In my home town here there is a company that just started up and they now say that they are building Rat Fink choppers. The news paper had it spelled as two words 'Rat Fink', and I know that I have seen 'Ratfink' (one word) trademarked when it is printed. I was wonering if anyone knows if this would be trademark infringement, or if the spelling they use would get them out of this trouble. Hate to see anyone rip off someone elses hard work after the have pass on, just like all this trendy VonDutch shit you see these dumb ass celebrities wearing. It seems they are trying to sell motorcycles with name recognition, instead of showcasing their quality work (which is not very high caliber). Geno
Put their name and number up on the HAMB if they're using that in their name. I'm sure there are a few who would like to tell them what they think. Can't wait till Johnny sees this. I see thunder clouds gathering down in Texas... Maybe in Utah too...
Yes that would be trademark infringment, the way it works is that Rat Fink and any variation there of is still the same trademark. There is a site (you'll have to do a search) that gives the rules of trademarks and also who has what trademarked. A lot of it depends on how Ed tradmarked it. For instance you can tradmark for clothing but that doesn't cover publishing and on and on. Also tradmarks aren't eternal, but I can't remember how often they have to be renewed. I'm sure that Mr Roth isn't too concerned about it anymore. But he does still have an estate. Never the less its pretty low rent to try and make a buck rideing on someone elses coatails. That would be like one of us starting a site and calling it HAMB Autosales or some such. Just no class, period.
In other words, they need to loose Rat Fink and change there name to ASS PIRATE CHOPPERS. Anyone have an email address on them, we can flood them with new ideas.......lol.
[ QUOTE ] Geno, Would that be Rocket City Cycles? [/ QUOTE ] Damn Johnny you are good. Yes that would be Rocket City Cycles, but I am wondering just how you would know that. I didn't think they had that big of a name. Geno
According to their site they are licensed to sell "Rat Fink" products. I don't know if I buy it. Besides they're selling bullshit cookie cutter OCC wannabee weak ass choppers.
from what it looks like they already sell "licensed rat fink" probably shirts and acc. But you'd have to get offical license to make are "ratfink" motorcycle. Did you guys know there is a "Von dutch" motorcycle company now? in rancho,ca, sells offically licensed VD motorcycles!!
this is going to go on forever,everyone wants to make it a profit center estate or not. it happened before his death and it will happen afterwords, its a name [rf or big daddy] and funny thing is the real family is not even part of it.ask moon how ed treated copyrights! life is too short let everyone be a rat fink!
George.... Let me know when you get near a point... I know how Ed treated copyrights....I also know how OTHERS treat his copyrights.... Who is this "EVERYONE" you are always referring to?
would that not mean everyone that makes a buck off of eds ideas and things and that includes me and everyone else that sells stuff whether on ebay , shows or web sites no matter what it is old or new stuff vehicles included. a true copyright by law i think means the original artist is supposed to get a cut. let me know if im wrong.
I just found this on a search and haven't rad all of it yet but it might shine some light on Copyrights. http://www.efuse.com/Plan/copyright.html#Notprotected
Hey George... Let me give you a better response... As you know,Ed wrote his own rules...sometimes in a manner that drove employees and business contacts CRAZY... That was HIS way...take it or leave it... The "original artist" question is actually pretty cut and dried,relating to Roth Studios...whether it was Newt, Sloane,Mizar,Johnny Ace or even that pain in the ass Robt Williams,work done FOR Ed was paid for and all rights assigned...I had a long conversation with Newt a couple of days ago, and although he regrets that his VAST body of Roth work is still making money for others, he accepts that those were the terms he agreed to.... You happen to own some of MY Roth stuff...could I claim artist copyrights? No. Not whether you sold it on ebay or got a license to reproduce it... Now on the other hand, how did you acquire art from Ed? Paid for it? Traded it? Either way, it is still Roth property... When WE create new art with Roth copyrights or dust off older stuff,in order to sell,we do so with an understanding already in place...with permission given long ago, and instructions on how to do so... We have a financial obligation to the Roth estate that we chose to fulfill....Ilene Roth never asked us for a dime. It is true that companies seek to license Rat Fink and the Ed Roth trademarks constantly,but they operate under a different set of practices and methods than we do. We want you,and anyone else who is curious,to know that we do not consider ourselves in that group. In other words...we do it OUR WAY. We also don't have anything to do with current RF licensing or product development apart from anything which clearly displays our studio name. Some people even seem to ENJOY what we do... You have always seemed to be suspicious of us, and I'm not sure why...hope this helps clear a few things up for you.
[ QUOTE ] Hey Johnny... very well spoken. [/ QUOTE ] ......yea.........and 'ya didn't even use no cuss words. Proud of 'ya 'bro........
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