-
Met Police Logo. You’re nicked!
Hi Guys,
We have been asked to produce some signs to go into the toilet areas of various restaurants in the O2 arena.
The signs are of the "Don’t take drugs" ilk and the client wants to have the Met police logo at the top of each one.
I have spoken to the met police press liaison officer and the local station "Greenwich". Neither were very helpful at all. The press liasion officer at new Scotland yard simpy said no basically and wanted to end the conversation there.
I have passed that message back to my client who is adamant about the use of the logo.
Client says they will take responsibility for the reproduction and manufacture of the signs but the buck stops with me really. I would have to reproduce the logo, which i guess is illegal then i would print the logo and then stick that logo to a sign which would then be invoiced for by my company.
What to do?
-
16 Replies
-
I have done business in the past with the Met. When they say no about their ‘corporate branding’ they generally mean it. I would suggest another chat with the client. The Met will not look favourably om people using their logos etc without permission.
Just my opinion after spending many hours with their marketing dept.Peter
-
If you copy the logo illegally some bright spark* might wonder what else you do illegally.
__________
*such a thing as a dull spark? -
If the Met Police haven’t asked for the signs to go up as part of a drug awareness campaign / clampdown or something I would say it’s a complete no-no.
Can’t believe your clients arrogance (chat.)
-
i know its late but i have done 20 t-shirts for a drama show called …. …. !!
ssshhhh… no no.. wont tell :)) also done some posters., with no problems.
As long as you copy the ”ORIGINAL” artwork (remember law says dont copy but change at least %30, and its yours.) add their logo , add crimestoppers number there you go 🙂
BUT DONT PUT ANYTHING DISPLAYING CUSTOMERS ADDRESS/LOGO/NUMBER and so on. -
quote Berkay:i know its late but i have done 20 t-shirts for a drama show called …. …. !!
ssshhhh… no no.. wont tell :)) also done some posters., with no problems.
As long as you copy the ”ORIGINAL” artwork (remember law says dont copy but change at least %30, and its yours.) add their logo , add crimestoppers number there you go 🙂
BUT DONT PUT ANYTHING DISPLAYING CUSTOMERS ADDRESS/LOGO/NUMBER and so on.Changing the 30% may be all well and good in the eyes of copyright lawyers – but ‘passing off’ a fake logo designed with the sole purpose of fooling the public into thinking it IS the Met’s is maybe just as bad as copying the real deal in their eyes. Certainly may be LEGAL – but do you want them breathing down your neck and maybe doing a ‘we were tipped off’ siezure of all the PC’s and equipment to ‘check’ if they have been used in any fraudulate copying scams? 😉
-
Correct. Passing off is not really something you want to be accused of doing. Damages etc start to rear their head. This attitude of change % etc of the logo really is misguided. All corporations including The Met have expensive legal teams who will rip the likes of us and our clients into shreds for less then we are discussing here. I wouldn’t lose my business just to satisfy a client (such as here) who wants to have an apparent endorsement from the Met without actually receiving that endorsement. You can go on forever on this subject regarding liability in addition to copyright laws. The question was aimed directly at using The Mets logos without their permission. Again, advice on this particular matter, They protect the branding very carefully. I have spent many hours with them in the past putting together a project which used their logo. They do not allow it’s use to everyone and will definitely scrutinise any requests to do so before giving permission. Just my pennies worth from personal experience.
Peter
🙄 🙄 -
I wouldn’t be doing anything to get the police off side.
Go back to your client and get him to get the deal authorised. Sounds to me that he’s had this great idea, and want you to waste your time to get it happening. Unless your charging for your time, its not costing your client a dime for all your time wasted.
As has been said, the police anywhere have a pretty good interpretation of the word ‘no’. If they find the something produced implying their involvement, without permission, they will not take kindly to the idea.
I do a lot of charity work, and the police do not allow their logo used in every situation. They have rules and standards to follow too.
-
It only takes a team of officers doing a VLP ( visiting licenced premises )on the address, which they can do without notice, to see the posters and if they don’t recognise them they will take them down and investigate.
I use to spend entire shifts doing this, checking pubs, clubs etc and part of the check was to have a look in the toilets for drug paraphernalia/users. That’s when they would be spotted.
Really not worth it.
-
Its not just the Met Police you are dealing with, their logo/crest come under Crown Copyright and they’re a nightmare to deal with… Tread Carefully even if its in every ones best interests i.e. "drug abuse prevention"
-
Hello Guys,
I was away over the weekend hence the lack of response on my part.
Just wanted to say thanks for all the advice. I have put the ball back in my clients court. Told him I’d make some anti drugs signs but if he wanted the police logo it had to come from Scotland yard. Explained all the details regarding copyright laws and the like but to no avail.
He is slightly pissed with that. Even said he would get another sign company involved to make his signs in future. This may be a problem for me as the work we did for him alone this year so far has topped £40k.
Watch this space i guess.
-
Hmmm, could have him for incitement to commit fraud / misrepresent the crown?
-
Sounds like your client is being a bit of a PITA to say the least – personally I cant see why he is so dead set on having the logo on the posters for something the MET obviously arent endorsing anyway ???
I would stick to my guns and say you have spoken to the MET and they have said no way, and the only way you can produce the signs is if he gets permission from them himself.
-
quote Brad Mulock:Hello Guys,
This may be a problem for me as the work we did for him alone this year so far has topped £40k.
Watch this space i guess.
Soon blow that on a civil case with the boys in blue. Obviously an important customer but obviously a bully as well. Stick to your guns my friend.
Peter
-
:thanks2:
-
Your Terms & Conditions of trading should make it clear that you are producing work on the instruction of your customer and that it is the customer’s obligation to comply with all copyright and licensing laws regarding any logos, pictures, images etc.
Peter
-
Just thought i’d give you all an update.
All’s well that ends well.
I made him some signs without the logo. Replaced the met logo with his own company logo and rejigged the layout slightly. (just finished reading the mike stevens book, mastering layout"
He was a little upset when he saw them installed without the met logo but had now come round to our way of thinking. Just received two more orders from him this morning for various signage.
Looks like he got over it.
The restaurant manager much prefers the new signs over the original met police ones so looks like everyone is happy.
thanks for all your advice guys.
Log in to reply.