Most of you have not been around here long enough to remember the legal wrangling that took place between mercedesshop and Daimler-Chrysler. Yes, the site was almost shut down because they used mercedes in the name and they are definitely not allowed to use the trademark 3 pointed star. They managed to stay open because the site was started as a non-profit support forum and the parts business was added later only to defray the costs of web site operation. If it had been intended as a profit making sales site, it would have been shut down for use of the Mercedes name. Please consider that your use of the official star in combination with the Mercedesshop.com name may cause trouble for the site owners, not us personally. And who is going to put up the money for a legal defense if the site owners get sued by Daimler-Chrysler?

Fastlane is not who you need to check with about this - Phil just sells parts. You want to talk to Bill Wood (webmaster) or Donnie Drummonds (Benzmac) who actually own the site and get their permission for use of the mercedesshop.com name.

Finally, no offense guys, but I'm not wild about the designs on the last couple pages. Without the entire wrench, it's difficult to realize that it is indeed a wrench. And the globe loses much of its impact when obscured by the star and wrench head. Since R Leo makes his living as a graphic artist, let's see what he can come up with. Now that we seem to have enough interest, maybe he can create a few designs and put them up as a poll so we can vote on them.

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Rick Miley
2014 Tesla Model S
2018 Tesla Model 3
2017 Nissan LEAF
Former MB: 99 E300, 86 190E 2.3, 87 300E, 80 240D, 82 204D Euro
Chain Elongation References

Taking what Mr. Miley just said into consideration, we should suspend all badge design effors till the road is cleared to go ahead and use both mercedesshop.com and the three pointed star on the badge.

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1999 Mercedes-Benz S600, 103K miles - garage queen
1988 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL, 89K miles - daily driver
2007 Hyundai Sonata Limited, 31K - daily driver

Amen!

Didn't you read the 1st page? We have the go ahead from the webmaster. As to MB well they wont know. Use the star don't make any money they will never know or care. I remember when they tried to shut this site down, they shut the Canadian site down for awhile to.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Yes, I did read the first page and it wasn't there. Here's what R Leo said on the third page:
Now, as for this:
They certainly knew about this web site when it was in its infancy. And they are very protective of their trademarks. It doesn't really matter, since Bill has reserved the right to approve the design, and I'm sure he won't let us do anything illegal.

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Rick Miley
2014 Tesla Model S
2018 Tesla Model 3
2017 Nissan LEAF
Former MB: 99 E300, 86 190E 2.3, 87 300E, 80 240D, 82 204D Euro
Chain Elongation References

As stated in an earlier post, we've gotten the go-ahead from Bill Wood to use the Mercedesshop.com name with the proviso that any badge we do using the name has to be approved by them before production and, that they have rights to any later production and distribution.

As far as graphic ideas, I say "the more, the merrier." Please comp your ideas and post them. I'll come up with a few too, and then, I take what I think are the best candidates for production to a tight comp and post a poll of the finalists. The top two or three vote-getters from the poll will be submitted to Bill and Donnie for final selection and an official 'okey-dokey.

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

This would be hot with a ring ring instead of the black and white lettering as opposed to gray.. either way I want one...

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#dieselFLEET
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'97 E300
'99 E300

So we have Bill's approval so we can proceed right?

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1999 Mercedes-Benz S600, 103K miles - garage queen
1988 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL, 89K miles - daily driver
2007 Hyundai Sonata Limited, 31K - daily driver

I like that idea "spark free".

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'83 240D with 617.952 and 2.88
'01 VW Beetle TDI
'05 Jeep Liberty CRD
'89 Toyota 4x4, needs 2L-T
'78 280Z with L28ET - 12.86@110
Oil Burner Kartel #35

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b1...oD/bioclip.jpg

Yes, we do have bill's approval. Trust me when I say I would not seek to tread on the feet of those who support us, I've run non-profit websites too, and I know the challenges. Any further action would be conditioned on his approval.

That said, maybe Bill can offer some insight into this logo business. His website uses the mercedes name, and is allowed to exist because it is not a business. If we buy these badges, and distribute them at cost + shipping, its still not a business, and we should still be in the clear.

What I don't want to do is get bogged down in subtleties and have nothing come of this. I want a badge. The other car clubs do it, and they haven't all been razzed to the ground by MB firemen, so there has to be a way to do it free and clear.

I'm at work right now, but I'll rework my design with the 'nut' instead of the three pointed star, just to see how it looks, and try to emphasize the wrench some more.

And miley, I did do some preliminary designs that included the entire wrench and globe, but in the given space (less than three inches, round or oval) it was very hard to make them look like anything more than a smear. However, I'll go ahead and rework a few and post them to see what you think. In the confined space of a badge, certain concessions have to be made to create a meaningful image. But the skys the limit, really. I'll take another stab at it tonight.

Anyway, its just doodling, if anyone else wants to put out some designs or make suggestions, please do. The more the merrier, and we can take a few of the finished designs and make a poll out of them to see what the teeming millions want.

Peace,
Sam

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"That f***in' biodiesel is makin' me hungry."

1982 300TD Astral Silver w/ 250k (BIO BNZ)
2001 Aprilia SR50 Corsa Red w/ 5.5k (>100 MPG)

I love the idea of our own badge and like some of your design ideas. If you would like addtional help I'll offer my services. I have an advertising agency, with a couple of artist on staff, and can turn your concepts into what's called "camera ready art" or if you like I can turn my artist loose and work with you... it's the least I can do for all the help this forum has given me.

Les

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1980 300sd - Ivory, Tobacco Interior 130,000 miles
2003 Expedition

Where a calculator on the ENIAC is equipped with 18,000 vacuum tubes and weighs 30 tons, computers in the future may have only 1,000 vacuum tubes and weigh only 1.5 tons. - Popular Mechanics, 1949

Les,
Lucky boy, you've been elected.

Bring your guns to bear on the target and post the results here. Do not use the three-pointed star in the design and the name Mercedes-Benz™ must be trademarked.

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

Yes Les, lets keep that artwork coming! I'd like to see what a 'real' artist produces.

In case they are wondering, badges are usually 2.5" to 3", and can be round or oval (or any shape, but round and oval are the most common).

-sam

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"That f***in' biodiesel is makin' me hungry."

1982 300TD Astral Silver w/ 250k (BIO BNZ)
2001 Aprilia SR50 Corsa Red w/ 5.5k (>100 MPG)

OK, here's my addition to the badge art. This one is for the Damnyer-Chrysler logo headquarters approval department:

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1984 300D Turbo - 4-speed manual conversion, mid-level resto

1983 300D - parts car

1979 300TD Auto - Parts car.

1985 300D Auto - Wrecked/Parts.


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"If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there". Lewis Carrol

Ok, got a job ticket open and we're ready to roll. I'll probably need to talk to the badge maker to find out if there is additional charges for each color used, and how he would like the final artwork. For the forum I'll post jpgs for everyone to see.

Les

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1980 300sd - Ivory, Tobacco Interior 130,000 miles
2003 Expedition

Where a calculator on the ENIAC is equipped with 18,000 vacuum tubes and weighs 30 tons, computers in the future may have only 1,000 vacuum tubes and weigh only 1.5 tons. - Popular Mechanics, 1949