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Re: Famous Aircraft Names...

Posted by Steve T on Fri Jan 23, 2004 07:33:27 PM

In reply top Famous Aircraft Names... posted by Dave Robinson on Fri Jan 23, 2004 02:58:56 AM

Dave--

: For the many that don't know apart from Typhoons I am invo
: lved in the restoration of DH88 Comet Racer Black Magic (a
: irworthy status).

Terrific news. Hadn't heard anything on G-ACSP in ages.

In the latest Microsoft Flight Sim one
: of the options is Black Magic. At no point were we contac
: ted by Microsoft or any other company to see if they could
: use the name...we recently asked microsoft if they would
: be willing to put a little sponsorship into the real aircr
: aft. We were informed that our project did not fulfill th
: eir criteria.

For a company of such size and wherewithal, that sounds like an unfortunate missed opportunity on their part! The survival of a near-unique aircraft like this, and their involvement with its restoration, could have been used to good effect in promotion for the sim game...especially since sim games like that are often sold to aircraft buffs who are more interested in the pictured aircraft than they are in computer games generally. As to the name, though, I think the other posters are probably right...the name was probably never trademarked in connection with aviation, so is probably in the public domain.

The comment about the chocolates may simply be humour...but that connection COULD be worth exploring. The packaging of Black Magic chocolates is coincidentally largely black and gold. In fact I used regularly to make that connection (knowing part of G-ACSP had survived) when I saw TV ads for the chocolates or saw boxes of them in stores. Now if someone high up in the management of that candymaker were an aircraft fan...hmmmm...

Geez, something just occurred to me. If the maker is Cadbury, the company name is Cadbury Schweppes Powell...which neatly initializes as CSP...! That'd be a kick.

S.

: Can companies use the name of famous aircraft without perm
: ission from the owners? do any copyrights cover this type
: of situation? Would the owners of Memphis Belle have to
: have given permission for the name to be used in the film?
:
:
: I look forward to any comments.......

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