Legal T-shirts???

dannyboy · Post by **dannyboy** » Thu May 12, 2005 3:02 pm

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=41439&item=7321984067&rd=1

I was wondering if these guys were legal by selling t-shirts with Rics? Mr. Hall?

86kubicki · Post by **86kubicki** » Sat May 14, 2005 2:51 am

I've been wondering the same thing, especially considering how vigorously RIC pursues trademark issues.

redvette · Post by **redvette** » Sat May 14, 2005 4:35 am

Notice that what he is selling here is the "image", which is probably a transfer that anyone with a digital camera and a color printer can make. He doesn't show the size, but I bet it's about 8.5X11 inches.

I wonder if I take a picture of my RIC and sell it if I am violating any trademark laws. Actually that is what this guy may be doing.

In fact, I may just make my own shirt with some images of my 4003 and 4004C on it.

I think it can be done for about $1.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Sat May 14, 2005 9:18 am

This has been covered here many times in the past few months alone. John Hall has made it quite clear that anyone who copies a Rickenbacker guitar or uses its "trade dress" or image for financial gain, without Rickenbacker's permission, will be pursued. I've seen this vendor's stuff for several months now, on and off. I wonder what the situation is, too. My own feeling is that this type of situation is a gray area of trademark law.

Notice that the name "Rickenbacker" is not in evidence. That may be the point beyond which the violation is actionable.

simer4001 · Post by **simer4001** » Sun May 15, 2005 6:05 am

Paul, the Rickenbacker name may not be in evidence from the picture, but it certainly is in the item name. This could, at the very least, get the auction pulled couldn't it?

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Sun May 15, 2005 8:59 am

It has in the past.