through our own online store, and the calendars will ship in approximately 10 days.
My name is Whitney Drake and I work in Ford Communications.
We've been watching this discussion with interest and I'd like to
clarify what is essentially a misunderstanding.
Yesterday we spoke to both Cafe Press and the Black Mustang Club
and explained the situation (about the Black Mustang Club’s calendar) to everyone's satisfaction. Ford has no problem with Mustang or other car owners taking pictures of their vehicles for use in club materials like calendars. What we do have an issue with are individuals using Ford’s logo and other trademarks for products they intend to sell. Understandably, we have to take the protection of our brands and licensing very seriously.
Ford did not send the Black Mustang Club a “cease and desist” letter telling them that they could not use images of their own cars in their calendar. The decision not to allow the calendars to be printed was made by Cafe Press, because we had gotten in touch with them in the past about trademark infringements on products they sold.
The Black Mustang Club, and any other Ford enthusiast club, are free to take pictures of their own vehicles for use in calendars or other materials as long as they don't use Ford trademarks in products that will be sold.
I think it is great that the Black Mustang Club, and any other enthusiast club, would take pictures of their own vehicles for use in calendars or other materials.
I'm looking forward to purchasing a copy to hang in the garage next
to my Mustang (even if mine isn't black).
Thanks for giving us the chance to have our say.
We've been watching this discussion with interest and I'd like to
clarify what is essentially a misunderstanding.
Yesterday we spoke to both Cafe Press and the Black Mustang Club
and explained the situation (about the Black Mustang Club’s calendar) to everyone's satisfaction. Ford has no problem with Mustang or other car owners taking pictures of their vehicles for use in club materials like calendars. What we do have an issue with are individuals using Ford’s logo and other trademarks for products they intend to sell. Understandably, we have to take the protection of our brands and licensing very seriously.
Ford did not send the Black Mustang Club a “cease and desist” letter telling them that they could not use images of their own cars in their calendar. The decision not to allow the calendars to be printed was made by Cafe Press, because we had gotten in touch with them in the past about trademark infringements on products they sold.
The Black Mustang Club, and any other Ford enthusiast club, are free to take pictures of their own vehicles for use in calendars or other materials as long as they don't use Ford trademarks in products that will be sold.
I think it is great that the Black Mustang Club, and any other enthusiast club, would take pictures of their own vehicles for use in calendars or other materials.
I'm looking forward to purchasing a copy to hang in the garage next
to my Mustang (even if mine isn't black).
Thanks for giving us the chance to have our say.
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Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Buffalo NY
Originally Posted by webmaster
Nothing new. Ford has been asking Cafepress to pull stores for years that "may" violate Ford's trademarks. Happened to us back in July 2002. https://www.f150online.com/merchandise.cfm
Ford, like many corporations, has a team of young, eager lawyers whose job it is to scour the Internet looking for potential trademark violations, regardless of how gray, and send cease-and-desist letters. CafePress still does little to defend their clients, beyond caving to these letters, so I think they deserve some of the blame here, not just Ford. CafePress had the ability to say no, but they opted to cave rather than fight it.
Ford, like many corporations, has a team of young, eager lawyers whose job it is to scour the Internet looking for potential trademark violations, regardless of how gray, and send cease-and-desist letters. CafePress still does little to defend their clients, beyond caving to these letters, so I think they deserve some of the blame here, not just Ford. CafePress had the ability to say no, but they opted to cave rather than fight it.
yup. Last year me and Patshea were gonna sell shirts with this kickass design i made with the superduty and the svt concept. Turns out it costs $1,000,000 to buy a license to legally sell anything with the ford name, shape, or image on it
.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,813
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From: Aurora Texas
As a Professional Photographer, Ford is out of their mind. Everytime I take a photo it becomes my property as the creator.
Here is a nice little link that Ford should familiarize themselves with.
http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92preface.html
PS:
There are several members there that have photos of their trucks that I have taken and they have been downloaded from my photobucket site.....do I care? Not really b/c they are used for this site as sigs etc.
That is all.
Here is a nice little link that Ford should familiarize themselves with.
http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92preface.html
PS:
There are several members there that have photos of their trucks that I have taken and they have been downloaded from my photobucket site.....do I care? Not really b/c they are used for this site as sigs etc.
That is all.
Global Moderator &
Senior Member
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 21,337
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From: DFW
Originally Posted by Brandon Miller
lol yup
Or just loose the ford emblems
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Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Wisconsin
Originally Posted by Brandon Miller
