RE: Mercedes has Gullwing replica crushed
Discussion
MarJay said:
If they want to prevent people from making replicas then they ought to at least offer it as a current model?
Oh damn, I forgot it wouldn't pass type approval laws.
What a bunch of killjoys. Its not exactly competing with any of their current range of products is it? All this is going to do is push up the price of original 300SL's even further!
What a waste of time. The only people who have gained anything from this little escapade is of course the lawyers. As usual.
Actually the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in Fellbach buys, restores and sells original Gullwings (they will buy any Gullwing in any condition). Typically these sell for €200-300k.Oh damn, I forgot it wouldn't pass type approval laws.
What a bunch of killjoys. Its not exactly competing with any of their current range of products is it? All this is going to do is push up the price of original 300SL's even further!
What a waste of time. The only people who have gained anything from this little escapade is of course the lawyers. As usual.
If they allowed replica bodies or cars to be produced the value of original gullwings would fall leaving MB and other Gullwing owners out of pocket.
http://www.mercedes-benz-classic.com/content/class...
Captain Muppet said:
I'd be pissed off if I found someone was making money copying stuff I've designed, and I imagine most people would feel the same.
The original was released 57 years ago. I have sympathy for your view but I feel there has to be some sensible limit on how long a design is protected by copyright law before it moves into the public domain.ralphrj said:
Actually the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in Fellbach buys, restores and sells original Gullwings (they will buy any Gullwing in any condition). Typically these sell for €200-300k.
If they allowed replica bodies or cars to be produced the value of original gullwings would fall leaving MB and other Gullwing owners out of pocket.
http://www.mercedes-benz-classic.com/content/class...
I'm not so sure that it would. The market for a replica gullwing and a 300k real one are very different. Do you think GT40 replicas have dragged the value of the real ones down?If they allowed replica bodies or cars to be produced the value of original gullwings would fall leaving MB and other Gullwing owners out of pocket.
http://www.mercedes-benz-classic.com/content/class...
hairykrishna said:
I'm not so sure that it would. The market for a replica gullwing and a 300k real one are very different. Do you think GT40 replicas have dragged the value of the real ones down?
I think the difference there is that Ford are not actively supporting GT40 owners like Mercedes-Benz is with Gullwing owners by offering to buy their cars, continue parts supply, offer manufacturer restoration or act as an agent when they want to sell it.The shape has been registered as a trade mark.
A person infringes a registered trade mark if they use a sign in the course of trade which is identical or similar to the registered mark without a licence to do so.
Thus if it was knocked up in a garage, it would not be being used "in the course of trade", so it would not have been crushed.
A person infringes a registered trade mark if they use a sign in the course of trade which is identical or similar to the registered mark without a licence to do so.
Thus if it was knocked up in a garage, it would not be being used "in the course of trade", so it would not have been crushed.
ds. ralphrj said:
hairykrishna said:
I'm not so sure that it would. The market for a replica gullwing and a 300k real one are very different. Do you think GT40 replicas have dragged the value of the real ones down?
I think the difference there is that Ford are not actively supporting GT40 owners like Mercedes-Benz is with Gullwing owners by offering to buy their cars, continue parts supply, offer manufacturer restoration or act as an agent when they want to sell it.
hairykrishna said:
ralphrj said:
hairykrishna said:
I'm not so sure that it would. The market for a replica gullwing and a 300k real one are very different. Do you think GT40 replicas have dragged the value of the real ones down?
I think the difference there is that Ford are not actively supporting GT40 owners like Mercedes-Benz is with Gullwing owners by offering to buy their cars, continue parts supply, offer manufacturer restoration or act as an agent when they want to sell it.Also, did Ford trademark the shape of the GT40? It is common knowledge that they failed to protect the name.
J4CKO said:
Not sure why they would bother to be honest, not like it will steal sales and anyway I thought stuff dropped out of copyright after a certain period.
It does, but I believe that period is seventy years for what they're classing this body design as. I could be wrong, a bit much to go hunting for the info on my phone,but clearly even if it isn't seventy years, Daimler still holds the rights. I also believe that you can renew the rights if you are still living and have reason to retain them - which as a company they are and do (because of their business buying and restoring them).ralphrj said:
Actually the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in Fellbach buys, restores and sells original Gullwings (they will buy any Gullwing in any condition). Typically these sell for €200-300k.
If they allowed replica bodies or cars to be produced the value of original gullwings would fall leaving MB and other Gullwing owners out of pocket.
You might want to check some facts before making such hand waving statements. Have prices of original Cobras, Ferraris, Lancia Stratos, 356 Speedsters etc. have fallen through the floor thanks to a few kit cars being made? Are original Lotus 7's, (easily the most 'copied' car ever), now almost worthless? Clearly the answer is no in all cases.If they allowed replica bodies or cars to be produced the value of original gullwings would fall leaving MB and other Gullwing owners out of pocket.
Originals and replicas sell to different markets, and one has little influence on the other.
Baryonyx said:
A similar thing happened in the world of guitars a few years back. Warwick and Status Graphite both made copies of John Entwistle's 'Buzzard' design, though Entwistle played the Status basses far more. He died, and legal wrangling lead to the Buzzard shape copyright ending up with Warwick, which I believe meant that they had exlusive rights to the design for ten years.
Not content with just stopping Status making the graphite Buzzards for ten years, Warwick ordered the molds for the basses destroyed. Status complied, being a small English luthier facing a German company with offices all over the world because Warwick could ruin them with legal action.
I believe Status could legally make Buzzards again now, but they can't as the carbon fibre molds for the body are too expensive to recreate!
I love PH; takes me right back to my rock band days. Always coveted the Warwick. Even though I was on the Keys...Not content with just stopping Status making the graphite Buzzards for ten years, Warwick ordered the molds for the basses destroyed. Status complied, being a small English luthier facing a German company with offices all over the world because Warwick could ruin them with legal action.
I believe Status could legally make Buzzards again now, but they can't as the carbon fibre molds for the body are too expensive to recreate!
ralphrj said:
MarJay said:
If they want to prevent people from making replicas then they ought to at least offer it as a current model?
Oh damn, I forgot it wouldn't pass type approval laws.
What a bunch of killjoys. Its not exactly competing with any of their current range of products is it? All this is going to do is push up the price of original 300SL's even further!
What a waste of time. The only people who have gained anything from this little escapade is of course the lawyers. As usual.
Actually the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in Fellbach buys, restores and sells original Gullwings (they will buy any Gullwing in any condition). Typically these sell for €200-300k.Oh damn, I forgot it wouldn't pass type approval laws.
What a bunch of killjoys. Its not exactly competing with any of their current range of products is it? All this is going to do is push up the price of original 300SL's even further!
What a waste of time. The only people who have gained anything from this little escapade is of course the lawyers. As usual.
If they allowed replica bodies or cars to be produced the value of original gullwings would fall leaving MB and other Gullwing owners out of pocket.
http://www.mercedes-benz-classic.com/content/class...
ralphrj said:
MarJay said:
If they want to prevent people from making replicas then they ought to at least offer it as a current model?
Oh damn, I forgot it wouldn't pass type approval laws.
What a bunch of killjoys. Its not exactly competing with any of their current range of products is it? All this is going to do is push up the price of original 300SL's even further!
What a waste of time. The only people who have gained anything from this little escapade is of course the lawyers. As usual.
Actually the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in Fellbach buys, restores and sells original Gullwings (they will buy any Gullwing in any condition). Typically these sell for €200-300k.Oh damn, I forgot it wouldn't pass type approval laws.
What a bunch of killjoys. Its not exactly competing with any of their current range of products is it? All this is going to do is push up the price of original 300SL's even further!
What a waste of time. The only people who have gained anything from this little escapade is of course the lawyers. As usual.
If they allowed replica bodies or cars to be produced the value of original gullwings would fall leaving MB and other Gullwing owners out of pocket.
http://www.mercedes-benz-classic.com/content/class...
Do you really believe that someone who is in the position to buy a 300SL would mistake a fibreglass replica for a real aluminium one?
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