These days, intellectual property protection (in this case the VW logo)
challenges depend on  being able to demonstrate that they have vigorously
defended their logo in the past. In other words, in US courts anyway, if a
company doesn't pursue appropriation of of their logo, even on small scale
or "fun" items like t-shirts, they stand to lose protection of their
intellectual property altogether. Heavy handed, yes, but I know why
companies do it.

Jim

On Fri, Apr 7, 2023 at 9:45 AM Vanagon Man <t3vanagon@gmail.com> wrote:

> It would’ve likely been just fine, if not for the VW badging. Then it
> would’ve just been a Japanese Kei with a fun paint job.
> Slapping the officially licensed VW emblem on a clearly non-VW vehicle is
> where things start slipping into counterfeit land.
>
> > On Apr 7, 2023, at 8:23 AM, David McNeely <davmcneely40@gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >
> > Link works fine for me.  There was a private import of a tiny Japanese
> van
> > styled to mimic an early VW bus.  VW and US Customs didn't like that, and
> > Customs seized the van as being a counter fit.
> >
> >> On Fri, Apr 7, 2023 at 6:03 AM Eric Caron <ericcaron96@comcast.net>
> wrote:
> >>
> >> Hi
> >>
> >> Link is not working for me.
> >>
> >> What is the back ground of the post?
> >>
> >> If related to the VW Buzz.  I’m told by a local VW dealer that they can
> >> make orders soon for the Buzz.
> >>
> >> I’m looking forward to seeing and touching one soon .
> >>
> >> Eric Caron
> >>
> >>
> >>> On Apr 7, 2023, at 8:55 AM, Harry Hoffman <hhoffman@IP-SOLUTIONS.NET>
> >> wrote:
> >>>
> >>> They could just, ya know, make them so that the knockoffs didn't have
> >>> to be a thing...
> >>>
> >>>
> >>
> https://www.thedrive.com/news/vw-had-us-customs-seize-and-destroy-a-cute-jdm-van-for-looking-like-the-classic-bus
> >>
>