Im back at last and with a question about BL logo.

[tractorman]

I don't think it's just BMW, Case-International are the successors to David Brown (which ceased to be in 1986) and guard the David Brown brand and logo with a vengeance. So much so that very few models of DB tractors are made!

[JPB]

Rumour has it that Seat asked Austin-Rover for the right to use the name "Toledo" and AR bosses said "sure you can, but why would you want to?"

Sadly, BMW don't show similar apathy toward the use of brand and model names that they own but I'd be sorely tempted, in the OP's position, just to use the name and see what happens. OK, so there's a chance you'd lose, but at least give them a fight!
Don't let them bully you, that's how Dutton lost the "Sierra" name to Ford, even though Dutton were already using it and had been using it for some years before Ford decided to play dirty and sent the big boys round.

[rld14]

Rumour has it that Seat asked Austin-Rover for the right to use the name "Toledo" and AR bosses said "sure you can, but why would you want to?"

Sadly, BMW don't show similar apathy toward the use of brand and model names that they own but I'd be sorely tempted, in the OP's position, just to use the name and see what happens. OK, so there's a chance you'd lose, but at least give them a fight!
Don't let them bully you, that's how Dutton lost the "Sierra" name to Ford, even though Dutton were already using it and had been using it for some years before Ford decided to play dirty and sent the big boys round.

There's a better story about Ford though. Ford lost the rights to use the "Futura" name due to lack of enforcing their trademarks. The Ford Fusion (Roughly Mondeo sized car sold here in America) was supposed to be called the Futura.

Turns out a chain of Auto Parts stores/Service centers had been using the name, unchallenged, for their line of private-label tires for years. Result? Pep Boys prevented Ford from calling the car the Futura.

[JPB]

Yay! 1-0 to the little guys. That's what we like to hear.

[riccky2500]

if you used the exact styles of the marina font when selling marina parts then, if it was a registered trademark, u could be in trouble, eg using coca cola style when advertising a cola drink, but since it is no longer a registered TM i wouldnt say it should cause any problem,


just found this

Name & Registered Office:
BRITISH LEYLAND LIMITED
RED THORNS, POOK LANE
BIDDENDEN
ASHFORD
KENT
TN27 8JU
Company No. 05703325

Status: Active
Date of Incorporation: 09/02/2006

Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Company Type: Private Limited Company
Nature of Business (SIC(03)):
5190 - Other wholesale
Accounting Reference Date: 28/02
Last Accounts Made Up To: 28/02/2010 (TOTAL EXEMPTION SMALL)
Next Accounts Due: 30/11/2011
Last Return Made Up To: 09/02/2011
Next Return Due: 08/03/2012
Last Members List: 09/02/2011
Previous Names:
No previous name information has been recorded over the last 20 years.


this was in the national business records

[riccky2500]

Name & Registered Office:
BLMC LIMITED
ELLESFIELD AVENUE
BRACKNELL
BERKSHIRE
RG12 8TA
Company No. 00927060

Status: Active
Date of Incorporation: 08/02/1968

Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Company Type: Private Limited Company
Nature of Business (SIC(03)):
7415 - Holding companies including head offices
Accounting Reference Date: 31/12
Last Accounts Made Up To: 31/12/2009 (FULL)
Next Accounts Due: 30/09/2011
Last Return Made Up To: 10/07/2010
Next Return Due: 07/08/2011
Last Members List: 10/07/2010
Previous Names:
Date of change Previous Name
31/12/1978 BRITISH LEYLAND MOTOR CORPORATION LIMITED

another one, thought these were all defunct

[riccky2500]

Name & Registered Office:
STANDARD-TRIUMPH MOTOR COMPANY LIMITED
FLETCHAMSTEAD HIGHWAY
CANLEY
COVENTRY
CV4 9DB
Company No. 00347728

Status: Active
Date of Incorporation: 24/12/1938

Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Company Type: Private Limited Company
Nature of Business (SIC(03)):
None Supplied
Accounting Reference Date: 31/12
Last Accounts Made Up To: 31/12/1989 (ACCOUNTS TYPE NOT AVAILABLE)
Next Accounts Due: 31/10/1991 OVERDUE
Last Return Made Up To: 02/07/1990
Next Return Due:
Previous Names:
Date of change Previous Name
31/12/1979 ROW WOOD ESTATE LIMITED

[Welshspark]

Maybe I should just go for it then. As I wont be selling anything like parts for vehicles etc, only retro/classic car themed products, I should be ok.
Anyway being as BL was effectively changed to the name of austin/rover and the mg/rover group by its final incartion, with the logo also being changed, surely nobody could claim the BL logo as their own now? BMW bought out the austin/rover group and not BL, and not even austin/rover were claiming to be even linked to BL by that point, so surely the brand was dead or void at time of sale to BMW.
Also come to think of it, ive seen other products that are car interest related products for sale in local markets and motor factors such as car key fobs depicting/recreating either the marque logo or the manufacturers logo artwork/design. Surely the manufacturers of these fobs havent gone to every car company and asked their permission to use their logo etc? My guess is they are probably taiwan/china based too.

[admin]

Be very, very careful. As far as i'm aware, all of the old logos and trade names are now part of British Motor Heritage at Gaydon, and they are litigious. The Triumph names and logos are owned by BMW and BMH for example and they require a license to use the brand names and logos. See here:

http://www.bmh-ltd.com/trademarks.htm#

No mention of the BL logo on the site, so you might be alright there. Best give them a ring though to check. It' also worth bearing in mind that the Marina badge and all logos in general will have been designed by a person, and they might have some sort of intellectual property or design rights over their usage even if they were employed to design them by a corporation which no longer exists. My best mates younger brother designed the 'Autobiography' badges on the latest Range Rovers and he's very proud of it, so these people don't usually forget about this sort of thing.

I'd be checking with the owner's clubs of the cars / logos you're thinking of using too - sometimes the clubs themselves get offered the use of redundant trademarks and names.

[ajsphead]

Did anyone else notice last year's BTCC BMW's sponsored by Leyland Paints with a logo that looked suspiciously like the old BL logo we're talking about?

Anthony