Copyrighted Leaders Jerseys

[latrinus]

Is it true that ASO owns the copyright on Yellow, Polka, White and Green?

 

[El Pistolero]

No, they don't. Plenty of races have a yellow jersey as leaders jersey.

 

[Anonymous]

I dont see how its possible to copyright a colour of jersey. If so Sky should have copyrighted black. Would have solved a lot of this years problems.

the theory that they could have the copyright on white jerseys is just silliness.

 

[latrinus]

An event in South Africa were told (not by ASO) to distance itself from the so-called TdF copyright on certain leader's jerseys. See the jerseys on http://www.tourdeboland.co.za

 

[Night Rider]

Is it true that ASO owns the copyright on Yellow, Polka, White and Green?

Do you mean Trademark or Copyright?

For instance, you can't make a direct copy of the actual race yellow jersey, that's copyright.

Can any race use the yellow jersey concept? That's trademark. Think 'yellow pages' (actaully fits in both copyright and trademark categories)

Yes, ASO owns the copyright on the actual jerseys they produce, but I don't think they have a registered Trademark of 'Yellew Jersey' per se.

 

[madcow]

I remember reading an article last year about Park Tools being granted a trademark on their blue color, as it applies to tools. In the article, I believe it said that was the first time a color has been successfully trademarked.

 

[Mambo95]

I remember reading an article last year about Park Tools being granted a trademark on their blue color, as it applies to tools. In the article, I believe it said that was the first time a color has been successfully trademarked.

Yeah, you can trademark colours. You have to have a very strong link between the company/product and it's only for very specific uses. There aren't many colour trademarks (maybe about 100), but the Tour would almost certainly be able to get one if they wanted (they haven't though).

Here's a list of them: http://www.copat.de/markenformen/Farbmarken2007.pdf

 

[Anonymous]

Yeah, you can trademark colours. You have to have a very strong link between the company/product and it's only for very specific uses. There aren't many colour trademarks (maybe about 100), but the Tour would almost certainly be able to get one if they wanted (they haven't though).

Here's a list of them: http://www.copat.de/markenformen/Farbmarken2007.pdf

But as you say, it has to be very specific uses etc, for instance i beleive flymo have the orange coloour protected in this country, when used specifically on lawnmowers or garden tools, as obviously a company producing lawnmowers in the same colour as flymo is doing so to try and benefit from that colour association.

but there is precedent for that, flymo have built up a reputation as a brand, flymo have always used a certain colour, there is something there to protect.

The ASO would have a very hard job protecting predominantly yellow as a cycle shirt colour. Polka dot yes, that is immediately identifyable as the king of the mountains, and anyone producing a cycle shirt in that design is clearly trying to benefit from the tours design, but yellow, nah. Dont think it would hold.

 

[latrinus]

Le Coq back with Tour

After long radio silence: It all seems to fit in....Le Coq Sportif is back with TdF, and former seemed worried that ASO / Nike unhappy were any event in our country to mimic the look of TdF jerseys under LCS sponsorship.

http://www.letour.fr/2011/TDF/COURSE/us/actus.html#zone168426

Also, scanning through historic footage, it is quite special that LA never donned a LCS-emblazoned maiilot jaune, but always a Nike-swooshed? (Or am I mistaken?)

 

[Anonymous]

I remember reading an article last year about Park Tools being granted a trademark on their blue color, as it applies to tools. In the article, I believe it said that was the first time a color has been successfully trademarked.

I believe Flymo trademarked a certain shade of orange many many years ago. Other manufacturs just do a orange that is close but not the same.

i think black and decker have their colour combo covered as well

Heinz also have their turquoise colour covered.

So certainly not the first.

 

[kjetilraknerud]

On a side note. Copyrights can't be registered, at least not in Europe - I don't know about american copyright laws. A copyright exists from the moment a new work is created.

A trademark on the other hand, is registerable - as is certain types of design. And of course patents. This is what makes the copyright stand out in the fauna of intellectual property rights.

 

[The_Z_man]

On another side note, does this mean LCS getting back into cycling gear?

 

[latrinus]

did they?

On another side note, does this mean LCS getting back into cycling gear?

...get back into gear, now they're back with ASO?

 

[elfed68]

I'm sure it's the yellow jersey's pantone that they've copyrighted from being used in other races.
The ToC leader's jersey was more yellow if that makes sense, so different pantone.