I got an email from a design engineer whos company makes
chassies for these replicas. He said he’s interested in working with me to obtain a complete model of a 427 Cobra. He has the chassy but needs a body. He says his company, http://www.big-w.com/ ,is the parent company of Premier Motor Sports, which I haven’t found on the net but he gave me other contact info. He’s actually the second guy from this company to contact me about this.
My question is what are the leagal issues here? I mean his company makes replicas of a car who’s rights are owned by another company right? and I would be working with them. What’s my liability? Should I see if they are licensed by Shelby American, makers of the real Cobra? Also what are my rights to my work once combined with theirs?
I would really appreciate your advice on this guys
Thank you.
Well, from my point of view you are a graphics designer and these guys are asking from you to make a “picture” of some car… As I see it, there is no way you are breaking any law here… If they manufacture replicas of that car with out the consent of the original manufacturer, it’s their problem, not yours and ofcourse that doesn’t instantly make you guilty as well…
At least that’s how things work here… But I don’t know for sure, cause actually I don’t know how the laws work in other countries…
Should I see if they are licensed by Shelby American, makers of the real Cobra?
I think you should check that, but only to make sure about their liability towards you… If they are proven to be a legitimate company, then you can safely bet that they’ll keep their promises towards you… But in the opposite case, I wouldn’t want to do business with them… Also in case you proceed with them, I would suggest to ask them sign some kind of a contract and even perhaps get some money in advance…
Also what are my rights to my work once combined with theirs?
I always thought, a work, once copyrighted, is always copyrighted… (at least until the copyright expires…)
In any case better consult a real lawyer, before you do anything…
The way I see it, he shall send you an order, you do the work, you send an invoice, he pays. I do such work also and I see myself as a supplier and I´m only responsible for the quality of what I do and not for what others do with it.
This can´t be always translated since I do not look on the ethical aspect, but in this case I see nothing wrong.
Well, I called Shelby Automobiles Inc. The company is not authorized to make Cobra replicas. So I’m not going to do business with them. This could have been my first commision but hey, it’s only money.
well personally i don’t know what i would have done in your situation but i know i wouldn’t want to do anything without understanding what i was doing.
like if someone wanted me to design some cool gun in 3d, then i would ask why, if it was for a magazine or game or somthing, yeah fine. but if it was for a REAL gun then noway!!
if i had doubts about somthing as you did, then i wouldn’t be able to ignore them, if i didn’t have doubts then i would never feel guilty.
its the people that have the doubt, then continue anyway that i don’t like LOL
