[jrsone]

I'm just starting out and I've had some requests for shirts with logos from defunct retailers.

If a company has been out of business for several years, Trademarkia shows that the TM has been abandoned or cancelled, could I print that logo on a shirt?

For example, Chess King, Camelot Music among others.

Thanks for the help.

 

[into the T]

good question

hopefully others more versed in this area (like kimura-mma) will see this and input

if you are in the usa, you can double-check via uspto database search
camelot music

 

[PatWibble]

The trademark might be defunct but there is a good chance that somebody still owns the copyright to the logo design, which could still get you into trouble.

Trademark and copyright are two different things under UK law and I can't see that US law wouldn't treat them differently as well.

 

[into the T]

i think that second link in my post above is for the logo, not the company name

it does seem to indicate it is no longer owned by anybody

 

[DrivingZiggy]

Since you brought up Chess King--which was my favorite!--I believe they were bought by what is now "Express." If you can't find whether or not that particular logo is no longer protected, maybe you can find something by checking Express.