New MG dealer selling conterfeit jackets

[Offcamber1]

Yes, those are counterfeit as well as God awful looking.

It looks good on you though!

[elvisboy77]

At least he is a Moto Guzzi Dealer and not some guys selling parts and doing nothing to support the marque.

My gripe is not with the dealer. They are trying.  It's the US office that seems to be the issue. At least according to one dealer.  So my point is, Guzzi corporate cannot seem to even provide ordering information for their legitimate accessories......

[Yukonica]

Quality. It isn't as much where it is built as much as it is who is monitoring the process.
For example: my leathers are off the shelf theoretically top-end stuff from a long established German manufacturer.
The gloves, made in Germany, fit like gloves and wear like iron. The two piece touring suit that I believed was made to Held standards was sewn in a country north west of India under Held inspection. The leather is supple, the sewing is good but for a thousand dollars I'd expect the fittings (buckle eyelets specifically) to have Held together longer (pun intended).
Their (EU mfg.) gloves I'd buy over and over. The suit... I should have spent my coins with Langlitz.

[ajwood]

If this post started out telling us what MG says about their policy, then I'd believe it.

[Testarossa]

And where I come from, 100% is a normal dealer mark-up. I don't see an issue here.

[Arizona Wayne]

There might be and I stress might be a trademark/ copyright infringement but the jacket itself, if not already being made by MG would not be counterfeit.

Just because something isn't made in Italy doesn't mean it can't be genuine MG or properly licensed product.

MG can take of itself.

Before accusing a dealer is doing this, better be darn sure or showing face around there might be complicated and word travels. Could find yourself persona non grata at a bunch of dealers.

Copyright has a certain lifespan.  After that anyone can use the Moto Guzzi name.  MG have been around for decades now so I doubt there is still a copyright infringement, unless this jacket is closely comparable to a current factory jacket for sale.  Looking at this jacket, I doubt that very much.

[Kev m]

I believe it's unlicensed use of a legally registered trademark, not copyright infringement, but that's semantics.

[Two Checks]

I still haven't seen an answer to the qestion of how do we KNOW these are bogus?

[Kev m]

I still haven't seen an answer to the qestion of how do we KNOW these are bogus?

If they are not listed in any of the dealer literature/catalogs etc. then they are most certainly bogus.

And none of the dealers in this thread have stepped in to say they think they are licensed products.

So the odds are good they are not.

[redrider]

So, I tart up my plain black jacket with some patches and logos. Is it now counterfeit? Not if it does not mimic exactly an offering from a -fill in the blank- manufacturer. Life is short, ride far.

[charlie b]

So, Guzzi owns the rights to their brand logos.  No brainer.  And, yes, copyrights have to be re-registered after a period of time.  Trademarks do not.  Most companies use the trademark criteria since that covers a much broader ground.

An individual can do anything they want with those logos.  They can print them, apply to their bike, clothes, etc, etc.

Once you SELL them then you have to follow the rules.  If you buy 100 embroidered logos from MG then you can apply them to anything and then sell that item, as long as you do not call the item an MG item.  Hanging it on the shelf does not do that.  Putting up a display that says "authentic MG jackets" (or any similar language that would indicate it was a licensed MG product) would be a violation.

And, you can violate all the rules you want as long as the parent company does not protest.  And, if they have a history of not protesting such violations, you can use that as 'protection' from lawsuit as well.  Protecting a trademark/copyright is a difficult and time consuming process.

Any of the corporate lawyers can correct me if they so desire.  We've been through this with our business so I can just scratch the surface of such law.

[rocker59]

I still haven't seen an answer to the qestion of how do we KNOW these are bogus?

Because I have two eyes. And because I'm not an argumentative old curmudgeon. Anyone who has been around this marque long enough has seen these counterfeit all over the Internet. Unfortunately Guzzi and now Piaggio don't do much to enforce brand licensing.

I'll bet my moderators ban hammer that the jacket shown above is not a licensed Moto Guzzi product.

[rocker59]

So, Guzzi owns the rights to their brand logos.  No brainer.  And, yes, copyrights have to be re-registered after a period of time.  Trademarks do not.  Most companies use the trademark criteria since that covers a much broader ground.

An individual can do anything they want with those logos.  They can print them, apply to their bike, clothes, etc, etc.

Once you SELL them then you have to follow the rules.  If you buy 100 embroidered logos from MG then you can apply them to anything and then sell that item, as long as you do not call the item an MG item.  Hanging it on the shelf does not do that.  Putting up a display that says "authentic MG jackets" (or any similar language that would indicate it was a licensed MG product) would be a violation.

And, you can violate all the rules you want as long as the parent company does not protest.  And, if they have a history of not protesting such violations, you can use that as 'protection' from lawsuit as well.  Protecting a trademark/copyright is a difficult and time consuming process.

Any of the corporate lawyers can correct me if they so desire.  We've been through this with our business so I can just scratch the surface of such law.

I'm not a corporate lawyer but you are correct

[sib]

As long as we're going for "the look", we may want to consider the following:

http://www.sears.com/seg-men-s-leather-vest-size-large/p-SPM7703383726?prdNo=6&blockNo=6&blockType=G6

Update:  here are better pics:

http://www.sears.com/closeoutzone-genuine-leather-biker-vest-42-patches-snaps/p-0000000000000002287300000000000011699002P?sid=IMx20120601x002000-MPClothingShoesJewelry-activeusersFBX

[old as dirt 2]

Copyright has a certain lifespan.  After that anyone can use the Moto Guzzi name.  MG have been around for decades now so I doubt there is still a copyright infringement, unless this jacket is closely comparable to a current factory jacket for sale.  Looking at this jacket, I doubt that very much.

not true. HD has sued and won many of copyright infringements.

[Aaron D.]

Harley and Indian both vigorously pursue anyone selling unlicensed products. And most people bemoan the fact, especially those who have sold Indian motorcycle parts for many years.

[Triple Jim]

As long as we're going for "the look", we may want to consider the following:

http://www.sears.com/seg-men-s-leather-vest-size-large/p-SPM7703383726?prdNo=6&blockNo=6&blockType=G6

Did you notice the patch in the upper right of the right blurry photo?  (upper left to the wearer)

[rocker59]

Copyright has a certain lifespan.  After that anyone can use the Moto Guzzi name.  MG have been around for decades now so I doubt there is still a copyright infringement, unless this jacket is closely comparable to a current factory jacket for sale.  Looking at this jacket, I doubt that very much.

Yeah, I heard Harley had close down its legal department because its trademark and licensing had run out. Haha!

[Mike Harper]

If Moto Guzzi had anything similar AND they actually cared then it would seem that all the T shirt printers would have been in big trouble long long ago much less this jacket.  Nice looking jacket at a reasonable price, what does anybody care what MG does?.

A couple of years ago there was a Chinese guy that copied our T shirt logo and was selling Harper's T shirts on Ebay.  I wasn't happy about it but it would have been ridiculously expensive to initiate an international lawsuit for copyright infringement over a T shirt.

The better way was that I contacted that person and told him that if he was the type of person that would steal another persons logo the least he could do is do it right and put our phone number on them.  It worked and he did.  Free advertising, No legal bills or hassle, Problem solved.

Like I said, at least he is a Guzzi dealer and trying to help the marque's image and not some  jerk parting out Guzzi's on ebay and taking bikes out of circulation.

[oldbike54]

Yeah, I heard Harley had close down its legal department because its trademark and licensing had run out. Haha!

 My nephew the HD salesman almost exclusively wears HD branded clothing . A few years back he was sans Harley for a few months , which prompted me to ask if this was going to require an entire new wardrobe 

  Dusty

[bpreynolds]

If Moto Guzzi had anything similar AND they actually cared then it would seem that all the T shirt printers would have been in big trouble long long ago much less this jacket.  Nice looking jacket at a reasonable price, what does anybody care what MG does?.

A couple of years ago there was a Chinese guy that copied our T shirt logo and was selling Harper's T shirts on Ebay.  I wasn't happy about it but it would have been ridiculously expensive to initiate an international lawsuit for copyright infringement over a T shirt.

The better way was that I contacted that person and told him that if he was the type of person that would steal another persons logo the least he could do is do it right and put our phone number on them.  It worked and he did.  Free advertising, No legal bills or hassle, Problem solved.

Like I said, at least he is a Guzzi dealer and trying to help the marque's image and not some  jerk parting out Guzzi's on ebay and taking bikes out of circulation.

 :1:
Now I'm not trying to say anything about anybody, but I swear sometimes, sometimes I say, it seems like, I dunno, maybe we just sorta kinda sorta occasionally, well rarely perhaps, occurring less to more frequently vice-versa, here and there some of us get upset about well, nothing.   

[oldbike54]

:1:
Now I'm not trying to say anything about anybody, but I swear sometimes, sometimes I say, it seems like, I dunno, maybe we just sorta kinda sorta occasionally, well rarely perhaps, occurring less to more frequently vice-versa, here and there some of us get upset about well, nothing.   

  :1: :1: :1:  
 
 Lots of wisdom here folks 


  Dusty

[Triple Jim]

The better way was that I contacted that person and told him that if he was the type of person that would steal another persons logo the least he could do is do it right and put our phone number on them.  It worked and he did.  Free advertising, No legal bills or hassle, Problem solved.

That's hilarious!  Good thinking.

[charlie b]

not true. HD has sued and won many of copyright infringements.

Copyrights do have limited lifespans, but, they can be re-registered fairly easily.

[O]

Oh my goodness!  Surely this is the beginning of the end of our beloved Moto Guzzi!  How will they survive in Mandello?  Also, I'm pretty sure the sky is falling! 

[sturgeon]

Winter boredom setting in early this year? 

[Two Checks]

Because I have two eyes. And because I'm not an argumentative old curmudgeon. Anyone who has been around this marque long enough has seen these counterfeit all over the Internet. Unfortunately Guzzi and now Piaggio don't do much to enforce brand licensing.

I'll bet my moderators ban hammer that the jacket shown above is not a licensed Moto Guzzi product.

So you admit you don't know. Not arguing but stating fact.

[canuguzzi]

Copyrights do have limited lifespans, but, they can be re-registered fairly easily.

If you don't protect your copywriter, after knowing others are infringing, it makes the copyright rather worthless.

Like leaving your bike parked in some high traffic area with the key in the ignition while you go on vacation. Someone else should worry about it?

[Arizona Wayne]

If you don't protect your copywriter, after knowing others are infringing, it makes the copyright rather worthless.

Like leaving your bike parked in some high traffic area with the key in the ignition while you go on vacation. Someone else should worry about it?

It is free advertising and unless your anal like Harley Davidson(who makes more $ on their clothing than MC sales) you let it slide.   

[davedel44]

Winter boredom setting in early this year? 

Blame it on Super El Nino.

Dave
Galveston