Gunny G: Now, About All That Brouhaha Regarding The New USMC Trademark and Licensing Program...
For example:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2398969/posts
The above thread would show that many of us had read the new directive and understood the licensing requirements to pertain to both commercial and personal cases; Marines as well as merchants. I do recall mention of “DOD employees” being excluded, but no mention of anyone else specifically.
Myself, having read the new directive through on several occasions, my distinct impression was that Marines, former Marines, Retirees, etc. were not excluded from the licensing requirements. The directive may have been amended since I last read it, however I see no annotation on it that it has been updated or revised.
Now, I see that one of the FAQs (shown below) would apparently provide for exclusion of Marines, active, discharged, retired, etc. and their personal websites, for example; so long as the individual Marine was not engaged in commercial pursuits.
Hopefully, this is the case.
Semper Fidelis
R.W. Gaines
GySgt USMC (Ret.)
1952 -’72
*****
Marine Corps trademark and Licensing Program
http://www.marines.mil/unit/divpa/tmlo/Pages/welcome.aspx
F
Can I create and sell products directly to Marine Corps members using the Marine Corps name and Eagle Globe and Anchor without a license agreement?
The commercial sale of Marine Corps products requires licensing. However; if you are a business owner, let’s say you a are custom t-shirt manufacturer and a servicemember approaches you about making 25 custom t-shirts for their unit. In this case you may create and sell to them the custom product they are requesting. However; if you are not licensed you may not advertise that you can create Marine Corps branded products. Only official USMC Licensees may advertise their Marine Corps branded products. Permission to create Marine Corps products is not given to the private business owner rather, Department of Defense employees, USMC veterans, retirees, active duty members and their immediate families have an implied license to use the Eagle, Globe and Anchor on personal products such as printed materials, literature, briefings, coins and web sites. These items must be intended for internal use and not for sale, advertising or potential endorsements. If you are at all confused regarding this matter please contact the Trademark Licensing Office.
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