Football Teams/Badges/Logos

[dalton88]

What are the laws on football logos and names are they copyrighted.
If I was to lets say make a beer mat:

1 with the logo
1 with the name
1 with both

Would I need permission for any or all of them also what if the logo was slightly different or the name had a space in it or 2 spaces.

 

[Eagle]

If you copy directly, it's copyright infringement. If you 'change a thing or two' it could be perceived as 'passing-off' and you could still be prosecuted.

My advice would be to get permission (or, more likely, negotiate a licence to use the material and pay royalties). At the end of the day, you can't profit from someone else's intellectual property without first getting permission.

Hope this helps,

Mark

 

[chalkie99]

I think they will come down on you like the proverbial ton of bricks

Football clubs are particularly hot on this.

 

[Eagle]

...At the end of the day, you can't profit from someone else's intellectual property.

Something eBay fail to realise...

 

[dalton88]

Might give the team an email then
Thanks Everyone.

 

[dalton88]

Ok so i emailed them and they said:

"you can't buy the copyright."

and then after saying are you sure:

"You can't basically because the club own the copyright exclusively."

I then asked if i could talk to somebody who deals with the copyright.
and i got:

"Your query has been answered - there really is nothing else to add."

What should i do give up on my idear keep emailing till i get somewhere
are there any other ways of getting the copyright.

 

[Eagle]

I'd give up. If it's one of the big clubs, they've already got their own franchising operations in place and you'd have to offer a substantially lucrative deal (in their favour) for them to show any interest. Sorry to say, you'll be chasing your tail.

By the way, if you asked if you could 'buy' the copyright, they probably had a good laugh in the office. You can licence the emblems and trademarks for use on merchandise but not buy it.

 

[obscure]

What should i do give up on my idear keep emailing till i get somewhere
are there any other ways of getting the copyright.

You should go back and point out that there has been a misunderstanding and that you are not seeking to "buy" the copyright, just to negotiate a limited license where you pay for the right to use their logo on a beer mat for a set period of time. They keep the copyright, you are only permitted to use the logo in the specific agreed manner and they get paid. Licensing deals like this are very common.

Of course there is the question of why you want to use the logo. Will it really make your beer mats worth more than any other beer mats? Will you actually earn enough extra money on sales of the mats to cover the cost of the license?

 

[dalton88]

It all makes sense now I was wondering why they wouldn't even talk about it.
Also I don't no if it's worth doing yet until I have all the figures which hopefully is soon now and it would not just be beer mats but a collection of stuff.

Thanks everyone.

 

[obscure]

Yes you should certainly wait until you have the figures. They won't be able to give you a meaningful response until they know what you are actually offering. Good luck.