...you know, like "Acme" and stuff like that
My question is this: what are the legalities of using a particular name? I'm supposing I should avoid the use of a brand that already exists unless I have permission, but if I make one up, can that name be based on anything I want?
Last night I was working on a gag for a project and realized that Acme wouldn't work for the name of the catalog because it's already been done (unless I'm doing parody?). Then I thought about calling it the "Hedman Accessories Catalog" because I think Eric Hedman is so cool. Seriously.
Or I guess I could get some existing company give me the okay, or better yet, money, for using their name on the catalog.
So many possibilities. At some point I'm going to want to jump and pursue one of them, but I'd like to do my homework first.
Cartoon Thunder
There's a little biker in all of us...
I'd suggest using a made up name, especially if the name is not essential. No company will ever give you the rights to use thier name, at least not a company big enough that everyone would recognize. You'll save a lot of time with a fake name rather than trying to contact a company for approval and having them not even give you the time of day.
Have fun with it. Do a spin off of a popular one that everyone will know perhaps by spelling it differently: "Ack-Me" instead of "Acme"
Flash Character Packs, Video Tutorials and more: www.CartoonSolutions.com
you know they even have manuals on how to draw their logos.
they are so protective of their logos that even the rgb values of blue
is specified. they pay millions to advertising so their image would not
be put in the slightest compromising light.
i think at the very least they would like to see how you plan to use their
brand. compensation would be based on how high profile (= audience base)
your project will be able to reach.
but bluehickey is right: expect to be ignored.
PS. i recently watched a film where both the protagonists
and antagonists use Dell laptops. wow.:rolleyes:
Don't worry. All shall be well.
Ok - lets say it's a live action film for a moment - there's a branded object in it- a can of beer in a not perticularly faverable light. We're using a real can and it happens to have a logo on it. Can you use this arguement in animation?
Mike Futcher - www.yogyog.org
Well,that's the beauty of animation, is that your not limited to modifying a an already existing object like you have to do in live action, you can just draw your own and call it whatever you want!
Often times in live action, they often just modify the first letter of the name of the product so that everyone still recognizes that it's a can of Budweiser beer, but technically it doesn't specifically say Budweiser on it.
Flash Character Packs, Video Tutorials and more: www.CartoonSolutions.com
The more I think about it, the more sense it makes to just make stuff up. What was I thinking? So much fun can be had that way. Sort of an extra set of gags, really.
Thanks for the input. I think you're right--trying to get support from anything beyond a local business for that could be nuts. One local business has expressed interest, but we'll likely work it out in trade for motorcycle parts.
The nice thing about CG is that I can make those changes down the road if needed without having to redraw a whole bunch of stuff.
Cartoon Thunder
There's a little biker in all of us...