GM to MrMike: cease & desist (Page 2/11)
hyperv6 NOV 03, 05:13 PM
Mike as an owner of your seat, mine with no emblems they look fine with out.

But I know some would like to keep something on the seats.

Have you investigated take it the original emblems and how far you would need to alter them to make the still legal to use?

Could you do a very similar emblem with the hose head bound to the other direction to make it look close but not the same.

I would keep away from other totally different emblems as I think most would go with out vs going with a emblem that just has no similarity.

Another solution could the buyer supply the emblem and you just charge to see it on?

As for GM I kind of get what they are doing. It is not so much you they are worried about but China. The company I work for is in a constant fight with Chinese companies stealing our logo and graphics from our race team. To legally deal with it we have to go after all people who infringe. Some products are not bad but others are poor quality and reflect bad on us. It is expensive and time consuming to protect a logo anymore. Often the fees paid just cover the legal bills.

I am not aware of your situation as it may be different but in my case we have had major issues.

Note as a parts retailer we face the issue of name and logo use on our web site too. We even had a photo of our car show and one guy wanted us to pay him for his car being on our web site in a crowd shot. Now we have to have releases signed to get in.

We get it on both sides.

[This message has been edited by hyperv6 (edited 11-03-2021).]

IMSA GT NOV 03, 05:56 PM

quote
Originally posted by hyperv6:


Another solution could the buyer supply the emblem and you just charge to see it on?





To me, this would be the workaround or "loophole". Mike would remove any logo from his website and offer custom embroidery. If the customer gave him any Fiero or Pontiac logo, technically he isn't offering them for sale, he's offering his services. He would simply be providing a service to stich a logo on the seat cover based on a customer-provided logo.
fierofool NOV 03, 07:39 PM
I would do as fierosound did and send Mike your emblems from your old seats. I like cvxjet's base emblem that F.I.E.R.O originally created but GM will probably come back on him if any redesigned emblem is used that still includes the word "Fiero".

If one has the emblem recreated for personal use and not for sale, I don't believe there's any infringement by doing as Fiero Vice is considering.
hyperv6 NOV 03, 07:44 PM

quote
Originally posted by IMSA GT:


To me, this would be the workaround or "loophole". Mike would remove any logo from his website and offer custom embroidery. If the customer gave him any Fiero or Pontiac logo, technically he isn't offering them for sale, he's offering his services. He would simply be providing a service to stich a logo on the seat cover based on a customer-provided logo.



Exactly. He just charges to apply what is given.

Most could cut out the emblems from junk yard seats or from their old covers.

No restriction on applying a GM emblem.
hyperv6 NOV 03, 07:50 PM

quote
Originally posted by MrMike:

I was told the word "Fiero" is Italian for proud. (can anyone comment on that?)
As in: they can trademark a Regal emblem, but not the word Regal, they own the word Corvette and trademark that.
GM spoke of words, images, and emblems.
They specifically objected to my use of the 'Fiero Emblem".
If we use the word Fiero the font and design of the word must be obviously different from the original.
-

-
I would like to see the community come up with (and agree upon) a design.



You could offer but just not a big fan of this generic stuff I would rather go plain.

Skybax NOV 03, 07:53 PM

quote
Originally posted by MrMike:

I received a cease & desist order from General Motors concerning the inclusion of GM trademarked words, images, and emblems on my products.




Following in Ford's footsteps I see, no big surprise, like they don't have more important things to do.


quote
Originally posted by cvxjet:

Well....Maybe this means GM is going to step up and bring back the Fiero.......




They already have... C8 = 2020-21 Fiero


quote
Originally posted by IMSA GT:

What do you expect from a complete shithole, greedy, failure of a company.




WORD

[This message has been edited by Skybax (edited 11-03-2021).]

2.5 NOV 03, 08:58 PM
I had a thought, I wonder if any of the original seat badging is salvageable stitch the old ones into the new seat if they're still good?
2.5 NOV 03, 09:02 PM

quote
Originally posted by cvxjet:

Well....Maybe this means GM is going to step up and bring back the Fiero.......If it means that much to them......

I don't really understand why they would object to this on a car they happily cancelled....from a division they happily shut down......From, what is it.....33 years ago?




Lol, I blame Fast 9.
Awalker W02 NOV 03, 09:48 PM
I have always liked cliffs emblem. That is if he would allow you to use that
da.slyboy NOV 04, 09:46 AM
Since GM is not really going to purchase any Mr. Mikes seats..Can you just remove the add logo option from your website and just email/call you personally to say you want to add the Fiero logo? GM probably just did an internet search and found the addition on your website. I don't think they can track down all orders that are designed/made as "custom" with the logo request. Otherwise flip the horse image and stretch the "Fiero words" by 1/8" to make it no longer the exact same logo.

Like Keith's taillight lenses, it always annoyed me that a company who hasn't provided any support for theses cars for 20 years plus should claim copyright infringement.