Re: (erielack) EL DIamond...(copyright problem examples)

["Bill K." <pontiac_@_dreamscape.com>]

Walthers' UPS models first came out with decals in gold for two different
fictional companies, that could be pieced together by the modeler to read
United Parcel Service.... but I think eventually UPS made them cease even
this.  I have one put up somewhere.  The truck itself had been available in
white metal kit form before this, so although UPS is the only user I have to
think that they dont hold a copyright for the actual truck design.

City Classics used to include decals for various gas companies for their HO
gas station kit, but Gulf in particular I remember made them stop using the
outdated logos with the kits.  Of course all you need is a certain 1963
issue of National Geographic (I forget the month.. April? one shows all
their products with logos of all sizes in the photo) to get around that, and
so much the better if you have one of those ALPS printers and can make your
own copies.


It's all about what you can get away with anymore...   run the product until
you get caught, so at least someone has them.  But it's also why you don't
see too many folks making nice accurate HO automobiles - in addition to the
tooling costs, you have to pay the automaker for the right to use their
design.. be it a new Mustang or a '59 Chevy... or even a '27 Whippet,
someone owns the design rights.


As far as the EL logo is concerned... is there a copyright on record for it?
If not seems to me the answer would be to ask someone there what happens
when a company is dissolved, as far as right to the logos.


Bill K.


- ----- Original Message -----
From: <BobcatCS_@_aol.com>
To: <erielack_@_lists.railfan.net>
Sent: Friday, July 26, 2002 7:13 AM
Subject: Re: (erielack) EL DIamond...(copyright problem examples)


> Most of the copyright stuff used in modeling is overlooked by the owners
but
> there are a couple of exceptions.  Notably, for the circus modeling crowd
> there are no current Ringling Bros. models or decals available.  There are
no
> Coca-Cola models available that are not under license.  The UPS models
that
> (I think) Walthers puts out don't say UPS although they look an awful lot
> like "The Truck."  And finally, have you noticed that Microscale decals
for
> Tidewater (Flying A) service stations are no longer available and that
> LifeLike disavows any knowledge of the 10,000 tank cars the made with
> Tidewater reporting marks? Turns out that Texaco owns the copyright.  Seen
> any Texaco stuff lately?
>
> Note too that LifeLike also won't talk about the Sinclair 10K tanks
either.
> I checked the web site to see if they ever made any factory assembled
> versions or either of these.  I have the four road numbers they put out in
> kit form of each and none of them are there, so I called the 800 number to
> ask about them.  They didn't seem to know what I was asking about!
>
> If it wasn't for lawyers we wouldn't need lawyers - B. Franklin
>
> Regards,
>
> Bob
> ELHS 3117
> NMRA 116615
>
> Regards,
>
> Bob
> ELHS 3117
> NMRA 116615
>

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