Engraving lighters illegal?

[Ken Smith]

I get asked to print on lighters from time to time, so I asked Zippo whether they offered sublimation blanks. This is the response that I received directly from one of their district managers....

You asked, "does Zippo make a sublimation ready lighter so that small shops can print custom designs?" Unfortunately, the answer is "no." Zippo does not want any customization done outside of the factory in Pennsylvania. We do have a very extensive customizing department at the factory but we insist on all work being done at the factory so all customization passes factory quality control standards. To do customizing on Zippo products after they leave the factory is illegal.

I asked for further clarification specifically with regards to engraving, to which his response was....

"Local engraving of personalization (names, ititials, etc) is fine but after-market (non-factory) engraving or imprinting of designs and artwork is illegal."

In an effort to gain further understanding, I've provided him with a real world scenario where a groom wishes to provide his groomsmen with 10 lighters that are embellished with his family's coat of arms. Would having my local laser engraver mark them be illegal? Still awaiting their response.

I've also asked him to provide the legalese around their policy, and to specify which laws would be broken. If received, I will share it.

Just passing along some interesting information.



K

[Dan Hintz]

<chuckle> Sounds like an overzealous legal department. No, it's not illegal... once you purchased them, you can etch them in any manner you want. Apple, for example, says the warranty "may" be void, and they flat out tell you if an etched product comes in they won't return the same on... but it's not illegal.

[Joe Pelonio]

They just don't want the competition, as long as you don't apply a copyrighted image there's no way they can enforce that. If it were truly illegal they would have cited the applicable law. The most they can do is to invalidate any warranty on their product if engraved by someone else.

[Martin Boekers]

Hmmmmm I wonder if telling one that something is illegal when it isn't, just to try to intimidate them, as a veiled threat, is illegal in itself.

Marty

[Lee DeRaud]

Hmmmmm I wonder if telling one that something is illegal when it isn't, just to try to intimidate them, as a veiled threat, is illegal in itself.

Almost certainly...but good luck doing anything effective about it.

[Mike Null]

I question the entire statement you received from the person at Zippo. They have a number of engraver/distributors and distributors who sell to the engraving industry.

Engraving Zippos goes back to pre-WW2.

They do customize for clubs and organizations but that's not the same as personalizing.

[Ken Smith]

I figured as much. I was really surprised by their response. I mean, they are such a highly respected U.S. company. Their response reminded me of that thread where someone from another overzealous company said it was illegal to experiment with homebrew marking compounds. Yeah, right.

It's sort of like Hanes saying you can only monagram their t-shirts, not screenprint them, because it would compete with them. Or, as if Harley Davidson said only they could customize one of their bikes. Ridiculous.

K

[Kathy Madan]

We have engraved Zippos for over 20 years now. Now they probably aren't going to track me down all the way out here, but I have never had an issue. I have sent some back for warranty work and they will often replace, rather than repair and I have had to re-engrave for some customers. Never once have they ever indicated I was being "illegal". What a crock.

I am sure they just don't want you producing quantities of a design on their product and selling it.

[Ken Smith]

I understand the difference. Zippo is saying that personalization is OK. But, that customization is not.

So, what about when a club or organization asks an engraver for 100 lighters marked with the club's logo (copyright approved). And, they have the intent to sell them as a fundraiser. Is it OK to take the job? Zippo is saying no.

K

[Dan Hintz]

Zippo can not specify how, when why, or how you engrave and sell their lighters. The only no-no is modifying it and selling it as a Zippo... they don't want people to get hurt and incorrectly blame Zippo.

[Frank Corker]

They must be after every engraver who has ever lived! What a crock.

[Ken Smith]

I've asked the contact at Zippo to join the Creek and weigh in directly on this thread.

K

[Greg Bednar]

Ooh Oh! I hope nobody gets a spanking! Well over 400 million Zippo lighters produced. I would think the company would be honored engravers and craftsman would want to embellish a Zippo which seems to be the de facto lighter of preference in the known universe. I sincerely hope this doesn't turn into some kind on Zippogate.

[Rodne Gold]

Well , let me tell you , strictly speaking the using homebrew compounds like plaster of paris is in breach of the patent that cermarl/thermark hold and that is using any compound and a laser to mark a metal/glass/whatever object. Check the scope of the patent.
You can sublimate ANYTHING btw - all you have to do is apply a polyester coating or any other coating that accepts the inks - we used to do it here but it became a schlep.

[Andrea Weissenseel]

I am sure they just don't want you producing quantities of a design on their product and selling it.

That's what I think too. It's a big difference if you offer ready engraved lighters (which you can't) or customize them for your customers - I'm not a lawyer, just MHO.

Other than that, if companies act like this, I go by my Grandma's saying "other mothers have pretty sons too"

Andrea