[njsteve]

[ QUOTE ]
Some one please correct me if I am wrong, but as I recall Jim Osborne was arrested in an FBI raid in 1988 at his place of business.

The government's issues were:

1. The reproduction of decals that were not licensed by GM, and

2. The reproduction of the Blue Certification stickers.

I think they actually locked him up at first. Osborne agreed to quit selling the blue certification stickers and to give GM a cut on the rest of the decals and then he continued in business.

I think some case law since then has clairified the Government's position in these matters since - but what happened to Jim back then was Scary indeed.

Phil

[/ QUOTE ]

Another thing I just recalled. (a rather important point actually) The "crimes" alleged were Federal copyright and trademark infringement/counterfeit labeling and not VIN-related crimes. Once the licensing agreements were signed, the case pretty much went away.