Some of it depends on how big a target you are for legal action.
A fly by night gypsy vinyl cutter/printer dude at a flea market isn't much of a target at all unless the victimized companies have a reliable way of tracking down and dealing with the dude.
Our company is pretty big, has been around for decades and is stuck in one place. Big, easy target for lawyers. Naturally, we flatly refuse to sell trademarked graphics and logos to casual walk-in customers looking to spruce up a personal vehicle or something.
Just the other day a fellow came in asking about having Dallas Cowboy graphics put on his back window. Couldn't do it. I told him it was a risk for us to do such work, but he might try a couple other places in town to see if they would oblige.
Even with legally reproducing trademarked logos, graphics, etc. we strive to work with the company who owns those marks to make sure they are properly reproduced. We get the legit, current computer art files, color & material specifications as well as the usage guidelines (like minimal white space specs, ratio to other elements, etc.). We DO NOT use the stuff found at Brands of the World, which is often re-created, phony garbage.
Sometimes legit customers want to alter trademarks (adding stuff to a logo, resizing, changing colors, etc.). We warn them if we make the sign with such alterations the parent company may force them to remove the sign, not pay any co-op money for the signs, etc. Gotta play by the rules.
A fly by night gypsy vinyl cutter/printer dude at a flea market isn't much of a target at all unless the victimized companies have a reliable way of tracking down and dealing with the dude.
Our company is pretty big, has been around for decades and is stuck in one place. Big, easy target for lawyers. Naturally, we flatly refuse to sell trademarked graphics and logos to casual walk-in customers looking to spruce up a personal vehicle or something.
Just the other day a fellow came in asking about having Dallas Cowboy graphics put on his back window. Couldn't do it. I told him it was a risk for us to do such work, but he might try a couple other places in town to see if they would oblige.
Even with legally reproducing trademarked logos, graphics, etc. we strive to work with the company who owns those marks to make sure they are properly reproduced. We get the legit, current computer art files, color & material specifications as well as the usage guidelines (like minimal white space specs, ratio to other elements, etc.). We DO NOT use the stuff found at Brands of the World, which is often re-created, phony garbage.
Sometimes legit customers want to alter trademarks (adding stuff to a logo, resizing, changing colors, etc.). We warn them if we make the sign with such alterations the parent company may force them to remove the sign, not pay any co-op money for the signs, etc. Gotta play by the rules.
