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Copyrights/Trade Marks info/questions / Who here deals with Affinity?
« Last post by Mr Tees!! on Today at 01:58:13 PM » So we printed a few small orders for a retailer licensed and approved thru Affinity (three orders, a few dozen each), for a local medical college here.
We also looked into getting licensed ourselves, so we could embroider the logo on on individual lab-coats and scrubs. We realized the fees and various hoops to jump thru wasn't worth our time for a few items throughout the year, so we didn't proceed forward.
Since then, the licensing person at the school (NOT an employee of Affinity), has been hassling us to join. Today, we recieved an email stating that we would be pursued for back royalties on those orders if we did not join the Affinity program, and specifically stated that they would contact THEIR Affinity rep to proceed. She also informed me that she would be informing the retailer to not use us going forward.
-To me, this feels not only like double dipping for royalties on the same garments, but also a bullying tactic to sell another license agreement FOR Affinity.
-We also print MUCH more stuff for the same school thru another Affinity licensee promotional products firm. We have never had issue with that account, as he pays royalties to the school. I also know that he sources many promotional items (pens,etc) overseas, and has never had to provide info on where he is sourcing items...so clearly they do not follow up with with the decorators/suppliers overseas for licensing and royalties.
I feel like i am being pressured and bullied only because i am local and somehow on their radar. I also feel like i am being a bit discriminated against here for the same reason, as they don't pursue every supplier in the world, but ARE pursuing me. I aslo feel like they are using the situation as "leverage" to get us to join...as she said we wouldnt be pursued IF we proceeded with Affinity.
...so does anyone here deal with Afiinity? CAN they demand licensing form both the reseller and the decorator? As I understand this, that means they get a 12% royalty from both of us, equaling 24% on each garment.
...Any thoughts or input here would be greatly appreciated, before I go talk to a lawyer.
...Thanks all!!!!
We also looked into getting licensed ourselves, so we could embroider the logo on on individual lab-coats and scrubs. We realized the fees and various hoops to jump thru wasn't worth our time for a few items throughout the year, so we didn't proceed forward.
Since then, the licensing person at the school (NOT an employee of Affinity), has been hassling us to join. Today, we recieved an email stating that we would be pursued for back royalties on those orders if we did not join the Affinity program, and specifically stated that they would contact THEIR Affinity rep to proceed. She also informed me that she would be informing the retailer to not use us going forward.
-To me, this feels not only like double dipping for royalties on the same garments, but also a bullying tactic to sell another license agreement FOR Affinity.
-We also print MUCH more stuff for the same school thru another Affinity licensee promotional products firm. We have never had issue with that account, as he pays royalties to the school. I also know that he sources many promotional items (pens,etc) overseas, and has never had to provide info on where he is sourcing items...so clearly they do not follow up with with the decorators/suppliers overseas for licensing and royalties.
I feel like i am being pressured and bullied only because i am local and somehow on their radar. I also feel like i am being a bit discriminated against here for the same reason, as they don't pursue every supplier in the world, but ARE pursuing me. I aslo feel like they are using the situation as "leverage" to get us to join...as she said we wouldnt be pursued IF we proceeded with Affinity.
...so does anyone here deal with Afiinity? CAN they demand licensing form both the reseller and the decorator? As I understand this, that means they get a 12% royalty from both of us, equaling 24% on each garment.
...Any thoughts or input here would be greatly appreciated, before I go talk to a lawyer.
...Thanks all!!!!