SeaRay Logo question.....

[SeaAyeOwe]

Hi, guys working through my investment options for faux teak decking on the 320.

Two of the prividers when I asked about replicating the searay logo on the swim platform ellipse on their product have said they can do it but need written approval from searay to do that as it is copyright protected.

I have emailed searay but no response yet, has anyone successfully gotten this approval and if so what is the best route to get it?

Dave

 

[Gofirstclass]

Give their customer service center a call. 321-449-8628. You get to speak to a real live person, and they're nice!

 

[SeaAyeOwe]

Give their customer service center a call. 321-449-8628. You get to speak to a real live person, and they're nice!

Thx GFC, will call them tomorrow.

 

[fwebster]

2 thoughts........Forgiveness is easier to get than permission, and, as long as you aren't selling or profiting from the use of the logo and are replicating it for your own use you have no exposure simply because you are only interested in one copy....i.e. yours. If you or the wood worker gets a cease and desist letter, then simply respond with "I'm sorry, I won't do it again".

In practice, Sea Ray doesn't mind if you restore your boat, in fact, they like it if you keep the boat original and even customize it using the logo on tables, etc. I don't work for Sea Ray, but it is hard for me to see them spending a lot of time on this or on preventing you from doing what you plan to do.

 

[HUMPH]

Send a PM to Sea Ray Corporate here on CSR. Matt will set you down the right path...

 

[Pyrojodge]

I hope they don't get to angry...

Subbed for the answer from Sea Ray.

 

[boatman37]

i have a small CNC machine in my garage that i did some woodwork with. during my research what i found was that for the most part if it is for personal use they won't bother you. do not take my work as gospel though. each company will likely be different. i have heard Disney and the NFL will come after you if you try to profit from anything like this. i never actually spoke to a company to see how they felt but this was based off of info from others that supposedly did.

that being said, i plan to make a few pieces on my CNC machine for my boat. the PO replaced all the teak with trek decking. looks original. i didn't notice until he told me. he did give me all the teak with the boat too. but i thought about making a custom cup holder that also has a slot for a cell phone.

 

[NewToMe260]

Had you thought about not using the logo? It's not like there aren't enough logos already. People will already know what kind of boat it is anyway.

I am interested in Sea Dek for my boat but I don't want a single logo on it.

 

[mwph]

I have actually read a bit on this issue so I'll offer my opinion...

Sea Ray, Ford or any other big corporation isn't going to drag you into court for using the logo on a personal item. They've got much bigger fish to fry. Hell, sports fans have logos painted or even permanent tattoos on their bodies every weekend.

Make an item with a registered logo on it & sell it, (profit or not) and you could have problems. Key word here is "could". Get caught selling one & you might get a letter. If you are in the table making business, offering logos, & you might even get a visit.

Making 100 canvas laptop bags with the Apple logo on them & trying to sell them on EBay is another story. The fine can be up to $150k. Thats if you haven't sold a single bag. Sell 100 of them & it could be a life changer. Don't try to get cute & say change a font just a little either. A Federal Judge, (which is who you will be standing in front of), just gives it the eyeball test. A friend of mine once told me..."If he don't like it, you won't like it".

All that being said...

 

[BurgundyS24]

All that being said...

Funny you posted that pic. I used to build cars in florida and customer would want logos and such. We did quite a few. Never saw any backlash.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

 

[FootballFan]

Ok, generic advice. Do it for yourself, put it on your boat. No problem.

Start posting on the Internet, discussion forums, then at some point, a corp has to be consistent in brand tm enforcement, they can't pick and choose.

My experience as a sea ray customer the past few years, sea Ray is a friendly, customer embracing company. But, they do have to protect their brand, that is good for all sea Ray owners.

(Read Frank's post)

Mark

 

[mwph]

I forgot about the car thing. At one time they must have had 6 or 8 of them in a neighboring city. Everything from The Pilsbury Dough Boy to Butterfinger candy bars.

 

[SeaAyeOwe]

I should be clear - I am not that worried personally, though I respect IP and tend to want to play things very straight - it is the decking manufacturers that are worried - SeaDek being one of them.

I gain nothing from this except aesthetics - and they gain a tiny bit more exposure, but having lived in big corporate life most of my career - of course companies want to protect their brand value, I don't blame them.

I have been traveling so did not get a chance to call tehm but will Monday - I am sure it will be OK. And if they refuse, I will not lose too much sleep - but I have seen both wth ans without the logo and IMHO with is much better.

I have also PM'd Mattlast night, we will soon see :smt038