Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2014 17:59:37 GMT -5
Are title designs copyrighted? We have seen several indie companies use old WWE title designs, hell even ECW did it.
When TNA was using the NWA title, could they have no theoretically used Big Gold? It once represented the NWA title
Or does WWE own the look and manufacturing rights for the big gold title? As WCW did file a lawsuit when Flair brought the title to the WWE, and forced them to blur it, so did the design rights go to the WWE when Vince bought WCW. But at the same time, the NWA also recognized the Big Gold title as being their own.
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Phil Parent
El Dandy
Your Favourite Teacher
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Post by Phil Parent on Jul 9, 2014 18:32:09 GMT -5
Good question. I have no idea. But I think the NWA sued because the physical belt was theirs and this was an unauthorized use of it, so yeah they do own the belt proper, not sure about the design of the belt.
But could someone use a replica as their own belt legally? No clue.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2014 19:04:16 GMT -5
Are title designs copyrighted? We have seen several indie companies use old WWE title designs, hell even ECW did it. When TNA was using the NWA title, could they have no theoretically used Big Gold? It once represented the NWA title Or does WWE own the look and manufacturing rights for the big gold title? As WCW did file a lawsuit when Flair brought the title to the WWE, and forced them to blur it, so did the design rights go to the WWE when Vince bought WCW. But at the same time, the NWA also recognized the Big Gold title as being their own. Jim Crockett Promotions had the Big Gold Belt made. Ownership went from JCP to WCW to WWE. Even though it originally represented the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, the NWA never owned the Big Gold Belt. That's why WCW kept the belt when they left the NWA in the early 90s and the NWA has used the older design for the title ever since. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2014 20:18:46 GMT -5
Yes, there is a copyright on the belt designs. The ECW ones were similar to, but not exactly the same as the WWF belts which influenced them. If Reggie Parks wanted to sue and argue that they were too similar, he could have (but didn't).
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cjh
Hank Scorpio
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Post by cjh on Jul 9, 2014 20:33:26 GMT -5
The designs are owned by the belt maker(s), and the makers have to be paid when belts they created are used as merchandise (replica belts, little toy belts packaged with WWE/TNA action figures, appearances in wrestling video games).
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2014 20:50:55 GMT -5
The designs are owned by the belt maker(s), and the makers have to be paid when belts they created are used as merchandise (replica belts, little toy belts packaged with WWE/TNA action figures, appearances in wrestling video games). So basically they COULD use the big gold design, they just can't manufacture any time of replica to sell. ECW's replica titles did not start selling until they ditched all the WWE knockoff titles they had, for their own original designs. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2014 10:29:18 GMT -5
Anyone can make/sell/used a Big Gold if they wanted too, the only thing they cant do is used a Big Gold with a WWE logo on it. The Big gold was made by a Rodeo belt maker. As for Reggie Park belt, there a gray line with that because Park used public domain clip art from a art book in his early belt design. To make it easy...
All current WWE/NXT belt beside the big gold and intercontinental championship are own/copyright by WWE. The intercontinental design is own by Reggie Park while Big Gold is probably public domain.
TNA: The current World and X divsion belt design is own by TNA while the current Tag and Women are own by Dave Millican.
ROH: World Title design is public domain since it based on the old Lou Thesz NWA belt while the TV and Tag belt are own by Reggie Park.
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