CSX Licensing

[IRONROOSTER]

If I understand their program correctly UP wants 3% of tradmark items or 1.5% of total sales, plus they want to see the books. CSX looks like they want a $1 or slightly less for large quantities per item. That's for the manufacturer so that bumps wholesale by $1, retail by $2. In both cases they want it up front. So if the manufacturer wants something for the extra overhead (paper work and cost of capital - i.e. borrowing the up front money), then it is more. On a $100 item (retail price) that looks to be $3+ for UP and $2+ for CSX. On a per item basis CSX would be less percentage wise on the more expensive items, but more on cheaper items.
Enjoy
Paul

[StillGrande]

CSX Trademark Licensing Program

Trademarks and service marks are precious corporate assets

CSX Corporation and its subsidiaries (“CSX”) convey their corporate image through trademarks, service marks and slogans, which promote recognition and communicate a sense of relationship among the companies within the CSX corporate umbrella. Service marks and trademarks are the names associated with services or goods. Proper use of the marks reinforces their distinctive identity and value, while unauthorized use and variation of the marks dilutes and undermines their marketing strength, the owner’s trademark rights and the economic value of the intellectual property asset.

No CSX marks may be used by third parties without express permission of the company that owns the mark, generally expressed in the form of a written permission or license.


All the applications can be found at
http://www.csxt.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=company.trademark

Most of the applications seem to be 2 pages (or less) of checkmarks (including model railroad items) fill in the blanks type questions. I noted a "fee" on the for-profit form, but not the non-profit.

The licensing form lists fees of up to $500 for 3+ reporting marks (there are 12 railroad names or entities listed, plus an "other" category) for making up to 500 items. Over 500 is "TBD" by CSX.

Given all the uproar over the UP program, I would be curious to see what Up is charging and why that translates into a $5+ bump in "licensed" manufacturers' products.

FYI and input