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Subject: 
Re: Lego logo on auction pages? (Was: Soft Bricks on ebay!)
Newsgroups: 
lugnet.market.theory
Date: 
Tue, 4 Jun 2002 19:50:49 GMT
Viewed: 
1406 times
  
In lugnet.market.theory, David Eaton writes:
So-- what's the policy on using the Lego logo on Ebay auction pages? I mean,
I guess you can't help it if it appears in a photo that you take of the
product, and probably as such would be allowed... But I get the feeling that
if you just used a logo gif, people would object... Maybe not? If so, what
about a photo of the box, zoomed in on the logo? Geez, I feel like a
lawyer...

I honestly think you need to get out more, David. You are taking this much
to seriously.

Probably true :) My first instinct on seeing this auction (with a Lego-logo
background) was to point out to the seller that it wasn't going by Lego's
"fair play" rules, but I wasn't sure (being an auction where it might be
relevant to the product) if I was in the 'right' or not. Turns out I
probably would be.

Actually, I think you would not be. I have read the page on the Lego
trademark usage that can be found in their press kit ...
http://www.lego.com/eng/info/press/presskit.asp
And the one of the pages is titled "Lego Trademark Usage" and it turns out
the only thing I did not follow is typing LEGO in all capital letters
(something in which you are in violation also mind you). And I have also
read the 'fair play' document ...
http://www.lego.com/eng/info/printpage.asp?page=fairplay
And that as well confirms that I am following what they are requesting. This
is not a personal web page, this is an *auction* selling Lego product. So
you say I am not going by their "fair play" rules - which one do you think I
am breakng?

Now, if I was using the Lego logo while selling Mega Blocks then that would
be a different story, that would be trying to mislead the buyer. And as this
would be wrong in Ebay's eyes - I did not see anything in either of the 2
documents from Lego that would show me this is wrong (ie there is nothing on
their pages saying you can not do this on an *auction* listing).

But I am selling Lego - why would I not use the Lego logo? I am not
misleading anybody in any way, I am not saying in any way I am endorsed by
Lego, I am not keyword spamming, I am not breaking any of the Lego company's
rules. So really, I think its time for a deep breath and understand its an
Ebay listing for a official Lego product and see it as what it is.

If the Lego group had a problem with their logo on Ebay
auctions, you think they would have stepped up and filed a lawsuit years ago.

Not really. The quasi-official response I got via email in response to my
question from a bona fide Lego employee was that no, it is indeed wrong(1)
to use the logo, and TLC doesn't approve of the use of the image. However, I
doubt it's really worth the trouble of a lawsuit, unless the page gets
really high exposure or it really does look as though the page's owner might
belong to the Lego Group (or is supported by them). Usually, (as has been
the case in the past) Lego will just send a quick email off to the page
author and ask that their logo not be used. I think it's only been on RARE
occasions that they've taken it any further... Unless someone else knows
otherwise?


Why would a Lego emplyee email you and not me? I am the one with the
listing. If they really had a problem with it why would they go to you and
not me? I would LOVE to see this email, you can get me addy from above. And
if the Lego employee is reading this, I invite you to give me the same email
you gave to him. I am sorry, but for now I am have a somewhat strange
feeling about this. If they had a problem with it I just do not understand
why they would email you and not me.
Mark P


DaveE

(1) read possibly as "impolite"-- I'm not sure I'd go so far as to call it
"illegal", that'd sound rather harsh, though I'm more or less sure if Lego
DID persue legal action, there would be a court order against the seller to
NOT use the logo. Is that still deemed "illegal"?



Message has 2 Replies:
  Re: Lego logo on auction pages? (Was: Soft Bricks on ebay!)
 
(...) Easy... "We must, therefore, insist that the LEGO logo NEVER be used on an unofficial web site. " (URL) came up when somebody pointed out that, look, LUGNET even has the logo in one place: (URL) for box photos you take, that's just fair use. (...) (22 years ago, 4-Jun-02, to lugnet.market.theory)
  Re: Lego logo on auction pages? (Was: Soft Bricks on ebay!)
 
(...) I'm not sure-- I assume it's because one of: 1) It wasn't his department (it would probably be legal's call) 2) He didn't actually visit your auction page, just saw my question 3) He felt it was worthwhile to establish policy, but not (...) (22 years ago, 4-Jun-02, to lugnet.market.theory)

Message is in Reply To:
  Re: Lego logo on auction pages? (Was: Soft Bricks on ebay!)
 
(...) Probably true :) My first instinct on seeing this auction (with a Lego-logo background) was to point out to the seller that it wasn't going by Lego's "fair play" rules, but I wasn't sure (being an auction where it might be relevant to the (...) (22 years ago, 4-Jun-02, to lugnet.market.theory)

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