Hi, Legal or Not... Using a company's logo on your site without permission. The site will be selling advertising spots and I'd like to show some level of activity when it is launched. I'm thinking of putting up, for example, Circuit City's logo and indicating they have reserved this space. I intend to send an email to Circuit City letting them know that their logo along with a link to them has been placed on my site. Any thoughts. Thanks.
Definitely not legal. You're implying that a company has some relationship with or has used your service when they don't.
Definatly agree with dj1471. You'd be best emailing them and asking for them if they want to advertise before putting up the logo. Maybe offer them some free advertising for 2-3 months, and they will advertise if it draws in traffic to their site, or builds business their way... Darren
Darren is right - try to make it worth it to them and they probably will agree and then you may end up with a future paying advertiser. Or offer the spot to someone here on DP who you feel has helped you in some way.
Thanks for the info guys. Much appreciated. And Debunked... way to go for the adspace. I'll add you to my buddy list and maybe we can work something out.
This is interesting. So is it legal to use a logo when it is associated with a press release? I would say YES. Newspapers often use company logos when they have news to report.
As a reporter, I believe logos can be used when they are associated with an article about that company. For example, this is Microsoft's policy on media using logos (read the whole thing): http://www.microsoft.com/Presspass/gallery/logoguidelines.mspx "The logos may only be used in close proximity to, or in obvious connection with, a published article or broadcast news story about Microsoft Corporation or a specific Microsoft product or service." If you're not "the media", then this link applies (again, read the whole thing): http://www.microsoft.com/mscorp/ip/trademarks/gnlguide.asp "Do not use the Microsoft Corporate logo, Windows logo, or any other Microsoft logos, symbols, or icons on or in connection with products, packaging, manuals, promotional/advertising materials, or Web site for any purpose except pursuant to an express written trademark license from Microsoft."
Nice findings about the Microsoft disclaimer. Today (with the Internet) almost anyone can be "the Media". So this would cover the use of Micrsoft's logo if you were also publishing a press release from Micrsoft on your web-site. Again nice post.