[DJBackFat]

Greetings Everyone,
I have ran into a situation where I have a customer who wants me to print a MLB Team logo onto his shirts. The customer provided us with an email from the VP of Sales (authentic) of such team giving the person permission to use the logo on his shirts. I do not possess licensing to print this team logo. Is a consent from this kind of team authority figure good enough to keep me out of hot water if the cards fall not in my favor?

 

[Preston]

Greetings Everyone,
I have ran into a situation where I have a customer who wants me to print a MLB Team logo onto his shirts. The customer provided us with an email from the VP of Sales (authentic) of such team giving the person permission to use the logo on his shirts. I do not possess licensing to print this team logo. Is a consent from this kind of team authority figure good enough to keep me out of hot water if the cards fall not in my favor?

That is an "on the fence" situation that could fall either way.

My understanding is that the MLB organization controls the use of any Team Logo so I am not sure a VP of Sales for a team has the authority to grant the use of the team logo. I would call them and find out. We make league teams pay for licensed shirts that we get from Majestic.

 

[PatWibble]

Email the vp and ask him if you have permission to print the shirts for your customer. Explain that it could be your neck (or business)on the line.

Without knowing what use your customer is putting the shirt to it is difficult to answer correctly. Is it workwear/promotional or is it for resale? I am guessing that he would only need a licence if he were using it on goods for resale.

Obviously take reasonable steps to cover your backside, ask your customer to sign a disclaimer. Sports teams do like to protect their branding, but they also rely on a good deal of fan/affiliate activity. They sometimes allow consent for them to use their logo.

 

[kimura-mma]

What is your customer using the shirts for?

I would be skeptical about the VP of Sales. He/she would not have the authority to permit you to print the logo on merchandise. The league's licensing department would be the appropriate people to contact. Licensing is governed by the collective bargaining agreement. Perhaps the VP's word is legit. But I would do some more research and ask more questions.