The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce does not own the Hollywood Sign, it cannot license or grant permission to film or photograph the Sign.
The Hollywood Sign itself is NOT trademarked.
The word Hollywood, in an all cap typeface with a staggered alignment is trademarked in a few (but not most) trademark classes. The typeface was cleverly designed to mimic the Sign, so that the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce could scam people into believing the Sign itself is trademarked.
The Chamber has never tested its claim in federal court that a registered word-mark spelling "hollywood", in a sign-mimicking typeface, additionally confers reverse rights to the publicly-owned, actual sign structure it was intended to copy.
Experts believe this claim would fail to hold up under judicial scrutiny... which may explain one reason why the Chamber has never sued a filmmaker or content creator for infringement. (www.pacer.gov)
The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce often threatens legal action, it never carries out the treats. In fact its sad that the Hollywood Chamber of Commerces greatest revenue source comes from intimidation and racketeering.
Images of the HOLLYWOOD Sign itself can be used in any and all commercial and non-commercial uses.
According to the US Patent and Trademark office, The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce does not own trademark rights for the commercial use of the Hollywood Sign look-a-like font in any of the following classes of goods and services (*www.uspto.gov);
(So anyone can use the Hollywood Sign (and typeface facsimiles) for commercial activities in the following classes of goods and services... among others.)
- Class 09: Recorded or downloadable media or software (e.g., video games)
- Class 38: Telecommunication services (e.g., broadcasting, streaming)
- Class 41: Entertainment, multimedia production, and sports (e.g., films, TV shows, music videos, production sets)
- Class 03: Cosmetics (e.g., makeup, skincare, haircare, and perfumes like Gucci Flora).
- Class 06: Metal Goods (e.g., metal signs, metal structures)
Note: The Chamber owns commercial rights to a 'Hollywood Sign' like word-mark in limited classes, mostly for souvenir type products, such as Class 25 (e.g., T-shirts) & Class 14 (e.g., Jewelry) & Class 16 (e.g., Postcards). Contact the Chamber if you want to use the typeface of the Sign, rather than an image of the sign for these classes.
1) The Hollywood Sign will be visible (for a little or a lot, close -up or far away) in my dramatic feature film, do I need to license the Sign? - No, you DO NOT need to license. (ref.; LA Times & John Martial School of Law Journal)
2) I will imprint the word "hollywood", in staggered-typeface capital letters, on T-Shits, that I plan to sell along Hollywood Blvd., do I need to license the Sign? - Yes, you DO need to license. Contact the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce for any more information.
3) What about the Walk of Fame? That's a good question. Search both the USPTO and PACER websites. The few registered images consist of both the star and a movie-camera symbol inside it. What about Mic symbols? LP Record symbols? Registrations with those symbols were not found. Each symbol inside a star combination requires its own registration, and in each class. Look for something thats available. Alternatively, consider making your own distinct symbol inside the exact Walk of Fame style star. It's no problem.
4) The Chamber told me how strong its trademark rights are. Should I be concerned? No, you should not.
5) The Chamber claims a 1991 Agreement indicates the City and State recognize a trademark is that true? No, thats a misleading statement. In fact, the State has no registration of the Hollywood Sign as a mark (by anyone), and the City has no authority to recognize trademarks as such. These claims are meaningless.
6) Has the Chamber ever tried to register a trademark of the actual Hollywood Sign? Yes, in 2004. The Chamber ran from its application and abandoned it after 1) Columbia Pictures Industries, 2) Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, 3) CBS Broadcasting Inc, 4) Universal City Studios LLP, & 5)Paramount Pictures Corporation, all simply requested one month to profile reasons for opposition.
As part of the 1992 "Settlement Agreement" In CA & LA, vs. the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce -an Indictment of the Chambers's "unfair business practices"; Both the State and City only agree 'not to take the Chamber to trademark court'. The agreement does not acknowledgment a trademark, ownership or rights... as one would expect an organization that engages in "unfair business practices" to falsely claim.
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