Turning Fobs & Charms into Jewlery?

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#18
finzup said:
It is an interesting debate.. I think the difference is intended use. Swarovski crystals are generally intended for use in or on something (like jewelery, clothing, etc) - where coach keyfobs and charms are intended to be just that - they're not sold with intent to dissamble and reassemble into jewelry. I think it runs into copyright infringement if someone other than Coach is profiting off something with the "Coach" logo on it.. and clearly the charms all say "Coach" on it.

I have no legal background -- just a feeling I have..


You are right about the infringement because she is making a representation about an item that is really not true, that is all. Even for ebay policies, it is wrong. Since those are not made by Coach, she should not call them that way. But it is not illegal to sell them or make profit out of it, if she weren't using the name recognition factor to push a sale. My two cents.
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#19
#20
See, I have a dilemma because I really like these and I think what she's charging is fair since Coach already made their money off the charm and part of it went to charity... and they are beautiful, and she obviously spent time on them. Argh. One of the girls I work with thought they were gorgeous too... :shame: I don't know how to feel about them. I can't think that buying the charm and making them myself would make it more or less legit than having someone else do the work-- but I don't want to step on anyone's toes so I'll see what y'all think...? :confused1:

Her ad says: "custom made earring set made with Coach keyfob WOW!! This is a brand new CUSTOM Sterling Silver pair of Earrings made with authentic pink jewel Coach charms from the Breast Cancer key fob/chain! They come with Coach branded tissue paper - perfect for a gift!"
 

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#23
The legality part kicks in when you try to sell it. As far as copyright laws go, you can't make something using someone else's work. If you buy a keyfob or charm, and then make jewelry out of it, that's your business. You are allowed to do whatever you want to your own property. However, you are not allowed to sell it, whether you claim it was made by Coach or not, unless Coach says that it's okay with them. Same thing for the headband issue. If you go buy a scarf, you can do whatever you want with it, you can grind it up and make confetti if you want. You just aren't supposed to sell it.

Here's another example, let's say you wanted to make a calendar of Coach purses, and you bought all these great items, took wonderful photos and put them together, that's great, but you can't sell it without their permission. (Which by the way, wouldn't that be cool?) It's all about making a profit off someone else's work or property.
 
#24
Thank you for adding up to this issue. Seems like we all have different tastes on what we would wear or what we would do with our own items. It is a beautiful free world and thank God for that!! Thank God for forums like this were we could give our opinions and enjoy the friendship of being (all of us) coach fans and friends.
 
#25
lolitablue said:
Thank you for adding up to this issue. Seems like we all have different tastes on what we would wear or what we would do with our own items. It is a beautiful free world and thank God for that!! Thank God for forums like this were we could give our opinions and enjoy the friendship of being (all of us) coach fans and friends.
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Amen, Hallelujah. :yahoo:
 
#27
lolitablue said:
Thank you for adding up to this issue. Seems like we all have different tastes on what we would wear or what we would do with our own items. It is a beautiful free world and thank God for that!! Thank God for forums like this were we could give our opinions and enjoy the friendship of being (all of us) coach fans and friends.
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:yes: Dittos!!
 
#28
As for the intellectual property rights issue, I found a couple of interesting reads:

http://www.tabberone.com/Trademarks/folder/WhatIsACopyright.shtml?

http://www.tabberone.com/Trademarks/folder/Profit.shtml

Keep in mind that as with any legal issue there will always be an argument for either side. However, based on the case law cited in these links, I think one could make a successful argument that once you purchase an item you can do whatever you want with it, which includes altering it from it's original state and making a profit on the altered goods.
 
#29
I took a keyfob and turned it into 2 necklaces, one I kept for myself and the other I gave to my Roak buddy.

I see nothing wrong with what I did, they turned out really cute!

I have also seen other members here take keyfobs and turn them into cell charms, I don't think anything is wrong with that either. JMO
 
#30
Bags4Bubbles said:
:roflmfao: :roflmfao: :roflmfao:

I just imagine someone walking down the street looking like they are swimming in "C"s... Coach cashmere shirt, Coach overcoat, Signature scarf, Crusher hat, Signature shoes, Coach jewelry, Sunglasses, and Carrying a large Signature Coach bag like the Mandy and a small one like a hamptons nylon tote as a lunch bag.... LOL... I mean, just imagine it for a minute. :p
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OT - but a friend showed up to my bridal shower in 2003 wearing a Burberry crusher hat, Burberry silk scarf, Burberry Bag, and Burberry wedge sandles (all in the Nova Check pattern)

now replace "Burberry" with "Furberry" in what I said above. (yes, it was all knock off crap)

my brother looks her up and down and was like "What? did you get into a fight with a "Burberry" vender on Canal Street?"
:roflmfao:
 
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