bmw trademark - United Bimmer Community

**jybute** · 10-25-2005, 12:47 PM

hey guys, just wondering if BMW would get all choked up if i started making my own version of the badge ( i cant remember what its called ) to put on my car, and possibly other peoples.
and if it was a big deal, wich im sure it is, could someone point me in the direction to get it ok'd.

**Hoppy** · 10-25-2005, 01:16 PM

i donno bout the rest of it, but its called a roundel. i dont think thed care, or even know if u did it for your own car. but they might be upset if u made it into a business

**donald1476** · 10-25-2005, 01:19 PM

I know Racing Dynamics has their own roundel.

**komodo** · 10-25-2005, 01:34 PM

As long as you don't use their design, it's fine. You just can't take the existing blue and white roundel for example, and put your name over it.

**Dudesky** · 10-25-2005, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donald1476

I know Racing Dynamics has their own roundel.

So does Turner, Hamann, and others.

**Torque** · 10-25-2005, 01:41 PM

ACS, Hamann, Turner, RD, there are numerous ///M el cheapo badges ...

**jybute** · 10-25-2005, 02:14 PM

but can i copy theirs, but say make it out of a piece of exotic steel, like inconel or hasteloy? i want the same "roundel" but a bit different look. and there are some pretty cool materials out there that are very nice to look at after they have been machined.

**hamann318is** · 10-25-2005, 04:30 PM

As long as you aren't selling it, what are they going to say?

nick_318is · 10-25-2005, 04:41 PM

Yea as long as you arent using their logo for commercial use you can probably get away wtih it. But if your making Roundels that look like Roundels and are selling them then if they found out they can probably sue you.

**c1apton** · 10-25-2005, 06:25 PM

If you're going to do one, do an original design of your own. Too many others copy or clone the the old "prop design"- hell even the new SAAB logo at quick glance looks like "old faithful"

Just another "SOB" story

**voca** · 10-25-2005, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jybute

but can i copy theirs, but say make it out of a piece of exotic steel, like inconel or hasteloy? i want the same "roundel" but a bit different look. and there are some pretty cool materials out there that are very nice to look at after they have been machined.

like if you were to machine a roundel out of say brushed aluminum alloy and maybe fill in some deep accents with black paint or something... that's deffinitely legal. that's pretty much just like bavauto selling roundel's in different colors or carbon fiber look.

it's when you take they're logo, and put your name on it or have some kind of implication that it is your symbol, that's illegal.

**hamann318is** · 10-25-2005, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by voca

it's when you take they're logo, and put your name on it or have some kind of implication that it is your symbol, that's illegal.

I don't see the logic in that. The only time that using the Roundel would be considered illegal is if you are using it to make money.

I understand t-shirt companies not allowing the printing of copyrighted logos. That's illegal. If I wrote my name in sharpie on my Roundel, then I don't see what's illegal there.

**voca** · 10-25-2005, 10:15 PM

well, I was thinknig more for web graphics and commerce. if you wanted to use the bmw roundel in commerce it'd be required of you to obtain a trademark license.

I didn't mean to imply that writing on your roundel that you paid for is illegal. but if you modified the roundel (ex.) so that it said JYBUTE instead of bmw to sell, then you are violating the Trademark Dilution Act, no questions asked. if you modified the logo in parody you might get away with it.

BMW in particular is very protective of their trademark, and if you in anyway want to use their logo commercially then they are likely to take legal action.

bimmerwerkz was asked by BMW to remove the roundel in their header. and they did and didn't have any problems.

**komodo** · 10-25-2005, 10:15 PM

Haha, clapton. Best pic posted yet.

**jybute** · 10-25-2005, 10:20 PM

yeah hwre can i find a copy of that mag... tehehehe