Little League, Logos and Life Imprisonment

[OneUpTenn]

I have a lot of people in sports, schools and leagues bring me in logos that are exact replicas of famous college teams, pro baseball, NFL, etc. The only changes are the names of their teams.

Do you guys run into this as well and will I spend the rest of my life in prison if I make the uniforms for these people?

 

[bendeane]

I was wondering the same thing...but only for banners...

 

[MachServTech]

No, but you could loose your business from the legal chaos if the wrong people see it.

BigDawg could tell you about a close call.

 

[G-Artist]

To use anything associated with MLB you need a license...PERIOD!!!

See these two easy read blogs.

http://sportsbybrooks.com/mlb-says-they-even-own-the-team-names-17937

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/CRYIN...SEBALL'S+HIGH-FLYING+LICENSING...-a0161529325

Most professional teams as well as colleges have a preferrred vendor that most purchases have to be made through.

MLB seems to be very serious in their enforcement. According to one IP lawyer:

The MLB is serious about enforcement having recently brought civil lawsuits against youth baseball teams and even Sen. Barack Obama's campaign for using logos that borrow from MLB teams.

Little League has this to say:
http://www.littleleague.org/learn/rules/positionstatements/UsingTrademarkedNamesLogos.htm

It looks like it lets the team off the hook but the hangs sportsware provider out to dry.

So, as they say, govern yourself accordingly.

 

[scarface]

I had someone on the "braves" which was a local team and it looked just like the ATL Braves. I simply told them it's illegal to reproduce copyrighted logos.

It's not worth it chancing it ya know.

 

[OldPaint]

the LITTLE LEAGUE, and similar organizations that promote sports for kids, usually have some kind of agreement with the MLB/NFL about the use of the logos. the ball field i do work for does some MLB logos also the LITTLE LEAGUE FOOTBALL there uses green bay packers colors and logos. my high school in burgettstown pa, our football team was the same as DUKES BLUE DEVILS.

 

[Gino]

Luckily for us.... of all the Little League Parks and Complexes we supply signs.... none of them have duplicated any major league logos.

We don't do very many jerseys or hats, but the ones we have furnished haven't crossed over any lines, either.

I do know that there is very little tolerance for the teams that do this and are dealt with harshly. We do the signs for two Minor League Stadiums and they are always complaining how so any organizations are always getting busted for this stuff.

I don't think any of these teams have silent deals or agreements canceling this sort of thing out. I'd sooner think many of them are just turning their heads because of all the bad press you get when going after little kids.

 

[OneUpTenn]

Ya know pretty soon we are going to start running out of team names to use and will have to start calling little league teams..."The Fairy Dusters" and the "we dont have a name because all the colleges and pro teams have used them all"

 

[Pat Whatley]

The NFL actually has a licensing agreement for pee wee football use. Don't ask me how you get it but I've had three different groups bring me pretty bad-assed graphics packages with the full, official team artwork, color specs, and usage specs along with a copyright release letter.

 

[digitalwoodshop]

So the lights are off..... Bubba wispers in your ear.... Tell me again, your here for printing a logo? :ROFLMAO:

 

[Salmoneye]

I wouldn't know an official logo if it bit as I don't watch sports and haven't owned a television for a dozen years. I am going to have to start making customers sign a waiver stating that the art that they are bringing me is original or that they own the rights to it. This stuff scares the crap out of me. The other day I reproduced a logo for a guy that didn't have a digital file. I think the logo was based on clipart but I recreated it, the guy says someone made it for him but what does he know? I am sure that I am breaking the law many times a week but I try my best. Can you imagine what the copy shops are doing?

 

[schramm]

I would question any letters saying they have use permissions as many shops are facing lawsuit right now for doing this. Here is a link that shows what I am saying:

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/heraldnews/news/971947,4_1_JO27_LOGOS_S1.article

I would tell them that you will design them a logo but don't use or rearrange a known logo.

 

[Joe Diaz]

Ya know pretty soon we are going to start running out of team names to use and will have to start calling little league teams..."The Fairy Dusters" and the "we dont have a name because all the colleges and pro teams have used them all"

We actually have a school near here called the Fisher Bunnies.:ROFLMAO:

I'm not 100% sure on this, but I don't see how they can have rights to names like the Bears, or Eagles, or Rams, or Indians, or the Browns. I'm thinking they are mostly protecting the logos or the brands. I actually prefer it that little league or high school sports have a unique image. If you find out that you or they aren't legally able to use a professional team's likeness then perhaps you could use that as an excuse and an opportunity to sell your clients on a custom design for their team.

 

[G-Artist]

We actually have a school near here called the Fisher Bunnies.:ROFLMAO:

I'm not 100% sure on this, but I don't see how they can have rights to names like the Bears, or Eagles, or Rams, or Indians, or the Browns. I'm thinking they are mostly protecting the logos or the brands. I actually prefer it that little league or high school sports have a unique image. If you find out that you or they aren't legally able to use a professional team's likeness then perhaps you could use that as an excuse and an opportunity to sell your clients on a custom design for their team.

The trademark goes with the genre' in the instant case, the sport of baseball. So, if the first team to register with the trademark office was say, "the Bullfrogs", then no other baseball team from sandlot to the majors could use it.

Now that will not stop a chemical company from calling their latest sunblock product "Bullfrog" because there is no chance of "confusion." Nor would either of the two registrations stop a boat company from calling their latest craft offering "the Bullfrog."

You don't have to immediately register to get protection. Just being the first to use it in commerce (registration actually should come after first use, not prior but it is allowed) is generally enough.

Sometimes trademark protection can be local or regional. Just ask the [blank]heads at McDonald's who fought against a guy in Fairfield, IL (for 26 long years) whose restaurant was there before them.