Copyright question

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by Eastree

Basically, the registration which keeps Dodge (just for example) from making a muscle car identical to a Mustang (and why Jeep sued GM over the seven grill slots in an early Hummer model)

Not at all. The article (and case) were centered around the copyright infringment of the logo. The legalities you refer to in this section are trademarks.

[andyw]

Eastree,

Hence my judicious use of the "normally" and "could"

A lot does come down to the context in which the image is used. Possibly with the calendar one you quote it could be that the "association" was something Ford didn't want to be involved with.

Who knows - I guess the lawyers for these companies have to justify their fees sometimes.

[Eastree]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

Not at all. The article (and case) were centered around the copyright infringment of the logo. The legalities you refer to in this section are trademarks.

Erm, the Ford cases were about the trademark of the design of the entire vehicle:

In the case of the Mustang club's calendars:

Ford contacted them saying that our calendar pics (and our club's event logos - anything with one of our cars in it) infringes on Ford's trademarks which include the use of images of THEIR vehicles.

The Ranger group selling bootleg Ford merchandise:

Recently, Ford Ranger
fan site TheRangerStation.com, has come under legal fire from Ford for supposedly violating Ford’s trademark and intellectual property rights,

Granted, I may have skimmed a bit much.

Originally Posted by andyw

Eastree,

Hence my judicious use of the "normally" and "could"

Precisely