Harely Logo licensing question
Very impressive work.
I encounter this sort of thing in my business every day.
The very short version of things is:
A) Talk to an attorney.
B) Harley Davidson has an extensive brand licensing organization, but in practical terms, you're not big enough to qualify. Major corporate branding is the province of very substantial companies with substantial resources. Licensing a brand involves making a substantial cash payment in advance, a substantial percentage of sales, and (very high) minimum guaranteed total payment amounts. Realistically, there is no way to qualify unless you are selling large quantities of product into some consumer marketplace (eg, you're a textile company selling HD branded sheets through thousands of retail outlets nationwide).
C) Lets not kid ourselves. There are thousands of guys like you out there making and selling bootleg (unlicensed) HD stuff. Not to condone it, but if you were to put the HD logo on some of those signs, and then find some customers at flea markets and the like, who would know? I doubt HD would like it, and if they could, they'd stop all of that. But they only have so many people and so much time themselves, and they can't afford to go after every independent operator selling a few tens of thousands of dollars worth of stuff annually. As long as you don't give them a reason to come after you vs going after any one of the thousands of others like you, they'll probably never notice. Among other things, that means not making anything that puts the HD brand in a negative light.
I encounter this sort of thing in my business every day.
The very short version of things is:
A) Talk to an attorney.
B) Harley Davidson has an extensive brand licensing organization, but in practical terms, you're not big enough to qualify. Major corporate branding is the province of very substantial companies with substantial resources. Licensing a brand involves making a substantial cash payment in advance, a substantial percentage of sales, and (very high) minimum guaranteed total payment amounts. Realistically, there is no way to qualify unless you are selling large quantities of product into some consumer marketplace (eg, you're a textile company selling HD branded sheets through thousands of retail outlets nationwide).
C) Lets not kid ourselves. There are thousands of guys like you out there making and selling bootleg (unlicensed) HD stuff. Not to condone it, but if you were to put the HD logo on some of those signs, and then find some customers at flea markets and the like, who would know? I doubt HD would like it, and if they could, they'd stop all of that. But they only have so many people and so much time themselves, and they can't afford to go after every independent operator selling a few tens of thousands of dollars worth of stuff annually. As long as you don't give them a reason to come after you vs going after any one of the thousands of others like you, they'll probably never notice. Among other things, that means not making anything that puts the HD brand in a negative light.
Unofficial HDF Chaplain
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 21,158
Likes: 18,078
From: san diego
I will be glad to give any legal advise needed, for free!!! And I promise to come and visit every other saturday!!!
Really nice work on the signs!!! I will let you know when you get good enough to sell them, In the meantime, I have some good stuff that you can make for me to practice on!!!
Again, seriously, Very well done!!
Thread Starter
|
Stage IV
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: IL
Hello everyone and thanks SO much for all the feedback!
IzzoQuazzo, I have been hired by several companies like Leinenkugels to make promotional pieces, but I never have tried to acquire a license.
Omaha, I understand what you are saying and thanks for all the feedback! I think I will still apply for the license even though I have very little chance. I have seen that there are painting artists that have acquired licenses. Maybe there is a small chance for me?
Thanks again everyone! And like I mentioned in my earlier post... the first thing I will do in my license pursuit is make a prototype, and will use pics/video of this prototype in my application. I will post pics of my process for hand carved signage here on HD Forums.
Thanks again! Very appreciated
Scott
IzzoQuazzo, I have been hired by several companies like Leinenkugels to make promotional pieces, but I never have tried to acquire a license.
Omaha, I understand what you are saying and thanks for all the feedback! I think I will still apply for the license even though I have very little chance. I have seen that there are painting artists that have acquired licenses. Maybe there is a small chance for me?
Thanks again everyone! And like I mentioned in my earlier post... the first thing I will do in my license pursuit is make a prototype, and will use pics/video of this prototype in my application. I will post pics of my process for hand carved signage here on HD Forums.
Thanks again! Very appreciated
Scott
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
