To those interested, here is the same legal threat from another famous company. Any resemblance to such named company is only incidental.
To whom it may concern,
As you may have heard, Ford Motor Company no longer licenses the use of its trademarks or logos (either past or present iterations thereof) to any aftermarket company offering a Ford emblem or sticker. There were many reasons for this decision, most notably the fact that these Ford emblems were being used on restored/rebuilt Ford cars that were being rebuilt without genuine Ford engines or transmissions, and sometimes without a single genuine Ford replacement part.
We have found that there is an enormous amount of misinformation on the differences between a genuine Ford automobile and an old Ford rebuilt with non-Ford parts on the web, in auto forums, and other places. This misinformation is often propagated by the very same rebuilders that are marketing and selling off the good name that Ford has established for quality over the course of 120 years of building Ford cars. We cannot allow our company name (and reputation) to exist on a Ford that looks brand new, but in many cases sounds nothing like a Ford.
Effective immediately, it is no longer legally permissible to purchase Ford decals for application on a Ford car through Decals Unlimited. In addition, Ford has not authorized any other party to sell Ford decals, and any such decals are considered counterfeit. Ford will not be selling decals through our Parts Department or any other Ford channel.
Furthermore, it is a violation of our trademark rights for someone to market or sell a restored/rebuilt vehicle as a "Ford” automobile unless: (A) the vehicle uses ONLY genuine Ford replacement parts or (B) the non-Ford replacement parts used are incidental to the function of the vehicle and any such non-Ford parts used are specifically disclosed to the consumer. In either case, it must also be specifically and fully disclosed to the consumer that the piano has been rebuilt and by whom. Ford Motor company takes its reputation and this matter very seriously, and will enforce our rights with respect to any pianos marketed or sold in violation of the above to the fullest extent of the law.
We are asking anyone who comes across an automobile that they feel may be using counterfeit Ford decals, or which is being marketed and sold as a "Ford" piano in violation of our trademark rights to report the violation, including the vehicle and its location, by sending a message to
violations@ford.com. We have come across far too many purchasers of rebuilt Fords that do not realize that the key components of that vehicle were not manufactured by Ford, so we are taking these steps to better inform and protect the consumer.
Furthermore, any racing team that uses a likeness of a Ford automobile in any form, shall be subject to fines and legal prosecution. We cannot stand by and let some yahoo race team ruin our reputation by producing a car that runs better and faster than the ones we crank out on the assembly line.
Thank you for your attention in this matter of great importance to our company.
Sincerely,
Todd A. Butcher
Acting General Counsel (Member AFTRA)
Ford Motor Company and Divisions, Inc.
Original Message:
Sent: 6/8/2021 6:58:00 PM
From: Roshan Kakiya
Subject: RE: Steinway Letter to Dealers
December 11, 2018
To whom it may concern,
As you may have heard, Steinway & Sons no longer licenses the use of its trademarks or logos (either past or present iterations thereof) to Decals Unlimited for the creation of decals for use on the soundboards and fallboards of Steinway pianos. There were many reasons for this decision, most notably the fact that these decals were being used on restored/rebuilt Steinway pianos that were being rebuilt without genuine Steinway soundboards or wrestplanks/pinblocks, and sometimes without a single genuine Steinway replacement part.
We have found that there is an enormous amount of misinformation on the differences between a genuine Steinway piano and an old Steinway rebuilt with non-Steinway parts on the web, in piano forums, and other places. This misinformation is often propagated by the very same rebuilders that are marketing and selling off the good name that Steinway has established for quality over the course of 165 years of building pianos. We cannot allow our company name (and reputation) to exist on a piano that looks brand new, but in many cases sounds nothing like a Steinway.
Effective immediately, it is no longer legally permissible to purchase Steinway decals for application on a Steinway piano through Decals Unlimited. In addition, Steinway has not authorized any other party to sell Steinway decals, and any such decals are considered counterfeit. Steinway will not be selling decals through our Parts Department or any other Steinway channel.
Furthermore, it is a violation of our trademark rights for someone to market or sell a restored/rebuilt piano as a "Steinway" piano unless: (A) the piano uses ONLY genuine Steinway replacement parts or (B) the non-Steinway replacement parts used are incidental to the function of the piano and any such non-Steinway parts used are specifically disclosed to the consumer. In either case, it must also be specifically and fully disclosed to the consumer that the piano has been rebuilt and by whom. Steinway & Sons takes its reputation and this matter very seriously, and will enforce our rights with respect to any pianos marketed or sold in violation of the above to the fullest extent of the law.
We are asking anyone who comes across a piano that they feel may be using counterfeit Steinway & Sons decals, or which is being marketed and sold as a "Steinway" piano in violation of our trademark rights to report the violation, including the piano and its location, by sending a message to violations@steinway.com. We have come across far too many purchasers of rebuilt Steinways that do not realize that the key components of that piano were not manufactured by Steinway & Sons, so we are taking these steps to better inform and protect the consumer. Thank you for your attention in this matter of great importance to our company.
Sincerely,
Todd Brecher
Acting General Counsel
Steinway Musical Instruments, Inc.
Source: https://steinwaygrand.com/blogs/steinway-piano-blog/steinway-sons-threatens-legal-action-against-owners-of-its-pianos
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Roshan Kakiya
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Original Message:
Sent: 06-08-2021 18:25
From: Philip Jamison
Subject: Steinway Letter to Dealers
A piano dealer informed me that Steinway has threatened legal action against rebuilders and dealers selling reconditioned Steinway pianos that do not contain 100& Steinway parts. Anyone heard of this?
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Philip Jamison
Philip Jamison Pianos
WEST CHESTER PA
610-696-8449
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