Could someone make the volkswagen beetle today?

Question

If someone wanted to manufacture a car that was identical to a volkswagen beetle, today, could they? Don't patents run out after a certain time? Or does Volkswagen still have the right to that design somehow? If you wanted to make something almost identical how close could you get? I am just curious how this works.

Canadian bacon, sorry.. I forgot about that.. I was thinking of the old designs.

Let's say it was something else.. like an old bicycle.. something that didn't have safety constraints. Could you copy it then? Let's say it was an old TV design. Or an old refigerator.. etc.. etc.. but soemthing distinctive. Could you manufacture it identically and sell it? Or do companies always have the rights to the design?

So hyothetically.. let's say there weren't design constraints for safety of the old volkswagon beetle.. could you manufacture it identically and sell it but under a different name? So call it the HarisonFjord Armadillo.. haha You get the idea..

Answer 1

Companies will go to any length to prevent someone infringing on a patient or even a trade mark.

These examples may answer your VW question.

A few years ago, counterfeit Levi Strauss Jeans were being produced in Europe. Levi had to layoff almost 50 percent of the US work force. Sales of Levis dropped 90 percent in Europe.
Levi sent a team to Europe and Asia to take care of business.

All companies have Legal teams and world wide associates to handle patient infringements and trade mark disputes.

A company in China was producing Counterfeit or Knock off windshields for Toyotas....exact, right Down to the etched name Toyota. So, Toyota went through its China contacts and took care of business.

Now, you could produce a VW in your garage as a hobby or a craft. But, If you tried to sell or trade that Item for an exchange of Goods. I can assure you that the complete VW Team would be at your door.

Can you imagine the market for a Classic Corvette or Mustang?

Answer 2

LOL I have one. I would not recommend this car if you life in California because it needs to be smogged once a year and many business won't do it because this car clogs the filters. Also nobody makes the smog required engine parts like the EGR valve anymore so you couldn't be smog legal even if you were a billionaire as nobody has these spare parts on hand new or used. If the body looks very clean with no rust, the car would go for around $10,000 in garage kept condition. In fair condition it would go anywhere from $500 to $2,000. The car is worth whatever you can get the highest bidder to pay for it.

Answer 3

VW still makes the beetle...

As far as coming close to a patented design, that's a good question. I think usually patents are more about how the thing works, not so much visual appearance.

Answer 4

There are "design patents" (the shape of a "Coca-Cola" bottle, for example) as well as "utility patents" (the light bulb, etc.).

You would require the tooling to stamp the sheet metal. If you wanted to recreate this from scratch, you would want to spread that astronomical cost over a lot of cars. otherwise, you would have to be a lord on the "English wheel" (look it up on Wikipedia).

Patents last 20 years from date of filing.

Copyright and trademark is forever, as long as you prevent your mark from slipping into common parlance and usage ("Aspirin" used to be trademarked).

Answer 5

No, it wouldnt pass safety requirements.