I am a big fan of the Mach 1 any year. Since 05 will not have any Mach's I was considering adding the shaker hood when available as well as Mach 1 decals for the car. My question is if I go to a sign man or body shop to have the Mach 1 logo made is that a copy right violation of Ford? Will I get in trouble? Since I'm putting it on their product I thought it would be OK. The answer "just as long as you don't sell them you're OK" is not correct because I'm asking who ever I go to sell them to me? Just wondering????

 

Actually, the answer "just as long as you don't sell them you're OK" is correct because the vinyl shop isn't selling you "their" product and making a profit off of Ford's intellectual property, you are contracting them to do a one-off custom job on your car only. Nothing wrong with that.

 

good idea....i also hope they make a bullitt version of these s197's

 

So then Blake if you are correct and I do this I would be OK. And the next day if you called the paint shop to do the same to your car, could they do it? Or at what point are they selling the logo's?

Well either way I'll be OK. Not an attorney and don't want to get in trouble.

 

Look at all the fake Shelby mustangs, You shouldn't ever get into trouble for something like that. I don't think Ford would discourage there own customers, They haven't yet.

 

Well, at that point they aren't being contracted to do custom work, so I suppose if there were a bored lawyer with alot of time on their hands they could make a case, but it'd be pretty weak if we're talking about a whole two cars in this hypothetical. Plus, it'd be the print/paint shop in trouble, not you.

 

Think of it this way, you are one person, contracting for one job with one decal/paint shop.

Is it worth Ford's time and money to bring legal action against you and/or the shop? And what could Ford gain from suing for the copyright/trademark infringement? You haven't made a dime off it, and the shop maybe made $100 (or a bit more if painted). So what kind of damage has been done to Ford's trademark, only the price you'll pay to the shop, which likely would be far less than the legal costs for Ford to pursue it even if they cared.

For a mutlinational corporation like Ford want to bring an action you would have to be causing harm to their product or name recognition (Mach). While Ford doesn't want everybody painting Mach on their vehicles, does a few cause any harm, it likely only raises the awareness of the name.

Since I'm sitting in a Law Library I guess I could look it up (I won't, no time), but based on my limited understanding of copyright/trademark law, Ford likely wouldn't even win if they did bring a claim.

Enjoy your mock "Mach"

 

mizain has a very good point... so go through with it!! I need pic!

 

Will do. This will eb a winter project and I will post as the mods go forwarg. Having the trim ring around the shifter chrome plated like the early pictures showed. Having logo stiched in the head rests, will put louvers on the back window, having them hand made by the gut that made them on the Sema show concept vehicle. I'll keep going then.