OEM Replacement Custom Emblems, Trademark Infringement???

[jparduhn70]

I took my car to get washed last week where I always to. Up to that point, I had no issues with the emblems getting pulled off by the towels. Of course one of the kids drying it pulled the 'X' off the passenger door. The car wash accepted a claim, but past experience tells me they'll only compensate me with gift cards, which are completely useless to me. I know I could get replacement emblems installed under the 3/36000 warranty, but they're horribly designed and will likely get pulled off again. I got an idea yesterday while recuperating from my second Moderna shot. I see a lot of folks getting the Mach-E logo incorporated into vinyl striping, so why not see if I could have someone that makes custom emblems out of acrylic or billet aluminum fabricate some for me? While stripes are cool on other peoples' cars, they're not for me. I reached out, and so far am instantly getting told it's a trademark infringement to create them, so they're refusing to make them. However, I look and they're making custom Mustang GT logos and such. I get the impression they just don't want to do the work, but wonder what truth there is, if any, to the trademark statement. Are fabricators that make stripes incorporating the logo violating the trademark?

Sponsored

 

[TheVirtualTim]

What's unclear to me is ... are you trying to have a single emblem made (or a pair ... one for each side of the car) to put only on your car?

Or are you thinking you'd have a bunch of these made so that you can also supply them to other people?

I am not a lawyer. It occurs to me that making them to supply to other people might require a license to use the mark. I'm not sure if a license to use the mark would apply to just making one to put on your own car.

If I were a t-shirt shop and started printing shirts with some other company's logo on them, I'm pretty sure I'd need to license the use of the logo. But if I'm just a home-user and I put a logo on my own t-shirt ... I don't think that's the same thing.

 

[jparduhn70]

What's unclear to me is ... are you trying to have a single emblem made (or a pair ... one for each side of the car) to put only on your car?

Or are you thinking you'd have a bunch of these made so that you can also supply them to other people?

I am not a lawyer. It occurs to me that making them to supply to other people might require a license to use the mark. I'm not sure if a license to use the mark would apply to just making one to put on your own car.

If I were a t-shirt shop and started printing shirts with some other company's logo on them, I'm pretty sure I'd need to license the use of the logo. But if I'm just a home-user and I put a logo on my own t-shirt ... I don't think that's the same thing.

I just want a pair for my car to replace the OEM ones. I'm not making them for anyone else or looking to profit. I wanted to black the logos out completely.

 

[Carsinmyblood]

I'm taking mine off and leaving them off. I think they're in a horrible location, and I know what it is.

 

[JohnC]

I'm taking mine off and leaving them off. I think they're in a horrible location, and I know what it is.

Same here. As soon as I get my car, those badges will be coming off.

 

[BMT1071]

I took my car to get washed last week where I always to. Up to that point, I had no issues with the emblems getting pulled off by the towels. Of course one of the kids drying it pulled the 'X' off the passenger door. The car wash accepted a claim, but past experience tells me they'll only compensate me with gift cards, which are completely useless to me. I know I could get replacement emblems installed under the 3/36000 warranty, but they're horribly designed and will likely get pulled off again. I got an idea yesterday while recuperating from my second Moderna shot. I see a lot of folks getting the Mach-E logo incorporated into vinyl striping, so why not see if I could have someone that makes custom emblems out of acrylic or billet aluminum fabricate some for me? While stripes are cool on other peoples' cars, they're not for me. I reached out, and so far am instantly getting told it's a trademark infringement to create them, so they're refusing to make them. However, I look and they're making custom Mustang GT logos and such. I get the impression they just don't want to do the work, but wonder what truth there is, if any, to the trademark statement. Are fabricators that make stripes incorporating the logo violating the trademark?

I'm confused about why car wash gift cards would be useless to you?? You say you always use this car wash. GCs would pay for future car washes. ?

 

[jparduhn70]

I'm confused about why car wash gift cards would be useless to you?? You say you always use this car wash. GCs would pay for future car washes. ?

I use a monthly unlimited plan and cannot apply gift cards to it. They only allow me to pay using a credit card tied to my subscription. I suppose the context would've helped.

 

[Maquis]

I use a monthly unlimited plan and cannot apply gift cards to it. They only allow me to pay using a credit card tied to my subscription. I suppose the context would've helped.

I know what your brother-in-law is getting for his birthday! ?

 

[Dnorwood98]

Same here. As soon as I get my car, those badges will be coming off.

What is your preferred way of removing them. I think I am going to take those side emblems off as well once I get my MME in July (fingers crossed)

 

[RonTCat]

I took my car to get washed last week where I always to. Up to that point, I had no issues with the emblems getting pulled off by the towels. Of course one of the kids drying it pulled the 'X' off the passenger door. The car wash accepted a claim, but past experience tells me they'll only compensate me with gift cards, which are completely useless to me. I know I could get replacement emblems installed under the 3/36000 warranty, but they're horribly designed and will likely get pulled off again. I got an idea yesterday while recuperating from my second Moderna shot. I see a lot of folks getting the Mach-E logo incorporated into vinyl striping, so why not see if I could have someone that makes custom emblems out of acrylic or billet aluminum fabricate some for me? While stripes are cool on other peoples' cars, they're not for me. I reached out, and so far am instantly getting told it's a trademark infringement to create them, so they're refusing to make them. However, I look and they're making custom Mustang GT logos and such. I get the impression they just don't want to do the work, but wonder what truth there is, if any, to the trademark statement. Are fabricators that make stripes incorporating the logo violating the trademark?

Submit a warranty claim. Emblems are car wash tested, so they should not come off. It is good feedback to see if there is an actual systemic issue, or just one person making a mistake or wanting a souvenir.

 

[jparduhn70]

Submit a warranty claim. Emblems are car wash tested, so they should not come off. It is good feedback to see if there is an actual systemic issue, or just one person making a mistake or wanting a souvenir.

There's definitely a systemic issue with these OEM emblems. I've never seen one come off so easily before. Even the larger Mach-E4 emblems' 3M tape came off clean. I just think the adhesive wasn't right. My issue with filing a warranty claim is that the issue will more than likely happen again, and once the warranty period is over, I'm going to have to give up on them altogether or spend good money on replacements.

I just decided to remove them completely after one 'X' was broken and the other was coming off. The remainder of the emblem, the Mach-E4 part, on both sides were not in the same place, and looked ridiculous, so they had to go. I found a good billet aluminum custom idea to replace them because I do like the side emblems, and I'm going that route. I'll publish the pics in three or four months when I get them.

Sponsored