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Airline "banners" and copyrights

Jeff Thomas

By Jeff Thomas,
in VATSIM Webmasters

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Jeff Thomas

Jeff Thomas

Posted
Posted

So we had a member of zau create a really cool animated banner that rotates through a bunch of real world airline logo images.

 

My question is does anyone know if that is "legal" and if the airlines frown on that? I would hate for me or Joe to get a nasty gram from American, Southwest, et. al.

 

Thanks.

Jeff Thomas

VP-IT

https://joinava.org

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Kyle Ramsey 810181

Kyle Ramsey 810181

Posted
Posted

Is it legal? It is a civil matter mostly, not criminal (unless fraud is involved), but unless you have written permission from the logo/artwork owner, you shouldn't use their property.

 

The other side is enforcement, and the owners of those trademarks own that. Some are more voracious than others, so I expect if you displayed them all you could expect a few C&D letters from legal departments within the first few months.

 

With regard to VATSIM, we hold in our sweaty palms written docomeentation from Northwest and all their subsideries, i.e. Mesaba, etc., to cease and desist from ever displaying any of their artwork anywhere (thus there are no NWA or Mesaba VATSIM VA Partners). So to be in compliance with that order, do not display any of NWA's logos or other artwork on any site related to VATSIM, which includes all facility sites, even those not specifically and directly owned by VATSIM.

Kyle Ramsey

 

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  • 4 months later...
Florian Harms

Florian Harms

Posted
Posted

Airline logos are definitely under copyright. this is why a few airlines shoot with their legal departments on foreign usages. I have talked with a major airline marketing manager a few days ago, and he simply said, it is up to their marketing and legal department.

But on the other hand: if they really would take that 100%, no livery would be possible.

 

Flo

Florian Harms

VATSIM Europe Division / DCRM

Supervisor

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Miguel Frias

Miguel Frias

Posted
Posted

As usual this is twofold. Indeed it is a copyright infringement or at least unauthorized usage. However, if the VA doesn't use it for money, then I don't see the real-life airline botherings about it. They can, however, ask you to remove banners/etc from websites. As for livery, it's used personally on each computer so not a problem.

 

That is why we have sought approval from our real-life counterpart (EuroAtlantic Airways) in order to make sure everyone has a smile on their face.

 

Miguel

Miguel Frias

Senior Instructor (I3) & Certified Pilot (P4), ZLA I-11 graduate

Portugal vACC Training Director (ACCPT2), VATEUD Operations Director (VATEUD8)

Portugal vACC, VATEUD, VATSIM

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