Theft of a Logo by a group - what would you do?

[kach22i]

I'm thinking of quitting a hovercraft group in Michigan because one of the members stole the logo off the British hovercraft groups website and placed it into a map of Michigan as our proposed new group logo. The group seems to be fine with this, even though for weeks I've been telling them it's wrong to do. Theft, direct theft of any artwork even if not for profit is a moral outrage and against copyright law.

One person said quote:

I'm with you on the logo. The first one was by far the best in my view.

As for the problem with copying the British on the hovercraft I think it is a non issue. There is no name on the craft and it could be French, German or any other craft even imagine this. An American craft!!

Thanks xxx

I'm now getting e-mails like the one above, which have confused original artwork design with hovercraft design.

I'm so frustrated I could quit now and save myself the grief of putting up with the ignorance and stupidity. I'd say from the lack of morals, but I honestly think they "known not what they do".

Yea, I've done a logo, an original one but I guess no one "gets it" as it contains an original thought.

As a design professional, I can't stand by and be part of this, it's just so wrong.

[Overpaid Slacker]

Kach -
I'm not sure it's a copyright law violation; smells more like trademark, as it's probably not an "original work of authorship".

Nonetheless, I agree with your principles. My observation is that it sounds like you're not wild about the dunderheads in this group to begin with, and this is just the catalyst for your departure. However, if you want to stay and play, I'd suggest the following:

Write to the UK group with the logo, providing your sample, and just ask if it's OK with them to use it. I'd point out that it is an enthusiast organization, and not for commercial gain (I'm assuming). Like "hey! we love hovercraft too, and you've got a great logo! We're not sure if this design of ours, incorporating yours, transgresses any laws, but we thought we'd ask if it was OK if we used your logo."

Simple, efficient, and if they're anything other than a bunch of wankers, they'll be cool with it. Who knows, you guys might wind up making valuable contacts with some of the folk over there.

EDIT: Heck, offer to send them some t-shirts with the logo! They'd love that!

JP

[craigster59]

I deal with artwork clearance issues daily, since someone came up with the bright idea that when you film a piece of art hanging on a wall for television or motion picture, it becomes "unauthorized duplication".

We didn't deal with this 10 years ago, yet now there are "legal clearance departments" at all the major studios. They've tried to involve furniture design as well (say, a Borg Mogensen chair) but that hasn't turned out to be a "moneymaker" for any designers legal team.

As far as the artwork goes (placing the logo in the Michigan map), the rule of thumb used to be that if you changed the artwork 33 1/3%, you were legally in the clear, but that has since been changed.

Personally, I think it's gotten out of hand, just a reason to keep lawyers busy. Could you imagine if Campbell's soup went after Warhol?
Edited after seeing OS's reply, we have to track down the artists for permission to use their artwork, most grant permission, but some "smell" a payoff which means we pass, and find something else that will work.

[Overpaid Slacker]

Craig -
Interestingly enough, at a prior job, I got all kinds of requests from movie studios to use logos/products/names of a company we'd bought.

These were very distinctive logos/products/names in the early part of the 20th century, and, even if they just wanted to use the name of the store in a quick pan-across shot, they wanted permission. I thought "holy crap, if this isn't the lawyers'-full-employment act, I don't know what is."

JP

[craigster59]

As an example, our "License for Use" contract specifies "..in all media throughout the universe", but I have seen some that include "..and those yet undiscovered". I mean, come on...

[kach22i]

I just got an e-mail saying one of the guys is going to ask for permission. Honestly, the hovercraft image in question is so generic it's probably just some "clipart" they purchased.

Hey we like that design, it looks so familiar just like everyone else’s.


Unbelievable..........uuugggh kill me now.

I'd post the picture of the logo, but it's in such poor taste I can't bring myself to do it.

[arcsine]

Being a graphic designer, I would be plenty spooled up if someone used a logo of mine in a manner other than originally designed. It is a matter of principle (and thinking for yourself)

is it this

or this?

[kach22i]

The second (lower one).

Like I said it's kind of a common looking image, perhaps some people see no harm.

The map of Michigan/Great Lakes Area part of the logo is super weird though. It's like a peeled banana lying in the sun on a sidewalk; it's all distorted and odd looking. It's like a child’s or a drunk's interpretation of the region, not accurate at all. It looks like a bad joke. The best part is the stolen hovercraft image, that's why everyone wants to keep it I guess.

If I were to copy anything it would of been a map of the Great Lakes, there's a dozen of them to choose from and easily traced.

[Overpaid Slacker]

The upper one looks like an angry, toothy sea creature.

JP

[kach22i]

Originally posted by Overpaid Slacker
The upper one looks like an angry, toothy sea creature.

JP

Which is why they didn't steal that one too.

[HardDrive]

There is only one way to settle this.......a hovercraft duel to the death.

[Hetmann]

The bottom one looks like clipart - nothing special.

[Overpaid Slacker]

Originally posted by HardDrive
There is only one way to settle this.......a hovercraft duel to the death.

Hovercraft JOUSTING! Quick, somebody get X-Games on the phone!

JP

[kach22i]

It's hard enough getting insurance for the clubs events, stop it.

[snbush67]

Could it be the Pelican is morphed from joe camel?