Here is a Blog we enjoy reading:
For example, the article about Kraft’s new logo is excellent.
But when he recommends licensing for municipal services, the author, Garland Pollard, falls into a common trap. He raises too many and too high hopes. Because the income potential of such licensing programs is very limited.
In 2005 NYC Marketing centralized the licensing of NYPD, FDNY and others. They started a fairly big campaign requesting proposals.
The whole effort failed miserably, mostly because of totally exaggerated expectations regarding royalty rates and guaranteed advances.
In addition, NYC Marketing has almost no power to enforce the use of its trademarks.
If you ever walked the streets of NY, you have seen hundreds of street vendors and stores offering NYPD t-shirts, caps, sweaters and even badges. Who believes, that they all pay royalties?
And there is another important issue at hand.
If your local police department floods the street with merchandise and
everyone can wear PD-labeled clothes and accessories, how do you recognize the real cop?
A police logo is supposed to give the wearing person authority.
If everyone can wear it, the authority is gone.
The same is true for FBI, CIA, Army and other agencies, that enforce the power of state.