Using another company's logo on our website?

[Azam.net]

Just wondering if the following is legal or not:

say we want to set-up a website for ITV2 viewers. Would we be allowed to use their logo on our site (with a disclaimer at the bottom of page saying we are in no way affiliated with ITV)? Or is it illegal?

Would it be down to whether we were deemed to be passing ourselves off as an ITV site or not?

Cheers :)

[Limeone]

It is most likely that their logo is trademarked so prepare for the enforcement letter once they see it.

Additionally they are also likely to pursue a legal action for passing off ( ie piggy backing your business to rely on their reputation and market share).

Both avenues are expensive and really wasteful of your time as they will almost certainly win. Far better to see before you move forward with this idea whether they see the benefits of such a venture jointly with you and benefit from their willing involvement.

[BBWdressseller]

It would be worth exploring if other listings magazines use the itv2 logo. As far as I know the monopoly on listings magazines is now defunct, anyone can set up a TV listings mag.

So I'd see if other companies have used the logos and then ask for permission yourself, what have you got to lose?

[Ozzy]

Agreeing with BBW here, justcontact them and ask for permission. Then keep a record of that permission.

Taking Barclays as a fantastic example. We have permission to use their logo, but every once in a while we get a call from their legal department asking if we have permission (usually when a competitor has tried to get us in trouble). We simple produce the grant document and its all fine again.
With big organisations such as ITV you could come up against this several times even after getting permission :)

[Anonymous]

Agreeing with BBW here, justcontact them and ask for permission. Then keep a record of that permission.

Taking Barclays as a fantastic example. We have permission to use their logo, but every once in a while we get a call from their legal department asking if we have permission (usually when a competitor has tried to get us in trouble). We simple produce the grant document and its all fine again.
With big organisations such as ITV you could come up against this several times even after getting permission :)

I have to say though using logos is often encouraged, I run buses and taxis, and am regularly encouraged to use logos of other bus companies alongside my own.

as long as logos are used correctly, and not used to imply you are that brand a bob or two can be made.

ozzie why dont you turn that Barclays logo into an advert and charge them for the pleasure? you are no doubt providing this bank with a valuable service.

Geoff

[Ozzy]

We get benefits indirectly ;)

[Balls]

What you may have is license. It is limited permission whereby you use it to illustrate a point or to identify a certain subject. Yes they have the right to call up and ask if you do have permission.

A Logo is distinct from the name. You may use my name but not my signature. Does that illustrate the difference?

[furman]

Hi,
What exactly is a Grants Document? I set up a basic online store for my dads business, I e-mailed a few manufacturers and asked if it was ok to use their logo and images, most replied and said it was fine as long as I made it clear that our site was not linked to their company

[Ozzy]

A grants documents could be better described as Terms & Conditions on the use of their logo.

[VeryMark]

You may be interested to know that we have a free virtual guide to Trade Marks, Brand Protection & Related Copyright & Design which is available either as a mini cd-rom, via email, or as a download from the Sunday Times Enterprise Network website via this link: [/url]http://www.enterprisenetwork.co.uk/downloads/Trade%20Marks.exe. The virtual guide is sealed with a ‘Thawte’ Content Signed Certificate (Microsoft Authenticode) allowing safe electronic distribution over the Internet.

[MikeH]

I'm sure I've seen this before, :wink:

[Ozzy]

Yeah. I deleted the other one in the forum I am moderator for, but Gary will have to clear the others up.