Using a brand name.

lovemunkey187

I have had an idea to produce a few items (t-shirts, belts, hats etc) using the name of an existing company.
The company I have in mind manufacture motorcycles. They currently have no consumable merchandise, for fans/owners or things that could potentially expand their exposure. Just equipment to use on their bikes.

I have done a cursory Google search for tshirt printing and other bits. I don't intend to make a cottage industry out of this. More to have a few unique items that i would like to wear and have in my wardrobe, but in the unlikely case if someone happened to like it and ask me where I had gotten it from - then I could sell them a tshirt.

What potential ramifications could I face if I was to do this?
I guess I wouldn't be able to pass it off as a parody, the same way as the sellers of the Satan inside/Intel inside makers can.

Browntoa

You can't sell items with a brand name without permission.

They may not find out if small scale though

00ec25

they own the brand name, they have the right to sue you

you intend to sell if given the chance so it is a cottage industry

will you be caught is the question?

soolin

Browntoa wrote: »

You can't sell items with a brand name without permission.

They may not find out if small scale though

The risk is if or when the seller gets caught it could become very very expensive.

rhysadams

Approach the brand, one of my friends has the rights to produce posters of a very famous singer by approaching the management company and asking them. They get a cut of the money made, but it has been life changing.

lovemunkey187

rhysadams wrote: »

Approach the brand, one of my friends has the rights to produce posters of a very famous singer by approaching the management company and asking them. They get a cut of the money made, but it has been life changing.

I had considered this. Then my mind went to a scenario where the brand wanted money up front before i was allowed to make even one t-shirt for personal wear and they kept tabs on my social media just case i ignored them :rotfl:

I guess i have nothing to lose by getting my ideas on paper and contacting them.

bris

Anything you sell will be counterfeit, trading standards could get involved and that is a criminal conviction.

ssparks2003

You will need to make an approach to the company with your ideas and be prepared for a negative answer. The key thing you will need to do in the first instance is get in contact with the right department, sending an email to a contact us address is not going to get you far so start to work out who you need to contact. LinkedIn may provide you with some contacts.

If you get a positive answer stick to the terms of any agreement you enter into, some years ago I was working for a specialist car manufacturer who had a large fan base and we would sometimes enter into agreements with fans who wanted to produce interesting small run items she the logo on, however on more than one occasion we had to take fans to court for breaching the terms.