In New Jersey. Ya heard about the Tridents, put on car shows in the 50's-'60s? They aren't Tridents CC, they are Tridents Inc. Incorporated, for nonprofit business. That's internatonal rights if they want to persue it. It all boils down to who can afford the "best" lawyers...
Since it's all about the money, better stop copying all the ideas from those cars in the fifties. Better stop making that bracket that you copied from the one your buddy bought from the anyname hotrod shop. They spent the time, and hard work to develop it, and you just copied it. Took MONEY right out of their pocket. Seems to be quite the GREY area here. Since we all don't make or sell t-shirts, we're up in arms. But to rip off hard working rod builders or parts builders is ok as long as it helps you.
Could it maybe be because they have no regard for the law? Last time I checked, beating the hell out of somebody who wasn't beating the hell out of you was a crime.
Hey whackedshoebox, why don't you wear a Hells Angels T-shirt in front of a member and the tell us about the legal ramifications of the ass-beating you received?
WTF! Has anyone from the Rumblers CC seen these shirts yet? Besides the club names, are those drawing even Ames Bros to use? Someones gonna pay
just to confirm that you are not referencing my comment. i was saying that the rumblers would make sparks fly if someone did use their emblem.
The one thing I noticed when I got to Virgin to take the pictures is that none of the logos match the actual club logos, I dont know if there is some sort of loophole in that but I cant imagine it being legit for them to do either way.
When do you suppose the last time sombody pressed charges against a Hell's Angel for receiving a beating that was well deserved?
Had to read a page back to see your comment, missed that. Missed Nads' post above mine as well, guess the guys have seen it. Being an X-Rumbler myself I know actions will be taken. Go get em boys!
Theres a big diffrence between some "wannabe" Hells Angel getting his ass kicked for flying colors and some dumb yuppie getting his ass kicked for not knowing any better and buying a car club shirt at Virgin though. Either way I'm sure would be ugly though.
OOhh Oohh can i pose for them? I will look sexy in my red pants wearing one of those shirts... maybe i can get in my 2005 Silverado and do burnouts up and down the block in front of the police station in Morris Il. I would be cool as hell then Gettin all the bitches.... yo... Copyright and trademark laws are federal statues but there are some state laws that may have impact on the subject, please research this, find a knowledgable lawyer and submit the paperwork. Cost isnt that much.. yes things are copyright at creation.. but a legally filed document with the gub'ment holds buckets of water in a courtroom.. and makes the judge your friend. If you are in the rights.. the t-shirt company will end up paying your legal costs etc etc. And remember.. copyrights are different than trademarks.. Because ya'll are so cool.. you have to protect the coolness.. or yuppie bastards will try and turn it into another "Von Dutch flavor of the month cluster fuck(tm)" http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/tac/doc/basic/index.html http://www.copyright.gov/
I just want to say that the Viper's VENOM Energy Drink contains more alcohol than the Road Zombies, Chrome Czars, Throttlers, Kontinentals or Them products. It has the same alcoholic content as the Autoholics and Greazy Hubcaps elixers. Of course the Viper's VENOM has more taste. As do the Vipers, of course. And not nearly as much metal shavings and Bondo dust as the Panel Beaters and Auto Butcher Energy drinks. Viper's VENOM Only available in the Viper's Pit. Not sold in stores. Ask your crew chief if VENOM is right for you. Actual mileage may vary. Seize door for details. Call for Freak Consultation. Chili Phil, mixologist
That's not correct. You can have a legally protected trademark even if it's not registered. If you can show the other party's use creates a likelihood of confusion, or that they're passing their stuff of as yours, that's actionable.
Throttlers of Brawley, Cal. ?????????????? Has anyone been to Brawley, Ca. ?? I doubt there is a single hot rod in the whole town. Mostly farmers and growers. That is funny!
Actually, it IS trademarked (or copyrighted, as the case may be) if you can document first use/printing. Filing for a trademark is the first step in registering, and unless you're going international, it's a waste of money. If use of the name "Throttlers" is in question, you would have to prove that your club is the only, or first documented to use the name. Filing with the USPTO is NOT necessary to have copyright/trademark protection, but you must know how to document it and IF you actually can!
Don't forget to go after "American Eagle". I received this shirt a couple of years ago for X-mas. Also, wasn't someone selling "Knowbodys" plaques in the northeast a couple of years back? Oh yea, were they at now? Chris Nelson Kansas
Ryan found out who that was,and got things "straightened out". Otherwise,they could still be profiting from a name and image they had no rights to.Modern day Pirates.
Something tells me this is going to be a tough one to beat. I can think of about 3 "Brewed Awakening" coffee shops, completely independent of each other, and no laws are violated. Car club names are no different. The Rumblers as portayed on the T-shirt is completely different than portrayed as the Rumblers CC logos now. Same with the Throttlers, etc. As for ruining the scene, let it. The "scene" sucks anyway, and in 5-10 years when this shit isn't fashionable anymore, the people that don't count will move on and all that will be left will be the genuine articles.
This is a real club - A friend of mines dad was in it up in Ohio. I have an old Romans plaque on my tool box I wont put it on a car without a Romans permission. The club is pretty much gone from what i could find out (did an ass load of searching about 2 yrs ago) This does suck, colors are colors and they where them for a reason and the reason isn't so some fuck can mass produce t-shirts and make money from it. It's branding - if you work your ass off building your brand so some prick can make money off of it, that is wrong and the fuck needs to either poney up some money or cease it. The last thing you want is to work your ass off building a good reputation just so some dickhead who bought your shirt at a record store holds up a Jiffy Mart or kills someone and gets your logo / name plastered over the f-in media. (ie Hollister biker & LIFE magazine). Good luck on stopping this shit before it really spreads.
Yup, I agree completely. If it's not a real Rumblers, etc shirt, who cares? (BTW, that famous Hollister pic was posed after the fact; it didn't even happen.) The 'scene' will die on it's own, and I won't shed a single tear. I'm here to build cars, not make them accessories to my wardrobe.
Well i'm on HAMB and have the shirt i have an offy shirt and run offy stuff andi have a coupe harleys and also have a shirt The people that buy this stuff are the people running around with their parents Ford Escorts and have them decked out with every NOS and Flomster sticker that NAPA sells it really disgusts me to see them wearing shit like that
If I owned the copyright on a logo, and somebody used it with my permission, how would anybody in the whole wide world know I gave them permission, except me? And, how would it ever be anybody else's business, except mine?
As for ruining the scene, let it. The "scene" sucks anyway, and in 5-10 years when this shit isn't fashionable anymore, the people that don't count will move on and all that will be left will be the genuine articles.[/QUOTE] Yeah, what you said, Joe! Imagine what we've been going through for the last few years of cable TV, WE ARE THE CHOPPERS!!! The older members of our club, which started the club in 1956, pretty much say what you said. The fad will go away and the true will remain. We do have our stuff legally covered as far as our logo goes, but the name can only be protected statewide. At least that is how it read for us in Ohio. Kevin Choppers Hot Rod Association of Cleveland, Ohio.
Well I've got a couple of things to contribute here. First, Yes the Throttlers name was used by at least these clube 40+ years ago: Throttlers Detroit Throttlers Gary Ind Throttlers Modesto Throttlers Mt. Pleasant Throttlers Sand Springs Throttlers South Peabody Throttlers St. Paul Throttlers Tulsa Throttlers N.J. Throttlers Everett Wash. Second, I made that Paladins Brawley for a guy from Orange CA in June of 2002 so he's probably still around. Third, I have this 40+ year old pattern from Chicago Metal Craft:
to those who question the TRIDENTS INC CAR CLUB. the club was founded in 1959 and incorporated in 1960. One of the Charter members was a guy named Gary Canning. He and others wanted to put on car shows in So.Ca. In order to do that the club had to be incorporated. So that's the reason they are TRINDENTS INC. Canning went on to produce car shows from 1960 through 1994. These were the shows that everyone wanted their cars in. 4 day shows,booths for the car clubs,exibitors,battle of the band, and celebraties. When you wanted to put your car in a TRIDENT show, you would have to send pictures and be excepted. There was no charge for showing your car, and everyone recieved a participation trophy. These shows were not just a car show, but an event. It was a stage for all the known and unknown customizers to exibit there talents. No hassles, no stabbing & most of all "NO GUNS". It was all about the cars and of course the women. Remember we were only 16 to 28 years old and the hormons were on the move. There were alot of car clubs throughout So.Ca. and everyone seemed to get along pretty well. We did have our brief hassles, but they were handled quick and simple. If anyone in So Ca. wants to meet and talk to the OLD TRIDENT INC members, you will have your chance on May 22 of this year. At Bob's Broiler, formerly known as Harvey's Broiler in Downey. 3 pm until ? There will be 55 members from the orginal club there for a reunion. They will be bringing their cars and a lot of great stories. I am one of those members, See you there Wayne Dickey #46
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