using someone else's product in your logo

[Adam858]

Hi all

I run a computer repair shop and need a new logo. I would like to use a photo of a computer mouse but not sure if this would be legal to do. I want to take a photo of a mouse that I like the look of, and change the colour to purple to match my company colour.

I am guessing this is not allowed? But would be great if it was!

If this is naughty, any ideas where I could get a nice hi res photo of a nice looking mouse that I could use for this purpose?

Thanks in advance

Adam

 

[garysumpter]

http://en.fotolia.com/search?k=computer+mouse&search.x=0&search.y=0&filters[content_type%3Aphoto]=1&filters[content_type%3Aillustration]=1&filters[content_type%3Avector]=1&filters[content_type%3Avideo]=1

 

[OliviaSSLGuru]

If you can change the overall look of the image, then i think you can use the image. Every image has a central theme. Make sure that you can change that.

 

[Adam858]

Thanks guys. What I really want to do is take a hi res photo of say a Microsoft mouse, and use it as part of the logo that will go on my shop sign, side of work van etc. Would this be illegal? Could Microsoft turn around and say I can't do this?

 

[Antony Warnes]

Thanks guys. What I really want to do is take a hi res photo of say a Microsoft mouse, and use it as part of the logo that will go on my shop sign, side of work van etc. Would this be illegal? Could Microsoft turn around and say I can't do this?

Yes they could because you're using their product or their products likeness for commercial use. They could go as far as to say you are trying to pass yourself off as an authorised Microsoft whatever or as a Microsoft company which would be hard to prove otherwise.

I would say they are unlikely to ever find out but once you've paid for the sign, the van livery, the letterheads etc etc all it takes is for a rival company to make that phone call and you'll get a cease and desist letter through the door and a lawsuit claiming millions in damage.

Which might sound ludicrous but big companies attack little ones over rights issues all the time. One thing I've done in the past to get round a very similar problem was to have an image converted to 3D by a designer (who delivered the same thing viewed from a slightly different angle) or visit a site like turbosquid where you can buy 3D versions of most things.

If you were to find a generic looking mouse though google images I expect by the time you've turned it purple nobody will be any wiser - i mean nobody sued the direct line for their red telephone

 

[HiraKhan]

Yea, u can use it after making slight changes to it! customizing it with your theme n all!

 

[Eagle]

Don't use a photo of a mouse in your logo (possible reproduction issues) - get it drawn in vector format so it can be scaled without any loss of quality.