Is style and appearance copyrighted ?

In article >,
(aniram) wrote:

>What is the intention of the latest Kia Amanti advertisement?
>Does it try purposely to mislead people ? From the front, it just
>looks like a Mercedes Benz car.
>Computer software MS demands that no one comes close to their
>trademarks. Can the car style and appearance be copyrighted?

When I first saw the Amanti, I mistook it for a Mercedes, but one that
had gone terribly awry (as if BMW's Chris Bangle had helped them out
;-). Most notably, the Amanti's grill is hideous. I think Kia is
trying to look *similar* to Mercedes, but MB drivers can breath easy.

-Steve Makohin | Reply to
| (hotmail acct is spam catcher)

Earlier I wrote:

: The Japanese sense of aesthetics I referred to earlier is a
: cultural characteristic, not a genetic one. I wonder if you'd
: be equally quick to describe a car designed by an American
: native of European ancestry as "German-designed," "Italian-
: designed," or whatever.


419-Buster > replies:

> Um, yes. Check out the new Chevy Malibu.


Er, I don't follow you. What about it?

(I remember reading in C/D that it has French-made seats,
and that's the only thing vaguely European about it that
I know of.)



Geoff

--
"Necropyroxenopedocanusphilia: Sex with dead
alien puppies on fire." -- Pete Ashdown

Saw one at the dealership I purposely went down there to see it.
I think more Benz customers go in to look at it than anyone else.

That was a bad move by the Korean's Toyota pulled it off back in the days
but it was the interior copy of the Accord. Whoolie. not the whole front of
a signature image.

I hope they don't loose to much money.

"Steve Makohin" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> (aniram) wrote:
>
> >What is the intention of the latest Kia Amanti advertisement?
> >Does it try purposely to mislead people ? From the front, it just
> >looks like a Mercedes Benz car.
> >Computer software MS demands that no one comes close to their
> >trademarks. Can the car style and appearance be copyrighted?
>
> When I first saw the Amanti, I mistook it for a Mercedes, but one that
> had gone terribly awry (as if BMW's Chris Bangle had helped them out
> ;-). Most notably, the Amanti's grill is hideous. I think Kia is
> trying to look *similar* to Mercedes, but MB drivers can breath easy.
>
> -Steve Makohin | Reply to
> | (hotmail acct is spam catcher)

aniram wrote:
>
> What is the intention of the latest Kia Amanti advertisement?
> Does it try purposely to mislead people ? From the front, it just
> looks like a Mercedes Benz car.
> Computer software MS demands that no one comes close to their
> trademarks. Can the car style and appearance be copyrighted?

I believe that Toyota's Mega Cruiser was never imported into the USA
because AM General threatened a suit for copying the Hummer's
appearance.

As to the issue of computer software and cars, if someone built a car
that crashed a couple of times a day, I'm sure Microsoft would sue.

--
Paul Hovnanian
note to spammers: a Washington State resident
------------------------------------------------------------------
Answer: Eight. Twelve if the light bulb is cross-threaded.