No more brand name custom plates WA

jaydee · 05-04-2012, 12:30 AM

A guy I know has an orange XR5 Focus he just sold with FOCUS XR5 plates.

Apparently licensing wont allow this sort of plate anymore for what ever reason, has anyone heard about this.

So things like MYXR8, 4DTurbo, HSV1, MYMERC etc wont be allowed.

So where does it stop and who decides, what about ZOOM ZOOM, or ECHOECHO

Is it a copyright thing or what?

**Professor Farnsworth** · 05-04-2012, 12:43 AM

sounds ridiculous.

bungarra · 05-04-2012, 09:56 AM

No issue with custom plates, it is only going to be rejected if it is already in use or deemed to be of an offensive or risque nature. You can even check if the plates are available at the following link:
https://online.transport.wa.gov.au/w...s/?type=custom

comagutsa · 05-04-2012, 09:57 AM

where did you hear this.. sounds crap i recon

**Professor Farnsworth** · 05-04-2012, 10:42 AM

it may have been the remnants of an April fools

Gaz · 05-04-2012, 04:48 PM

Trademark reasons...

Quote:

The Director General reserves the right to refuse any application considered or perceived to be offensive or contentious (eg anti road safety, sexual, violent, drug related, perverse, racial), trade marked (including vehicle make or model), or for any other reason. For further information refer to Driver and Vehicle Services Designer plates FAQ.

Jim Goose · 05-04-2012, 06:19 PM

I dont think model names like GT... HO... XR8 are trademarked same with SS etc... otherwise just about every single car on the planet is infringing on trademarks from other makes.

And I doubt that even you had FORD or FALCON as a number plate would it be an infrignment anyways, as your not using it in advertising or as your business name etc....

A few years ago in the USA Ford had threatened to sue the makers of the Mustang car bodies... as it wasnt an offical Ford product. Totally different if you had number plates with the name Mustang (as an example) as your not using it as a business name or for advertisment etc....

blueprinted_xr · 05-04-2012, 06:46 PM

i was under the impression this was in effect as of july last year? From what i understand, the DPI were rejecting plates which include vehicle makes and models as too many people were buying custom plates that people would want, and selling them off at an inflated price.

Refusal of Plate Application
The Director General reserves the right to refuse any plate application.
Grounds for refusal include but are not limited to:

Have offensive, sensitive or contentious connotations (for example, sexual, violent, drug related, perverse or racial content)

Have negative political or anti law references (for example, gang related names or conflicts with road safety messages)

Be likely to incite or promote hatred including but not limited to negative religious or cult references

Be a registered name of a company or business, and the applicant is not the Director of the said company or business for which the plate is requested

Be ambiguous and plate characters not easily identifiable

Be in contravention of any State or Commonwealth Legislation (for example ANZAC, NAVY, RAN, AFC, RAAF)

Be a close resemblance of character combinations of an existing registration plate or series of plates

Any of the above in a language other than English or could be read by using a rear view mirror

Make or model of vehicle

jaydee · 05-04-2012, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by comagutsa

where did you hear this.. sounds crap i recon

Thats what he told me. The person who bought the Focus didn't want the plates and he was explaining that you cant get them anymore, so no he's selling them seperately.
When I asked him why you cant get them anymore he just said licensing wont do brand names.
I dont know any more than that. Might ring and find out I guess.

Streets · 05-04-2012, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaydee

Thats what he told me. The person who bought the Focus didn't want the plates and he was explaining that you cant get them anymore, so no he's selling them seperately.
When I asked him why you cant get them anymore he just said licensing wont do brand names.

This just sounds like the line he's going to use to con someone into paying a lot more for them than what they're worth.

EF ECTIV · 05-04-2012, 11:21 PM

yep heard DPI were rejecting any new plates with model names in them...

superpursuit83 · 06-04-2012, 04:45 PM

Its true there was a crackdown a while ago. I know of many that have been rejected. A mates father inlaw even got knocked back on his plate for the SS reference (Thats what he was told anyway)

Ya mate may get a few bucks for the plates if sold to the right person

comagutsa · 06-04-2012, 05:42 PM

FG XR only got his plates about 10 months ago for his XR in perth...doesnt get any better for name branding there

Jim Goose · 06-04-2012, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superpursuit83

Its true there was a crackdown a while ago. I know of many that have been rejected. A mates father inlaw even got knocked back on his plate for the SS reference (Thats what he was told anyway)

Ya mate may get a few bucks for the plates if sold to the right person

""SS"" isnt trademarked, nor can it be trademarked by anyone. You cant trademark initials.

So there would have to be another reason as to why it was refused.... and im betting it probably has to do with people profiteering... but i cant see how they can refuse initials....

T3ts50 · 07-04-2012, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Goose

""SS"" isnt trademarked, nor can it be trademarked by anyone. You cant trademark initials.

So there would have to be another reason as to why it was refused.... and im betting it probably has to do with people profiteering... but i cant see how they can refuse initials....

Maybe they thought th SS was a reference to the nazis?

Jim Goose · 07-04-2012, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T3ts50

Maybe they thought th SS was a reference to the nazis?

My point seemingly missed by many... is that YOU CANT TRADE MARK INITIALS.

Therefore... XR8.... XB GT...... SSS..... SS..... XR6...... or any other version is not infringing on any trademark. So either these stories are "rubbish" or if people are being refused then people (yet again) are stupid and not asking WHY they are being refused.

pottery beige · 07-04-2012, 08:37 AM

the oppressors are oppressing.....

last fairlane · 07-04-2012, 07:11 PM

Does that mean you cant have HD??? on your Harley
Im in QLD Im allowed that type of plate just cant afford it

xr gr8 · 07-04-2012, 08:18 PM

.....F VI....Xmas 2011...There's always a solution to bureaucracy

IDT · 08-04-2012, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Goose

My point seemingly missed by many... is that YOU CANT TRADE MARK INITIALS.

Therefore... XR8.... XB GT...... SSS..... SS..... XR6...... or any other version is not infringing on any trademark. So either these stories are "rubbish" or if people are being refused then people (yet again) are stupid and not asking WHY they are being refused.

Yes you can, albeit in a back door way, I tried to trademark a company logo and was refused on the basis it contained initials that were contained on an existing trademarked logo that looked nothing like that which i had put forward. I appealed and was still refused. Based on what they told me was by its design a person may consider it a reference to the said trademarked product, logo or badge (and obviously SS on your holden number plates is a reference) than issuing these for a fee would be a breach by the DPI.

Backdoor? absolutely, but still the outcome is the same. For all intentional purposes the initials are trademarked.

Riksta · 08-04-2012, 02:38 PM

What if I have a rotary and want the plate "****EL", would they allow that?

Jim Goose · 08-04-2012, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WAForce8

Yes you can, albeit in a back door way, I tried to trademark a company logo and was refused on the basis it contained initials that were contained on an existing trademarked logo that looked nothing like that which i had put forward. I appealed and was still refused. Based on what they told me was by its design a person may consider it a reference to the said trademarked product, logo or badge (and obviously SS on your holden number plates is a reference) than issuing these for a fee would be a breach by the DPI.

Backdoor? absolutely, but still the outcome is the same. For all intentional purposes the initials are trademarked.

Ok so tell me then, how many cars out there have "GT" as part of their model line up? A company logo is one thing... like the big M for macdonalds.... that is a logo.... and yes its trademarked, as a LOGO.

SS stamped on a set of plates isnt a logo... they are are set of initials.

Cars all over the world.... (as I said previously) have SS... GT... SSS etc etc etc.... because you CANT trademark initials....

IDT · 10-04-2012, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Goose

Ok so tell me then, how many cars out there have "GT" as part of their model line up? A company logo is one thing... like the big M for macdonalds.... that is a logo.... and yes its trademarked, as a LOGO.

SS stamped on a set of plates isnt a logo... they are are set of initials.

Cars all over the world.... (as I said previously) have SS... GT... SSS etc etc etc.... because you CANT trademark initials....

Placement of the initials on their own product removes any possibility for confusion with a SS Commadore or GT Falcon etc. My logo had no similarity to the one shown as reason for refusal other than initials contained within the logo. The initials in my logo represented different words, I also had additional wording, different colour and shape. The logo I was shown that mine apparently resembled had three letters in a block font (like Arial) and nothing else, black and white, no back ground nothing. As for your reference to McDonalds. Open a restaurant and wack a giant M in a different font and colour out the front and see how long it lasts. Their Lawyers would be on you like flies on.......... or try badging your car company GM or fridge making business as GE or if it still existed your airline as TAA or you little mining company BHP. All initials and all trademarked.

**Sorted** · 10-04-2012, 12:40 PM

Maybe a Car Manufacturer has sued the government for using thier Brand to make a profit which is exactly what the government is doing.

They prob wanted a Brand Number Plate to put on a Car and it was already taken so they sued to gain ownership of it................

I think that is fair - pay back lol

Chilliman · 10-04-2012, 12:45 PM

Forget about the trademark issue...the reason the Department of Transport (DoT) wants to stop 'brand name' custom plates is to stop people trading in plates - say for instance somebody buying up every iteration of VF Commodore plate they can e.g. VF SS, VF SV6, VF Calias etc then selling them for a profit.

This is to stop people who want to buy & sell these plates putting undue pressure on people in the Licencing area - the potential for bribes is huge, and given the recent investigation into bribes for motor vehicle inspectors to pass vehicles, DoT doesn't need any more embarrassment.

Rockape · 10-04-2012, 08:58 PM

So to stop people making money of them they just stop anyone having them? Winner idea that.

xr gr8 · 10-04-2012, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chilliman

Forget about the trademark issue...the reason the Department of Transport (DoT) wants to stop 'brand name' custom plates is to stop people trading in plates - say for instance somebody buying up every iteration of VF Commodore plate they can e.g. VF SS, VF SV6, VF Calias etc then selling them for a profit.

This is to stop people who want to buy & sell these plates putting undue pressure on people in the Licencing area - the potential for bribes is huge, and given the recent investigation into bribes for motor vehicle inspectors to pass vehicles, DoT doesn't need any more embarrassment.

We have a dealer here that purchased every possible combination of "coyote" "fpv" "5.0" prior to the release of the new v8 then offered or on sold the plates with sales of new vehicles. Whether or not they made a profit on these plates i cant say......But I see where your coming from!!

dawsman · 11-04-2012, 01:27 AM

A WA member on here had the plates "GT 335" refused last year. Probably why they were still available.

I managed to get BOSSGT335 in WA. I guess the addition of BOSS was enough to differentiate it from the model name.

I've now ordered UGT-335 in the retro plate series white on black which can only start with "U". They haven't been approved yet, but will post back with the result.

dawsman · 13-04-2012, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dawsman

A WA member on here had the plates "GT 335" refused last year. Probably why they were still available.

I managed to get BOSSGT335 in WA. I guess the addition of BOSS was enough to differentiate it from the model name.

I've now ordered UGT-335 in the retro plate series white on black which can only start with "U". They haven't been approved yet, but will post back with the result.

Success! Picked up UGT-335 and fitted them today.