logo infrigment

[haypops]

Any one think A lawyer could help out here. If brand image is important, I don't think this is helping.

[Croc]

Two completely different markets. I don't think it's an issue.

[Enzora]

Two completely different markets.  I don't think it's an issue.

Yeah, worst case scenario, someeone gets confused and buys a truck in an effort to lose weight.

[Flybrian]

If you think about it, people go to GNC to bulk up and be macho. Why wouldn't the two want to be associated with each other?

I admit when I was little I looked into the stores at the mall and wondered where the trucks were.

[Satty]

I admit when I was little I looked into the stores at the mall and wondered where the trucks were.

Next time I'm at the mall I'm going in and as seriously as I can, I'm going to ask to test drive a Canyon.

[Flybrian]

Next time I'm at the mall I'm going in and as seriously as I can, I'm going to ask to test drive a Canyon.

You do that and next time I'm up in Palm Harbor, I'm going into Dick Norris Buick Pontiac-GMC and asking for some TrimSpa.

[haypops]

There has been a lot of real nasty news about the supplement business lately. I wouldn't want to be associated with those people.

[mjdecker]

What about WWF (World Wildlife Fund) vs the former WWF (World Wrestling Federation) now known as WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment)

[knightfan26917]

*chuckles*

Satty and Fly ... I want reports of how those episodes went ... he he he.

Cort, "Mr MC" / "Mr Road Trip", 32swm/pig valve/pacemaker

MC:family.IL.guide.future = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/

Models.HO = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/trainroom.html

"It's coming down to nothing more than apathy" ... The Fray ... 'Over My Head'

[Sixty8panther]

I pointed this out to my dad when I was knee-high to a Grass Hopper. He shruged his shoulders and said GM probably doesn't care about some store that pushes vitamins.

[Cadillacfan]

There's also a statute of limitations. GNC has been around for a while. So, even if GM decided to go after them.. there is no way in hell it would work. This is just one of many reasons why.

[haypops]

I can appreciate that GMC vs. GNC is no big deal, but have they always shared the font and color in the logo?

[bobo]

I noticed this years ago, and as far as I can remember they've always looked very similar. And I thought it was a shame, in particular with the vitamin and pill shop selling items like questionable dietary and performance-enhancing supplements.

[Guest Josh]

Same font. Same color. Same style. GM surely could cause GNC some issues...that's brand identity there PLUS the negative stigma around muscle enhancers, etc.

[jbartley]

SIDE NOTE:

how come GMC isn't ever in the middle of the back of the trucks suv's.

I realize it's not exactly a symbol like chevy's and cadillacs, but if they can stick it in the middle of the grille, why isn't it center on the backside of the new yukon too?

[Dave]

Gotta wonder about people who are looking to sue....

[GMTruckGuy74]

SIDE NOTE:

how come GMC isn't ever in the middle of the back of the trucks suv's.

I realize it's not exactly a symbol like chevy's and cadillacs, but if they can stick it in the middle of the grille, why isn't it center on the backside of the new yukon too?

No, the ruby red & chrome "G-M-C" letters ARE their symbol and I agree with you that it should be prominently placed in the middle of the tailgate on ALL suv's and trucks. GMC stopperd this after '91 - basically it was a cost-cutting measure and simplified the rear of their trucks by going to smaller emblems. When I leased an '01 Sonoma Highrider, I bought a larger "GMC" emblem from the '89-'91 Suburban/Jimmy models and mounted it in the middle of my tailgate. I even sent GMC a picture telling them to start doing that again!!! Maybe the new 2007 Sierras will do it, who knows? If Cadillac can put the dinner plate-sized emblem on the back of the Escalade, then why doesn't GMC show-off their pride too?

[the_yellow_dart]

What's wrong with putting it in line with the model name, like Pontiac does?

[Hudson]

I agree with Croc...it shouldn't be an issue, but...

What about WWF (World Wildlife Fund) vs the former WWF (World Wrestling Federation) now known as WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment)

There was also the Lexis-Nexis vs Lexus debate...and the Chevrolet Beretta vs the gun manufacturer (this one actually made sense to me)...and Focus magazine vs the Ford Focus....the Vector car vs the Vector tire....the list goes on and on.

If I make clothing and name my product something, I don't see how any reasonable consumer would confuse my product's name with, say, a car or a prescription drug or a computer service or...

Is it just me or has our society just become too litigious? To the point that someone notices a nutritional suppliment store's logo is similar to a truck brand's logo and starts a thread on it?

I'm just asking...is this a sign of our culture?

[FAPTurbo]

Is it just me or has our society just become too litigious? To the point that someone notices a nutritional suppliment store's logo is similar to a truck brand's logo and starts a thread on it?

I'm just asking...is this a sign of our culture?

Probably yes and no. I always noticed the GNC and GMC similarities, but I never once thought that either company would sue the other one. All it does is make me look twice and grin a little. I seriously doubt a reasonable person would confuse either company...

But we do live in a society that somehow allows morons to sue companies like McDonalds for millions because that moron spilled coffee on their lap. Or even now fat people are trying to sue fast food companies because they claim the food is "addicting" or that the fat person had "no idea" that greasy, meaty burgers would contain fat.

I think this is a sign of our culture, and it's sad. I think people just can't accept that much of what they do is their own fault, and choose to blame others.

[haypops]

Legal recourse is the civilzed way to address being wronged. The alternative for individuals is violence. The alternative for corporations is violence too, I would guess. It is so easy to say we are too litigous until it happens to you. My #3 daughter (9 months pregnant) recently fell in the supermarket parking lot. There was a sink hole in the cart return area and it had a white line painted through it. It was almost impossible to detect. Fortunately the baby to be was not harmed; unfortunately my daughters knee cap was fractured in two places. How would you address her inability to work, her medical expenses, etc. When my wife filled out the accident report she asked the store manager to go out with her to see where the incident occured. He refused saying he knew perfectly well where it was and how dangerous it was. Two other employees admitted the same.

I agree that GMC and GNC would seem to be defferentiated enough in business type to not cause difficulties. I don't think the similarity of logo is accidental or proper. As a matter of fact, I don't even know which one came first!

I don't think society is too litigous, but rather some politicans have blown the situation out of reality. Many cases that are brought to court are lost and of those that are won, almost all have the penalities awarded appealed and lowered tremedously. I think it was the Car Conniction that ran an editorial on this recently.

[Spike]

Hudson is right. GM would have to prove that GNC has a "likelihood of confusion" with GMC. I do not see this as the case at all. Flybrian and Satty joked about it, but who really in the market for a new truck goes to the Vietnam store at the mall looking for their new purchase?

Here is a lot more info for those interested...

http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/metaschool/fi...domain/tm.htm#7

[MyerShift]

Only fools would make an issue over this.

[Enzora]

You know, if the trend continues, eventually the GMC emblem will lose all its color and possibly be replaced by some weird swooshy logo, so the association should lessen over time.

[Hudson]

Legal recourse is the civilzed way to address being wronged.  The alternative  for individuals is violence.  The alternative for corporations is violence too, I would guess.  It is so easy to say we are too litigous until it happens to you. My  #3 daughter (9 months pregnant) recently fell in the supermarket parking lot.  There was a sink hole in the cart return area and it had a white line painted through it.  It was almost impossible to detect.  Fortunately the baby to be was not harmed; unfortunately my daughters knee cap was fractured in two places.  How would you address her inability to work, her medical expenses, etc.  When my wife filled out the accident report she asked the store manager to go out with her to see where the incident occured.  He refused saying he knew perfectly well where it was and how dangerous it was. Two other employees admitted the same.

I agree that GMC and GNC would seem to be defferentiated enough in business type to not cause difficulties.  I don't think the similarity of logo is accidental or proper.  As a matter of fact, I don't even know which one came first!

I don't think society is too litigous, but rather some politicans have blown the situation out of reality. Many cases that are brought to court are lost and of those that are won, almost all have the penalities awarded appealed and lowered tremedously.  I think it was the Car Conniction that ran an editorial on this recently.

Interesting perspective. While I agree with the concept in the first part of your statement, I don't believe in your conclusion. Everyone has the right to be compensated when they have been wronged. But how was Toyota infringing on Lexis-Nexis (computerized databases) trademarks when they introduced the Lexus car? And how was Ford bothering Focus magazine when they introduced a car of the same name?

I feel too many companies are gaining too much financially from lawsuits. I'm all for it when it's deserved, but not when it's a similar name not trading on "value" of a name in some other market.

[haypops]

I feel too many companies are gaining too much financially from lawsuits. I'm all for it when it's deserved, but not when it's a similar name not trading on "value" of a name in some other market.

It is always a difficult question on how best to address over use ofr misuse of regulations/laws in our society. It's the old don't throw the baby out with the dirty wash water.

I really don't know who came first (GMC or GNC) and it certainly is not my place to worry about it. I was just shocked when I noticed the logo similarites are decided to practise my image posting technique. :)

That said there is an interesting, but scary, analogy in real estate law. If you allow somone to use your property long enough (as in cutting across your yard) it eventually becomes public? property.

[Hudson]

That said there is an interesting, but scary, analogy in real estate law.  If you  allow somone to use your property long enough (as in cutting across your yard) it eventually becomes public? property.

There should be a trademark provision (I'm not sure that it doesn't exist) for a "statute of limitations" on infringement. If somebody has a similar trademark but is not overstepping infringement bounds (like GMC vs GNC...I don't see someone going into a GNC store and wanting to find a Sierra) and has been using it for a considerable length of time, I think there should be no room for a lawsuit. However, If GNC were to change their logo TODAY to emulate the GMC logo, there might be some grounds for legal action.

[SoCalCTS]

GNC is exactly the kind of company that GMC would like to be associated with. Its all body builders and athletes. Exactly the kind of people that might buy a GMC truck.

Anyways, GNC sells very high quality vitamins and supplements. I wish my GNC card could save me 20% off of GMC for the first 7 days of each month.

[Charger4U]

there is a difference between gnc and gmc the "m" so whats the big deal? cause they look alike?

[haypops]

When things look alike people subcounciouly assoicaite them together. GMC is trying for the professional grade tough truck image and spending plety of money to do it. GNC at best are associated with vitamins. At worst they are associated with performance ehancing steroids and other chemicals. There has been some real nasty goings on in California with the Governor taking money from this industry for assisance in legislation that is kind to the industry at the expense of teenagers. If this problem disappears, then things won't be so bad. If it worsens it will effect GMC brand image.

[Guest johnnycrusade]

For the 2014 model year, GMC is now adding the logo to the center of the tailgates instead of on the bottom left. And they are large.