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Hello

I am really interested in buying or building a Porsche Speedster Replica, so that is why I became a member of this website. One question came up because of another venture, can any one tell me how PORSCHE Emblems cam be manufactured and still be legal? Has Porsche given permission to manufacture these emblems?

I personally think it is the biggest form of flattery but what does Porsche think?
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Hello

I am really interested in buying or building a Porsche Speedster Replica, so that is why I became a member of this website. One question came up because of another venture, can any one tell me how PORSCHE Emblems cam be manufactured and still be legal? Has Porsche given permission to manufacture these emblems?

I personally think it is the biggest form of flattery but what does Porsche think?
This is a good question. In my bluegrass world, Gibson strongly guards the use of their logo whenever "fake" Gibson banjos show up with the Gibson logo on the peghead. It is odd that we never hear of Porsche saying anything about all the fake badging out there---like all over my plastic Speedster.


I certainly don't want to stir up but it is a curious issue. Is it true that IM won't install Porsche ogos to their cars?
What I was trying to ask about "legal" is this: I have designed a Lasered Metal Sign that contains the word PORSCHE in a text font that is very simular to Porsche text. The sign says Porsche Garage. I would like to make and sell these to Porsche fanatics.

What I want to know is if all this Badgeing/Logos can be made then can I make and sell these signs with out getting sued by Porsche?

I see the Porsche name all over e-bay in the form of stickers banners etc.
I ordered a black tactical canvas bag from Land's End for tools in my Speedster - they called and said they could not put PORSCHE or SPEEDSTER or 356 (or combination) on it. Even told them it was for my daughter Porsche --- that other daughter Mercedes had one with her name on it. Answer was still NO - they refunded my $. Their web site just say "Please note: requests for monograms with profane or objectionable words or phrases will not be honored." There is a # they list that you can call about monogramming questions.
Well if i was an Attourney or in that tax bracket then I would not even consider making these for the little bit of money I could possibly earn for my art work. Being a car guy I just thoug it was a cool design to hang on my garage wall.

How do all the venders that make the emblems get away with it?
I had it explained this way:

You can buy original, authentic Porsche insignia, direct from Porsche or an authorized distributor, and put them on yourself. (They are damned expensive, I'll tell you, but if genuine, are in fact gold plated.) The commercial builders can and do supply these items but are not supposed to install them, although I guess we know how that works. They would just say that you (the owner) put the insignia on. I believe this restriction extends to the "PORSCHE" name only, as "Speedster" in any form or script is not a trade name, but a generic description of a form or style. Much like the word "Coupe" and "Spyder". There were (before Porsche came along) and have continued to be many other cars that were called "Speedster" or "Spyder". Likewise, I'd think just numbers, e.g., "1600", would be as generic as they come. But "Porsche" and the crest and such would all be subject to the proprietary interests of the company, if they would choose to have any. I have heard of no stories about anybody (private owners) getting called for this, but maybe some trouble in the past w/ commercial builders. Many after-market companies make all sorts of things w/ Porsche crest on their stuff, and I would suppose they pay a license fee or royalty or some such in order to do so. If you buy that insignia, then you pay your royalty fee in the purchase price, I guess.

The deal comes in hard at the point where a builder might advertise that he makes a Porsche this or that, so no words or pictures of their products w/ the private Porsche stuff is ever shown. Again, they can show "Speedster" because Porsche does not own that.

FWIW, and IMHO, as it was explaind to me (AIWETM -?-).
Tom, the shape(ie the 'Design') of the Porsch Speedster is just as copy-righted as the name - think trying to make a coke-shaped bottle with a similar product in it? For a variety of reasons, Porsche have not chosen to chase either manufacturers or users (that's us!) of the design. One reason is that it is simply not worth their while. Another is that on on at least one occasion Ferry Porsche looked at a replica and said he thought it was a valid compliment. It's not the Porsche Company who are a problem; it can be a real issue with some 'genuine' owners......... Tough.

Regards, Mike.

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