Copyright Issues

I remember quite awhile ago I saw a long segment of posts regarding copyright with automotive manufacturers.. at least I hope I saw it on here.. I remember reading it somewhere. Anyways, i have been a huge fan of vince crain and his works for years now... vincecrain.com.(also vincecrain here on AFF) anyways I went to his site the other day for more inspiration and was surprised to see all his FORD work pulled off the site, at the request of FORD`s lawyers. I know this stuff happens... but it is the first time I have seen it for myself. I understand why it happens.. but it is still hard to believe. Anyways.. just thought someone might find this interesting as well...

here is an earlier post fron vince crain here on AFF

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=756230

Any car manufacturer can take it all away if they feel like being an ass.

The three basic principles in not getting tangled up in copyright problems.

1.) Don't ever use photos the company took. This means exact replica of the car drawn, color, and background. But they can't say anything if you used your own photo that is similar to the angle of the car from their pictures.

2.) As long it's not 50% accurate to the original copy it should be fine.

3.) You may use the company's pictures as reference only if you're doing it for your own benefit, meaning, you're not selling them for profit but only for yourself.

Sorry to see that Ford has gone after him. I've been wondering when they
were going to hit some of the bigger artist.

Ford is enforcing more than just copyright and trademark, they are going after
"trade dress" too, so I don't think the 50% accuracy idea will work.
If the lawyers think it looks like a Ford product in any way, they will
require you to remove it or have a Ford product license to use it.

^ That's a load of shit, unless the federal law changed it for Ford.

now i was thinking of making a website that is going to have videos of "how to's" should i be worried about saying the type of car and products

I too have been in conflict with Ford and their layers for a couple of years now. I had to take down all my Ford illustrations... some of my best work. Even if I stop selling anything with Ford vehicles, they were still bugging me, so I took everything down to avoid any trouble since us artist don't make much money for product sales, but more for commission work...

Anyway, technically they can't bug you if you only display ford vehicles you drew, but in reality, if you are using their trademark names or logos to promote your website or your artworks, they are in their right to ask you to stop and become a register Ford seller!

Just to add... several years ago Ii got hit with a 10 page letter from VW lawyers threatening me (finacially and criminally) for drawing VW's.. the car, the logo... anything that represents VW). Also, I was profiting off of their product. That certainly wasn't my intent, but I removed any VW drawing I had on the internet and told them I wouldn't draw (or at least post) any VW (Bug, etc) on line. They stopped any legal matters... it may have been a scare tactic, but it worked. Lemorris told me he went to VW and got permission to draw them through a dealer. I never did. All-in-all a bad experience... Hell, I loved VW's...and though the years, I've owned several VW's... They said it infringes on their trademark and could hurt their image?

^ basically, once you start selling your work using their logo, pictures, and whatnot, they'll get you hard.