GM to MrMike: cease & desist (Page 8/11)
reinhart NOV 13, 01:14 AM

quote
Originally posted by jjd2296:


Your wrong there. the words, in that specific font, used on a fiero or for the sale of emblems, tshirts etc is all covered by the copywrite. Actual words with the specific font, used for the purpose of selling items related to a fiero is all copywrite. Noe if you wanted to use the word "FIERO" on a pinto or dodge on its own without the logo design then your good to go!




Do you know of anyone actually getting a C&D from GM for using the word "Fiero" WITHOUT the logo? I've been following this forum for 20 years and haven't. I know that Rodney got one for the spare tire covers and a few other products, which had the name AND logo (not just the name).

Also just because someone makes a claim at a big corporation doesn't make it correct. For example, just his week, I requested a small balance gift card cash out under CA law and was told by a big name Fortune 500 corporate legal department that they need a W-9 from me to mail me a check for the gift card balance. It was so asinine I laughed out loud. (They didn't understand what a W9 is for or what income is.)

The people sending out these letters probably are low man/intern on the totum pole charged with browsing the web looking for potential violations. They probably spend literally 15 min looking at the website and sending out a form letter. If you think this is one of the $300 / hour lawyers spending three hours researching everything before crafting a custom letter geared to that specific vendor and copyright violation you're crazy.
jjd2296 NOV 13, 08:46 AM
Using just the name is harder for the owner of the copyright to prove because they have to have evidence That it is being used for the sole purpose of adding it to specific fiero parts to be used on the car. For example printing “Fiero 2M6” in the same font as factory would be a copyright violation. Using just the word “Fiero” in the correct font but not being able to prove that it’s intended application was for a fiero would be hard for the owner of the copyright.

[This message has been edited by jjd2296 (edited 11-13-2021).]

MrMike NOV 17, 01:38 PM
1. I have not heard back from TX Opie.
2. The word Fiero on a toaster is one thing, on a Fiero seat in a Fiero is asking for trouble.
3. I have no intention of poking a hornet nest with a stick, busy making upholstery.
Thank you, MrMike.
hyperv6 NOV 17, 01:47 PM

quote
Originally posted by MrMike:

1. I have not heard back from TX Opie.
2. The word Fiero on a toaster is one thing, on a Fiero seat in a Fiero is asking for trouble.
3. I have no intention of poking a hornet nest with a stick, busy making upholstery.
Thank you, MrMike.




Might pull this photo down or Ferrari will be calling next with a C+D.
skywurz NOV 17, 10:34 PM

Fiero Vice NOV 18, 03:56 PM

quote
Originally posted by Fiero Vice:

That's insane! What is the harm, huh???

I believe this subject is in gray zone because Mr Mike is selling his talent in re-creating those seats, not emblems.

Darn, I was looking forward to getting my seats done next year in real leather. Yes, in real leather. Guess I will have Mr Mike do the seats & get a local sewing company to do the emblems. Is GM gonna try & stop all sewing companies in America, huh?

GM cannot stop us Fiero enthusiasts from wanting to dress up our Fieros. Period.



After talking with Mr. Mike about my future seat project, I'm disappointed to find out that he doesn't do leather seats anymore, only vinyl & leatherette (fake) which I'm NOT too crazy about. In my opinion, real leather is the best way to dress up our Fieros like they do with exotic Ferraris & Lambos.

It's sad that Mr. Mike won't do it for our Fieros.

So, I guess I will have to go somewhere else. Does anyone know of anyone else that does leather? Thank you.

[This message has been edited by Fiero Vice (edited 11-18-2021).]

jmbishop NOV 18, 04:55 PM
Not all of the exotics you think are using leather are using it. Leather is harder to work with and get the nice tight fit you expect. Simulated leather products have the qualities people think real leather has but in reality doesn't.



quote
Originally posted by Fiero Vice:


So, I guess I will have to go somewhere else. Does anyone know of anyone else that does leather? Thank you.



Good luck finding someone who can do it better, it's unlikely to be cheaper or look as good, especially if you insist on leather. But I'm sure there's a plethora of local upholstery people who would like to work for you.

[This message has been edited by jmbishop (edited 11-18-2021).]

koolgtz NOV 23, 02:58 PM
It seem that more and more large companies are concerned about smaller companies using their logos, trade marks or similar. They fail to look at the long term embrace of their product that future generations are attracted too. Mr. Mikes is promoting their product in a good light. I under stand where they are come from, I get it but go after those companies that abuse logos and trade marks. Mr. Mikes isn't selling patches, he's selling seat covers that in a Fiero.
hyperv6 NOV 23, 06:31 PM
Here is the problem. While Mr Mike makes a great product that has a positive impact Mr Chan makes his covers very cheaply and they look like crap. This has a negative impact.

Or someone takes your companies logo and uses it in a **** or racist or non pc way and the web jumps all over.

This is not mostly about money vs protecting names and images that can do a lot of damage anymore.

We had companies trying to use our name and images in ways we did not approve. We even shut downs stores that were trying to be us. How they thought we would never find out is amazing.

The sad part is the legal cost of protecting names and images is not cheap. Much of the cost to pay the lawyers.
Raydar NOV 23, 07:22 PM

quote
Originally posted by Fiero Vice:


After talking with Mr. Mike about my future seat project, I'm disappointed to find out that he doesn't do leather seats anymore, only vinyl & leatherette (fake) which I'm NOT too crazy about.
...



Mike did cloth and leatherette seats for our old Miata. They were nothing short of superb.
I'm not sure about Fiero stuff, however.
Maybe he will jump in.



[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 11-23-2021).]