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Vanilla 1.1.5a is a product of Lussumo. More Information: Documentation, Community Support.
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Hi, I am building a site for a garage and they want the background image to be a picture of a golf gti to match business cards. Do I need to get permission from VW? Thanks for any feedback.
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- CommentAuthoraxe_sosharp
- CommentTimeNov 25th 2007
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Thanks for the link but it seems to only cover using VW in the actual web address or using VW in connection with an actual product for sale.
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If it is your own picture, your own artwork (or somebody who gives the right), it's ok as far as I know. They do not own every image of their cars around the world, only their trademarks, possibly a design for the silhouette. Obviously if it is a photograph straight from VW, that would be infringement.
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If the company you're doing the site for has an image they're using for their business cards, find out how they went about getting permission to use that image on their business cards. If they didn't, then I would put the onus on them to secure permission to use a photo for business cards and the website. You have to be careful with photos. Since the garage is a for-profit business, if VW feels that the garage is using their brand to make money, they will probably sue and they'll probably win. If the VW logo is shows, or the car model and/or trim level, I would suggest erring on the side of caution and securing written permission.
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thanks for all the advice guys. I guess I'll ask the garage and if they have done what I briefly considered doing maybe I'll tentatively suggest an image with a nice oily theme. :-)
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An image is an image -- you just have to have rights to use that image. Look on Getty or iStockPhoto -- you can find pictures of other brand name vehicles, like BMW, and use them at your leisure. What you can't do is use the VW brand in association with your brand -- the VW mark can't be an extension of your mark. But if the garage specializes in foreign import repairs -- then its perfect acceptable and expected to have imagery of a BMW for example.
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