Im trying to get some T-shirts printed from www.spreadshirt.com.
I got some done last year, using the simple digital transfer method where you upload your image, arrange in on a t shirt and order it. They look
really good.
The problem is this method only works on white or grey products, for other colours and most products you need to upload a vector image. The problem is
when you submit an image they check to make sure the image will work, but also check the copyrights.
They have refused my design firstly it had 'Dunlop' on it in the dunlop font, this was a bit silly of me so I changed to just Dunlop in the
same font as the rest of the next. Then they said that Dunlop will be registered as a word mark and they are sure LeMans is too.
Surely Le Mans can't be as it is a place name, maybe if it sad Le Mans 24 hr, or the french equivalent.
Also Dunlop, is that word trademarked, can they do that, how do they know my t shirt isnt referring to Joey Dunlop?
whether its possible or not, the company is no doubt going to want to play it safe to cover their arses. Perhaps if you were to print off your design and cut it out in the form of a stencil, you can get acrylic gel medium fairly cheaply in more or less any local art shop, which, once mixed with your choice of acrylic paint becomes permanent on t shirts (after a few hand washes).
Joey Dunlop must change his name;
search the patent office.
http://www.patent.gov.uk/tm/t-find/t-find-text?detailsrequested=C&searchtext=dunlop&typeofsearch=S&classselected=99&crosssearch=Y&
statusselected=A
and you can't use caterham, even though you may live there or know a Mr Tony Caterham 
http://www.patent.gov.uk/tm/t-find/t-find-number?detailsrequested=C&trademark=E2027605
oh, and lemans, le mans are registered too so tough
nor can you use arse! (hours fo fun searching for rude words)
[Edited on 1/2/07 by 02GF74]
Im happy with the white and grey t shirts they as the quality is very good (fruit of the loom) and the printing is spot on. But its for things like t
shirts and mugs they need a vector image.
Ok LeMans is trademarked as a word. How about LEMANS, does that count, the only references to LEMANS in the patents data base is to Logos, so surely I
can use the word.
Dunlop isnt so important to me, but again most of the trademarks relate to logos except for DUNLOP in capitals.
Anyone know how I can convince Spreadshirt of this. Maybe an email to Dunlops legal department will help.
The Le Mans word trademark actually belongs or used to belong to Volkswagen AG!
why don't you just print them off yourself on the paper the you iron on to a t shirt. Very simple, all you need is a women to do the ironing 
FYI - most large companies are FANATICAL about maintaining their registered logos and names, for the simple reason that if they get misused or
transfer into common use then they can lose the right to register them.
I know that in previous companies that I've worked for, the logo/name had to be displayed perfectly or not at all, for that very same reason.
Any unauthorised user has to be chased, otherwise the company faces a huge hassle to keep the branding.
Not trying to justify this - it's just the way it is.
David
Most large companies/organisations have their trade-marks/logos covered every-which-way by copyright plus whole departments to police them. They will
not allow you to use them as they are normally paranoid about pirate items and your supplier can be prosecuted for passing-off those pirate copies.
Short answer is no reputable print company will supply you.
Back to the drawing board I think! Cheers, Pewe. 
PS You can probably gather from Dave 's and my reply it is not a good thing!!!!
[Edited on 1/2/07 by pewe]
quote:
Originally posted by 02GF74
Joey Dunlop must change his name;
search the patent office.
http://www.patent.gov.uk/tm/t-find/t-find-text?detailsrequested=C&searchtext=dunlop&typeofsearch=S&classselected=99&crosssearch=Y& statusselected=A
and you can't use caterham, even though you may live there or know a Mr Tony Caterham
http://www.patent.gov.uk/tm/t-find/t-find-number?detailsrequested=C&trademark=E2027605
oh, and lemans, le mans are registered too so tough
nor can you use arse! (hours fo fun searching for rude words)
[Edited on 1/2/07 by 02GF74]
As an employee of NGK - I can vouch for the defence of Trademark, Logo's and everything related to copyright and enforcement.
However, policing it is a different matter. Most of the stickers and clothing with the NGK Logo are mostly illegal copies. We have enforced copyright
infringment a few times but it grows quicker than we can stop it. China is the worst offender...
Steve
I can understand the copyright completely, I was wondering how they can copyright a name such as Dunlop when it could be used in lots of different
contexts.
I might contact Duke and ask how they get round when producing covers for Joey Dunlop DVDs.
Cheers for all the comments though
[Edited on 1/2/2007 by greggors84]
quote:
Originally posted by Hellfire
As an employee of NGK - I can vouch for the defence of Trademark, Logo's and everything related to copyright and enforcement.
However, policing it is a different matter. Most of the stickers and clothing with the NGK Logo are mostly illegal copies. We have enforced copyright infringment a few times but it grows quicker than we can stop it. China is the worst offender...
Steve
