How far do copyrights go?

[kevinr]

I know the colleges and universities have copyrights to their name, symbols, mascots, etc. Can you use the the university name in a plaque or stand that is intended to show that the person is a fan or alumi? I would guess that the answer is no if the official font and colors are used but what about a generic font? What if the stand for instance had nothing on it but the name of the school?

I have looked at many copyright sites but they are too general to answer this question. (Unless, I am just too dumb to know the obvious). Can anyone answer this or know somewhere this is addressed?

[chodges]

Go to this link ...
http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ15a.html#works

Scroll down just a bit, and you'll find what you are looking for.

[kevinr]

I think my post title is alittle misleading. The site you reference Charlie is good for range of dates that copyrights are good for, but my main question, is how far reaching is a copyright. For instance, every company's name is copyrighted as well as their logo or symbol. Can you use for example their name on something for sale. Generally this would be for an employee or in the case of a college or university, the name of the school is used on a plaque or say for instance a stand that is produced to display something at a wedding for flowers or cake. Grooms like to have their school name on things to show that they are student, graduate, fan, etc. Is that totally taboo? I can write something for sale like a book that references a name but you don't have to pay anything to use it (but you do have to reference that it is copyrighted). If you construct something for sale that has a company or school name of it, can you sell it without being in infringement? What if the color or font is generic? and not the ones used in their signs?

[dray]

My understanding on it is that you can use it for your own wall etc, but you cant make and sell copywrited items. Again this is just my understanding on it.

[jsfrost]

The site Charlie references specifically states that names are not copyritable, although they may be trademark protected. And that makes sense, since copyrite is intended to protect authors of creations more complex than a short sequence of words or a few brush strokes. Once a name exists it is the only clear way to reference the entity the name represents.

While you can't make and sell copyrited Items, it is my understanding that you are free to use a school or company name (not Logo) on a product for sale. Books and plays will often use real names and places, and are not infringing on the copywrite of others. I can not make and sell a new CNC tool using the Shopbot name, but I think I could lable product I produce as made on a Shopbot or write a play about running a Shopbot.

But the lines do get fuzzy.

[kevinr]

Thanks, Jim. I used copyright to mean trademark which has some different rules governoring them. I was confusing the two. Things do get fuzzy, and the last thing I want to do is have someone knocking on my door telling me to stop something. I also know you can get bully'd by schools and companies. A friend used architectural in his company name (he is a builder). Someone from the state (Texas) informed him by letter that he had to stop immediately (An architect had turned him in). He hired an attorney because he was using it properly and sited many other companies with architectural in it. The state backed down. Not really the same, but you have to know. I guess in the end I will need to seek guidance from an attorney.

[thewoodcrafter]

I think your right, ask a trademark/patent attorney.