KF Trademark?

[shadetree77]

I was talking to a sign company about getting the Kaiser Frazer Power emblem from the engine tag reproduced in sign form and they said they couldn't do it because they don't know who owns the trademark. Does ANYONE own a trademark and is this something the sign company would have to be worried about?

[Gordie]

I have heard that Fiat now owns the K-F trade name thru Chrysler Corp. but a small sign company shouldn't have to worry about it as they probably never even heard of K-F Corp and the name has not been used in fifty years.  Replica K-F signs are being made all of the time and are available on eBay at several different sites.  I would look for a different sign maker.

[shadetree77]

Agreed. I think they just don't want to make it. It's a company that cuts the logos out of raw steel. Kind of like a die-cut thing. They have hundreds if not THOUSANDS of car logos that they do. They are a relatively small company too so I KNOW they haven't officially licensed all of those car and motorcycle makes. Not to mention the movie stuff. Therein lies the problem though. I have never seen another company that makes signs like this so it might be hard to find one. Yes, I believe that was their "nice" way of telling me I wasn't worth their time. 

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

According to notations in the 1953 and 1954 Kaiser Motors Corporation Annual Reports, Kaiser Motors (which became Kaiser Industries Corporation in 1955) retained the intangible assets of Kaiser-Frazer Corporation and its subsiduries including Kaiser-Frazer Sales Corporation and all trademarks & patents not required by Willys Motors for the manufacture of automobiles.  When Kaiser Industries Corporation was liquidated by a Federal bankruptcy court, the trademarks, logos, etc, of Kaiser-Frazer Corporation went with it.   Willys Motors could only purchase fixed assets and tangible inventories of Kaiser Motors (previously known as Kaiser-Frazer Corporation)such as tooling and spare parts inventory.

Because these intangible assets did not go to Willys Motors Chrysler Corporation never acquired them in the first place. 

All this was sorted out with Ms. Capri Pilshaw of the Chrysler Corporation legal department back in the 1990's.

To the best of my knowledge and information (not being an attorney or otherwise schooled in the law) the stuff is public domain.

[Hollenway]

Bob.....

I had some shirts made up with this logo for Christmas presents this year and the company never said a word.   

[Gordie]

That came out great!

[shadetree77]

Wow! That's awesome! How do I get on your Christmas list??? Lol. Yeah, it's like I said. They are busy with car show season and they think I'm not worth their time. I emailed them back explaining that no one owns the rights and it's not an issue but no response. Oh well.

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

There is limited to no market for reproducing the logos, etc, other than in short run projects like the t-shirts.  It is up to the membership of the KFOCI to get people outside our group interested enough in K-F or Willys car ownership to take the plunge, get a car and join the club.

We have a great story to tell about parts availability (in general), company history and so forth.  With KFOCI HANDBOOK on CD as a perk for being a member (sale of the CD to people is not allowed by copyright use agreement) there is a wealth of information there on car history and service information in a number of cases. 

[Gordie]

Yes, it is really up to us as members to get the word out to the huge old car hobby about our Kaisers, Frazers and Willys products.  We have a great team of officers and wonderful talent in our club and they do a lot for us in the way of communication and information on our cars.  If you want to see our club survive and grow get your friends involved and help us get new members.  We must increase the membership to survive.  Costs keep going up and we are doing everything possible to keep from having to raise our dues.  I am scheduled to give a talk this month to our local Early Ford V-8 Club on the Kaiser-Frazer story.  We have great cars and a very interesting history that all old car buffs enjoy hearing about.  Lets get the word out!