The Fact is - CooperFlags Logo is NOT MINI's LOGO...

Sure it has the Same essence... it is AT LEAST 40% differant and if this is MINI's Case... Go hit Steak and Shake.

Go hit - Toyota Corolla S

If all that matt need to do is Run a Circle around his logo... do it.

It is still NOT a MINI LOGO

The MINI Logo has Shorter "Wing's" with dilleniation of the "Feather's"
The COOPERFLAGS Logo has LONGER "WINGS" with COUNTRY FLAGS as the "Wing's"
The Center Circle is LARGER than MINI's
The OBVIOUS Mark Differences are THERE and More than 40% thusly Making the COOPERFLAGS LOGO and ORIGINAL LOGO.
The Steak and Shake Looks More lilke a MINI Logo but Again Here.. The Steak and Shake has More "wing" Lines and a CIRCLE around the WHOLE Image, with Text.
The Toyota Corolla S's S is VERY SIMILAR to The Cooper S's S.... the amount of differention is minimal and would be fought in court by degrees of angles and color. Toyota would win their defense.

This is just bullying. It's not about PRODUCT good or bad.

 

The question is where is the border? I think that a great fallback position is motoringmadness.com and well they have no ability to regulate content of that site, so "formerly known as minicooperonline.com" on the page would not be able to be touched.

For the others, well Motoringflags.com seems an allright idea, but this is a battle with a soulless heartless corporation.

 

Mighty, the difference is (and it's a HUGE difference) Steak 'n Shake are not trading on BMW/MINIs brand in any way shape of form. There is not a single person on the planet who thinks Steak n' Shake are someway affiliated with MINI. Steak 'n Shake sell nothing that MINI would find proprietary. The same can't be said for Cooperflags.

 

It is a notice to CHANGE their LOGO... Not their URL or NAME...

It is a Logo dispute, one which CooperFlags is not in Violation of.

 

notpaddy,

you are way out of line, you are using the S in your logo!!!!




>>As much as I would like to join the Us vs Them fray, I have to say:
>>
>>BMW is not the only one doing this. This is the new corporate world... and welcome to it. If manufacturers, or just simply trademark holders, do not demonstrate control over their trademarks and logos, they can lose them. The courts have essentially forced compaines like BMW into this type of behavior.
>>
>>Sorry, I know it doesn't make it right, but that is the way the modern world works.
>>
>>That is until the revolution comes. Then these legal bastards will be the first ones up against the wall!
>>
>>Ahem... going to take a pill now...
>>
>>Eric

 

This whole bruhaha is the reason that lawyers have the respect and affection of the public at large. Just like the public at large likes syphillis.

 

>>Mighty, the difference is (and it's a HUGE difference) Steak 'n Shake are not trading on BMW/MINIs brand in any way shape of form. There is not a single person on the planet who thinks Steak n' Shake are someway affiliated with MINI. Steak 'n Shake sell nothing that MINI would find proprietary. The same can't be said for Cooperflags.

And who thought that the WWF (World Wildlife Fund) had anything to do with the WWF (World Wrestling Federation)

Rocketboy_X

 

>>c) claim that it is, instead, a length of red tape

Hey, are you trying to get MY lawyers up in arms?!?

 

>>I still don't understand why someone would pay good money (bad money too) to put a logo of any kind from a corporation on a car, hat or tee-shirt?
>>
>>They should be paying us to advertise their products!
>>
>>I have never worn a NIKE logo shirt or a tee- shirt with the name of a band music group plastered on the chest.
>>
>>I wish I had a penny for every Nine Inch Nails decal I have seen. Just a freakin penny!
>>
>>Mona Cooper


That's a bit extreme...sure you're doing them a service, but it's for the explicit reason that you WANT to advertise for them. Mainly the music artist argument caught my eye, because since a lot of the artists I listen to aren't the mainstream artists that get a lot of radio play, I try to spread the word whenever possible because I do want them to flourish and don't expect a penny from it. "They" get more popular and hopefully produce more of the product you enjoy (for whatever reason). You can't honestly expect every consumer item in the world to not have a brand name on it...no company would survive.

Back on topic though, this could be pretty bad for the MINI 3rd party aftermarket (which I'm sure is part of their primary objectives) and it's hard enough to get anything for a MINI at a reasonable price. They're well aware of the fact that MINI is a popular, but niche product, so unlike Honda, they can't really benefit all that much by having a lot of 3rd party aftermarket goods available, so they might as well just monopolize on it themselves (at least as much as is possible). Fortunately this case is mainly with cosmetic accessories (so far). Not to mention, there are some customers that they can count on to help them to that effect (I still love a post I read suggesting trying to fix the infamous stumble by buying the JCW kit)

The used 'Vette that I saw at a dealer this past weekend (selling for the value of my MCS) looks even more tempting. Sadly, it's not quite practical enough for my current situation. The CooperFlags logo thing is absolute nonsense to the nth power. They sell me a car that has a problem moving away from a standstill (among other technical problems that are smaller in comparison), sandbag on fixing the issue, and then also try to start wiping out every alternative to "Genuine" (overpriced) MINI Accessories I'll have.

I think I've well decided that my MCS will very likely be the last MINI I ever buy...it's fun car (when it decides to get rolling) with nice style, but the road ahead looks bleak.

 

>>I still don't understand why someone would pay good money (bad money too) to put a logo of any kind from a corporation on a car, hat or tee-shirt?
>>
>>They should be paying us to advertise their products!
>>
>>I have never worn a NIKE logo shirt or a tee- shirt with the name of a band music group plastered on the chest.
>>
>>I wish I had a penny for every Nine Inch Nails decal I have seen. Just a freakin penny!
>>
>>Mona Cooper


Actually, the explanation is quite simple. Most humans, by nature, are social beings. As such, what we drive, how we dress, the "image" we present tells people something about us. Sometimes people dress to make a statement, sometimes they are simply looking for like minded individuals (hey, you drive a Mini too, that's cool, I wonder what else we have in common&quot...

Does it defacto work out to be advertising. Sure, but advertising is a hard thing to get away from these days ... radio, tv, magazines, clothing, on the table at your favorite restaurant (ok, except the really high-brow places), etc

I just checked, today I'm wearing a "Jeep" shirt, Gap jeans, New Balance sneakers, oh yeah and Haynes, but no-one can see the Haynes cause I don't wear my pants around my thighs

I wonder if I could by shirts and jeans without logos on them, that would seem like too much work, hmmmmmmmmmm I've got some tye-dies without logos, but aren't they still "advertising" the Dead??????

OK, that was a bit off topic, mea culpa

 

This has gotten to the point where I stopped reading all this BS about how pissed people are and that they are thinking of selling the MINI and buying something else. To me those people are not MINI people they are just people that like to complain if things don't go just the way they want it to. You should just realize no matter how mad you get its not going to change how the big coporate guru's run their companies. That's how they got so big. By squishing the little guy and running over anything that is dumb enough to stand in the way. Instead of fighting IMO a loosing battle , put your efforts towards another domain name and start again. If this site got this big because of the MINI it will survive with a new beginning. :smile: