Company logos are shown in a non-commercial online series.
April 21, 2022 | 40,00 EUR | answered by Jan Wilking
Hello,
I would like to shoot a series as a hobby, which will then be published on YouTube and Instagram. However, I do not intend to make any money from it.
For this, I have purchased a professional video camera, a gimbal, and a motorized video slider. I compose the music myself.
My question is, is it allowed to show company logos, and if not, can they be shown if they are covered?
An example would be a scene where a BMW drives down a street.
Thank you in advance.
Best regards,
Nils Hildebrandt
Dear inquirer,
Thank you for your inquiry.
Trademark law protects against use in commercial trade for the designation of certain goods or services. Therefore, you would understandably not be able to use the logo on a self-constructed car or spare parts. However, if you are filming your car as a hobby and the brand is depicted on it, there is no trademark use. If the brand is not portrayed unnecessarily negatively, but merely as a part of the car, your project is legally unproblematic in terms of trademark law.
Best regards,
Jan Wilking, Attorney
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