BMW R1200R R1150R/T F800 K1200R R1100R/T R1250R RnineT Message Board

We can hold off if it looks like a third rail issue.

I'm familiar with copyright in my work, in fact I was up front when the USMC setup a copyright enforcement branch at Quantico two years ago to catalog and track ALL USMC insignia and 'related' IP intellectual property material – including eBay stuff. My insignia designs for the MV-22 and F-35B STOVL programs were the first test of procedures.

Speaking of design work, the BMWMOA art is lame under the corp guidelines - Northern Hemisphere, really?! I'm sorry, (Marketing hat on) but if it is one of the Mothership's largest markets, let them put the beloved emblem in the logo.

As for the Mother Ship, they must be pretty laid back; there’s a whole lotta junk for BMW on eBay coming out of the Far East that is all knockoffs. Some of it, like patches and emblems are pretty good in hand – don’t ask me how I know.

I wouldn’t expect to get a letter from Munich if I made a few dozen stickers for us around here, but then I don’t want to get this board in any heat either. I could post an image on Flickr with my address info in the description.

Talk it up. I’ll continue work on the art for the sticker and smaller helmet sticker mockups and post later.

deilenberger wrote:

ka5ysy wrote:Patches, etc are a good idea, however; a problem I see using the roundel (my lawyer hat on!) is a BMW trademark/copyright issue.

Probably would be a good idea to get written clearance from the Mother Ship.

Don't ask don't tell. They will NOT permit it. They have very strict standards that they change periodically just to piss all the local BMW clubs off. Their latest demands make club emblems pretty much ugly and worthless. Most local clubs are giving them a big razzberry and continuing to use the logos that were approved about 10 years ago.

Damn lawyers

ka5ysy,

I thought you have said in previous posts that you are a lawyer.

Bill

If you're actually worried about copyright issues then here's two suggestions.

For the decal, leave a hole in the space where the roundel goes, and make it the right size to fit around the gas tank or some other standard roundel. Put it on the tank (for example) and, presto, there's the decal we all like with no copyright infringement.

For the jacket patch, how about replacing the roundel with a silhouette or line drawing of the R12? Someone with a camera and Photoshop can make a silhouette and supply it in a posting on the forum that releases it to the public domain.

I hope this helps.

Liam

deilenberger wrote:

ka5ysy wrote:Patches, etc are a good idea, however; a problem I see using the roundel (my lawyer hat on!) is a BMW trademark/copyright issue.

Probably would be a good idea to get written clearance from the Mother Ship.

Don't ask don't tell. They will NOT permit it. They have very strict standards that they change periodically just to piss all the local BMW clubs off. Their latest demands make club emblems pretty much ugly and worthless. Most local clubs are giving them a big razzberry and continuing to use the logos that were approved about 10 years ago.

Don... Do these logos look like the BMW emblem? Probably one of those would work.

Robert

fastdogs2 wrote:ka5ysy,

I thought you have said in previous posts that you are a lawyer.

Bill

Yes he has, I believe he's making fun of his own,

BigEasy wrote:

fastdogs2 wrote:ka5ysy,

I thought you have said in previous posts that you are a lawyer.

Bill

Yes he has, I believe he's making fun of his own,

You got it BigEasy !

lots of stickers and patches!!! Were do I send the$$$. Pay Pal$$$

redwing wrote:Don... Do these logos look like the BMW emblem? Probably one of those would work.

Robert

The club designs usually included the BMW Roundel (their copyrighted trademark symbol..) and BMW used to allow it's use on a shield like shape, without restrictions on the use of the letters "BMW" in the club name. Hence - our local club is "NJ Shore BMW Riders, Inc." which was an approved BMW name - BMW doesn't like that now. The new approved design has the BMW Roundel off on it's own in a square box, and you can't have "BMW" in the club name. Our club would be something like "NJ Shore Riders.. (then on a seperate line) A BMW club." A whole bunch of US clubs are in the same situation. So ignoring the edicts of BMW has become a new passtime.

Since we're not about to change our incorporated name - they can - take sand and.. well, you get the idea. If they get insistant, we'll simply remove BMW and any association with BMW from our club. Fook'm. Clubs support the marque and help with sales, if they don't feel they want this help, then fook'm. Mebbe MotoGuzzi aren't such dingle***'s.

Thanks Don.... ouch Seems like BMW would realize that people buy their bikes not advertising. Makes sense especially for clubs to have or show the BMW logo... I agree with you.
Maybe instead of using a patch that is black, white, and blue... perhaps a patch that is red, white, and blue, and then some stars and stripes. Something American and suggesting BMW.??? Anyone could have a patch suggesting BMW and using their flag's colors with a little added.

Robert

Don,

Is retirement making you fiesty?

Bruce

To show how pissy BMW seems to be getting, check out this over on the MOA board a few months ago. Guy takes a great travel photo with his on motorcycle (BMW!) in the picture and then BMW claims copyright somehow, which is absolutely BS.

http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread. ... =copyright


Net result of this is that BMW makes great motor vehicles, but they have lousy PR and customer support. At some point that will bite them on the rear end and customers will go elsewhere. This is what happens when the bean counters and lawyers get out of control and out of common sense.

By the way... I have a simple solution to the problem: the rockers above and below the roundel can be made separately to fit the diameter of the real, licensed, BMW patches or stickers. We can then simply sew or stick the rockers above/below/around the legal version and blow a raspberry . That would fit the "Fair Use" doctrine neatly.

Hello everyone,
I have been spying on this site for a little while now, have picked up lots of interesting info about the R1200R I just bought. So thank you all! It all started with a BMW rally and then yes you guessed it - a test drive! Wow what a machine! I can honestly say I LOVE IT!! So again thank you all for the info and hope to become part of the gang! Opps can I say gang? How about family?
Neener
Creating the wind beneath my wings!

I love the to and frow from the BMW folks and the Other folks. It continues to amaze me how much hate the (Biker) community has for BMW.
I just do not understand. I ride my 1977, and my 20010 and they just have no idea how different these are, and how much fun it is to ride something different.

geardrve wrote:I love the to and frow from the BMW folks and the Other folks. It continues to amaze me how much hate the (Biker) community has for BMW.
I just do not understand. I ride my 1977, and my 20010 and they just have no idea how different these are, and how much fun it is to ride something different.

I find that some riders of other brands refuse to acknowledge that there are a lot of great bikes built by other manufacturers than what their particular marque happens to be. Sad, because I have ridden a lot of bikes over the years, and they were all good.

The dealer principle of the Harley shop where I teach Riders Edge classes always makes the point that the sign out front of his dealership says "Bike Parking" and not "Harley Parking" Everybody on any kind of bike is always welcome to come in and socialize, and participate in group rides if they wish.

I generally have no use for those with such small minds that they waste good oxygen bad-mouthing others choices of bikes or whatever. Jealousy, ignorance or envy is a really bad thing.

I think this is part of human nature. People seek affirmation that they have made the correct choice whether it be in their selection of motorcycles, cars, sports teams, NASCAR drivers, computers, etc. At the gentler side of the spectrum, it takes the form of good natured ribbing of the other guy because his choice happens to be different than yours.

I saw examples of this type of behavior when I was growing up. Before the massive influx of foreign autos, there were two diametrically opposed auto owners in my small town in Ohio (Chevy and Ford). My dad was a Chevy owner and he took an impish delight at any misfortune his friend's Ford automobiles might suffer. I heard phrases like Ford means "Fix Or Repair Daily" or "Found On Road Dead." Of course, the Ford owners ("I'd rather push a Ford than drive a Chevy") were equally forthright in their criticism when the Chevys suffered any mechanical failures.

At the extreme end of the spectrum is outright distain for another's choice, manifested in extreme prejudice. I have seen this most evident in rivalry between sports teams. Living in Ohio, it is inevitable that you would encounter some form of extreme behavior defining the rivalry between the two prominent football powers, Ohio State and the University of Michigan. Woody Hayes, the coach of the Ohio State football team in my youth, never referred to the University of Michigan, by name, preferring to call it, "that school up north." On recruiting trips into Michigan, he fueled his car in Ohio before venturing into the "foreign" land, so he would deny the state of Michigan the economic revenue from his fuel purchases. Many an assistant coach kept a wary eye on Woody's car's fuel gauge, wondering if they would make it back to Ohio before the tank ran dry.

I guess this behavior is what we notice in the rivalry between owners of various motorcycle brands. I think all motorcycles have their own specific characteristics that endear them to their owners. I happen to ride a BMW R1200R, but that doesn't mean that I lack understanding or compassion for someone who has chosen a different brand. As they say on this and other forums to describe differences in opinion, YMMV (your mileage may vary).

Bill

geardrve wrote:I love the to and frow from the BMW folks and the Other folks. It continues to amaze me how much hate the (Biker) community has for BMW.
I just do not understand. I ride my 1977, and my 20010 and they just have no idea how different these are, and how much fun it is to ride something different.

I really don't like the word HATE. But putting personal problems aside. I find the opposite to be true. I associate with a few people that would fit the Biker description (some real ones and a few pseudo types) and they have always shown respect for my BMWs. I have no problem stopping at a 'biker' bar for a cool one (as long as it's not a members only) and usually the guys show a lot of interest in the Beemer, some openly admitting to thinking about buying one (naturally they would keep the Hog). Their was a time when anyone on a Beemer was a long distance rider, and the "Real Bikers' respect that.

IMHO 'Brand Loyalty',or Buy American (for us USA types) is many times (not all) just a cover up used by a 'poser' that doesn't really understand what motorcycling is all about. Many of the 'real' guys have settled on one brand over the years but they usually don't knock another guy for picking another marque.

I honestly did not mean to cause a stir by the gang or family thing. I honestly just meant with the forum. I personally ride with a hd guy and a yamaha girl mostly. On occasion I do ride with some other BMW owners. Enjoy all the rides, but I enjoy riding the twisties with the other BMW owners also. I had a Honda and loved it. Took me all over the country to places I would not have seen other wise. Was just time to move up to what I enjoy. Thanks again for all the info I have picked up from here.
Neener

You can add me to the list of people who would be interested in this being made
legal issues aside may be it can be made without the logo just the writing

r1200r
EXPERIOR - EMPTIO

another idea it can be made as a reflective sticker so it can go on your saddle bags and glow at night

on the legal side of things i am no lawyer but would be curios to know then if the forum itself using the logo top left corner is illegal? if its not then why would a sticker be?

thanks all and safe riding