IH Trademark

When they got the idea to modernize their name - they voted on a name that signified "naviagting the stars" and shortened it to "Navistar." Then, a few years later decided it was a big mistake and tried to buy the old International Harvester name and logo back - and could not. Navistar WAS able to name one of their engine divisions "Internatinal Engines" - and that's as close as they were allowed to come.

• Union Pacific MTH settlement

Is OEM tractor paying royalties to Case/IH? You can go to any autobody jobber outlet and get just about any new replacement fender, bumber, hood, and door for US and imported cars and trucks. GM used to run ads pleading with people not to buy this stuff.

Why are black market watches, videos, handbags illegal?

Take Harley-Davidson. They make alot of money on all the apparel that bears their copyrighted logos. On the other hand, it is now possible to buy a H-D Knucklehead (1936-1947) motorcycle that is nearly indistinguishable from an original. The parts come from a variety of sources and are packaged as complete kits for assembly. I doubt if royalties are paid on any of it.

As far as the Harley, that's a bit of a gray area. There's nothing that keeps me from going out and buying a bunch of parts and building a Chevy. But, since GM never had a thing to do with the assembly, could I sell it as a Chevy? Mebbe not.

The knucklehead? Maybe the "nearly indistinguishable" is how they get by with it -- the difference being enough to get away without paying royalties. Are they putting a Harley logo on it? Maybe they're up front about it, and have some agreement with H-D that would be similar to what the glass body fabricators have going with the manufacturers for repro bodies and other parts for Model A's etc.