BTW Mark, even if you have to change the name, hold on to the domains https://www.northamericanmotoring.com and http://www.mini-motion.com and make them PAY you for them if they want them!! YOU have the right to keep the domains, since YOU registered them first! Don't give up! We're all behind you 100%!

 

BMWNA/MINIUSA
Take notice! This post has been up for one day. It has been viewed by over 10,000 people and 360 replies.
Enough said!
Charles

Updated 5 AUG 03 6:30 PM/C

 

>> "You are what you do" would fit here and Jack Pitney should be held accountable for the damage that his aggressive legal abuse causes to the value of our cars and clubs.

That is right on the point. I just told my dealer to hold my THIRD MINI order (I have 2 cars now) because, among other things, BMWNA just destroyed the resale value of my present cars.

If I can't trust them on the fuzzy warm feeling they say I should have, how can I trust them when they tell me they are selling me a quality product? Or that they will stand behind problems.

I love this car. I now hate this company. I have had 6 BMW autos over time. I would really, truely like to own the 7th, but there are a lot of car makers out there I KNOW are trying to screw me. At least with them, I can trust them in that they call a spade a spade. I know what I will be getting and I know to watch out.

Et tu, Brutus? You said you were my friend.

 

>>BMWNA/MINIUSA
>>Take notice! This post has been up for one day. It has been viewed by over 8,750 people and 325 replies.
>>Enough said!
>>Charles

 

Hang tough Mark, you know you've got our moral support. Financial support is there also, just say the word.

I think a big problem for BMW is that it they are not limiting themselves to US domain names. Can you say backlash? Just think how Brits will be up in arms over this! If this is not the case, then it seems that BMW is using MCO as a scapegoat versus other domains that function similarly. Why did they wait until now? That does not make sense either. If the MINI name was such an important issue, they would have made this clear at the start. I am speculating, but I hope this legally works against them.

I can't wait to read this story in papers and see the bad PR for BMWNA.

I wonder how many BMWNA/MINI attorneys own MINIs? Probably zilch since they obviously do not possess the Motoring spirit!

 

>>>> "You are what you do" would fit here and Jack Pitney should be held accountable for the damage that his aggressive legal abuse causes to the value of our cars and clubs.
>>
>>That is right on the point. I just told my dealer to hold my THIRD MINI order (I have 2 cars now) because, among other things, BMWNA just destroyed the resale value of my present cars.
>>
>>If I can't trust them on the fuzzy warm feeling they say I should have, how can I trust them when they tell me they are selling me a quality product? Or that they will stand behind problems.
>>
>>I love this car. I now hate this company. I have had 6 BMW autos over time. I would really, truely like to own the 7th, but there are a lot of car makers out there I KNOW are trying to screw me. At least with them, I can trust them in that they call a spade a spade. I know what I will be getting and I know to watch out.
>>
>>Et tu, Brutus? You said you were my friend.
>>
>>


Pardon my utter ignorance, but how this deplorable legal action is going to affect the resale value of our cars? Has this been verified in a dealers only used car auction?

I think if we come to a conclusion like this, we need to back it up.

 

>>>>>> "You are what you do" would fit here and Jack Pitney should be held accountable for the damage that his aggressive legal abuse causes to the value of our cars and clubs.
>>>>
>>>>That is right on the point. I just told my dealer to hold my THIRD MINI order (I have 2 cars now) because, among other things, BMWNA just destroyed the resale value of my present cars.
>>>>
>>>>If I can't trust them on the fuzzy warm feeling they say I should have, how can I trust them when they tell me they are selling me a quality product? Or that they will stand behind problems.
>>>>
>>>>I love this car. I now hate this company. I have had 6 BMW autos over time. I would really, truely like to own the 7th, but there are a lot of car makers out there I KNOW are trying to screw me. At least with them, I can trust them in that they call a spade a spade. I know what I will be getting and I know to watch out.
>>>>
>>>>Et tu, Brutus? You said you were my friend.
>>>>
>>>>
>>
>>
>>Pardon my utter ignorance, but how this deplorable legal action is going to affect the resale value of our cars? Has this been verified in a dealers only used car auction?
>>
>>I think if we come to a conclusion like this, we need to back it up.

i would not buy a new or used mini now with this kind of treatment of their fan base. im now looking at the rx8

 

>>>>>>>> "You are what you do" would fit here and Jack Pitney should be held accountable for the damage that his aggressive legal abuse causes to the value of our cars and clubs.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>That is right on the point. I just told my dealer to hold my THIRD MINI order (I have 2 cars now) because, among other things, BMWNA just destroyed the resale value of my present cars.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>If I can't trust them on the fuzzy warm feeling they say I should have, how can I trust them when they tell me they are selling me a quality product? Or that they will stand behind problems.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I love this car. I now hate this company. I have had 6 BMW autos over time. I would really, truely like to own the 7th, but there are a lot of car makers out there I KNOW are trying to screw me. At least with them, I can trust them in that they call a spade a spade. I know what I will be getting and I know to watch out.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Et tu, Brutus? You said you were my friend.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Pardon my utter ignorance, but how this deplorable legal action is going to affect the resale value of our cars? Has this been verified in a dealers only used car auction?
>>>>
>>>>I think if we come to a conclusion like this, we need to back it up.
>>
>>i would not buy a new or used mini now with this kind of treatment of their fan base. im now looking at the rx8
>>
Well this stinks and I think the sleazy BMW NA lawyers need to backoff and realize the extent of the damage they are doing as we speak. But having said that, I have no plans to cancel my existing order. I like the car I like the product and honestly nothing else in the market in the same price range will do for me now. At the end of the day BMW/MINI are a car company in the business of making money like all other foreign and domestic companies do.

I find this witch hunt activity depressing but this is the reality of corporate America today. I still think the legal profession is filled with scum and I am glad that I never had the slightest inclination to pursue that profession. I think the "Legal team" should concentrate in lighting up a fire under BMW's management honchos in Bavaria to address and fix some of the critical quality issues still affecting the product.

 

MINI USA's advertising budget to launch the new MINI was just under $15 million. In the big world of advertising, this is a SMALL amount to launch a new product. "$15 Million in ad dollars sold 24,590 new MINIs last year." * Really??

Do we really think a few billboards and some ads in Playboy led us to purchase a MINI? NO! We were going to buy them anyway! We wanted our MINIs, we educated ourselves, and we shared our enthusiasm with other MINI lovers. We learned from our sponsors, from MCO, and other small business owners how to improve upon and customize our MINIs as well as how to maximize the MINI potential.

MINIUSA/BMW - PLEASE! YOU OWE MINI enthusiasts and MCO THANKS not GRIEF!!! We are baffled!

Ads in 20 Magazines: $3.2 Million

Live MINI appearances (Shea Stadium, etc), Billboards, and a "Motoring Handbook": $11.8 Million

Devoted enthusiasts, information vehicles (MCO/Sponsors), and positive word of mouth: PRICELESS. (sorry mastercard!)

*Source: Mediaweek, June 23, 2003 Vol. 13 No. 25

 

MINIDIVISION: You owe us and Mark Ferguson an open explanation. Why haven't you replied??

We are all waiting to hear from you.

 

Hmm, why haven't we heard about VW getting bent out of shape about VWVortex.com or Audiworld.com - both of which utilize the marque's product names in their online titles and are supported by vendor revenue from sponsorship links...

 

i drove a friend of mine's mini s a couple of weeks ago and had the fever to get one. i found this site the next day and have been going through all the threads on performance and the int/ext mods to see what i could do to mine when i purchased it. This thing has tarnished the mini for me.

This is bad form on bmw's part. to me, they could save face and guaranty another sale of a fully loaded mini s if they dropped this issue.

or maybe i should just go back to mod'n old VW's

 

>>MINIDIVISION: You owe us and Mark Ferguson an open explanation. Why haven't you replied??
>>
>>We are all waiting to hear from you.

I've said it before and I'll say it again...
MINIDIVISION is an android!!!!

 

This whole mess should not surprise anyone. This is one of the reasons there is so much hate for the New MINI in the UK from the Classic folks. The BMW Gestapo marched thru England before they got to the USA with this same stuff. Imagine what is was like there with the Classic Mini people getting it like we are here now. The big MINI retailers in the UK are already in the pocket of BMW, why do you think they can keep their names. Protesting this is the only way to open peoples eyes. Public support is the only way to win. Good luck Mark.

 

I've signed the petition as I know the rest of you will. Everthing that has been needed to be said has been said.
So to you, MINIUSA and BMW/AG, all I will add to this is a borrowed and slighty paraphrased quote from a famous 70's TV show.

"Don't make us angry, you wouldn't like us when we are angry!"

 

Trademark law is weird. Sometimes you have to go after somebody you don't really want to. If you don't vigorously protect your TM against any and all possible violations, no matter how trivial, you weaken your ability to defend against more serious violations in the future.

While this seems heavy-handed, its not the end of the world and somewhat understandable.

cocona.org and cocona.com both are available. Cooper Owners Club (or Community) Of North Amercia. Ko-Ko-Na has a nice, jingly sound to it that kinda sticks in your memory.

 

 

Congratulations to Kevin Wong, for being the 100th person to sign the minicooperonline.com online petition.

Now who will be number 1000? 10000?

 

>>Congratulations to Kevin Wong, for being the 100th person to sign the minicooperonline.com online petition.
>>
>

_________________

 

>>BTW Mark, even if you have to change the name, hold on to the domains https://www.northamericanmotoring.com and http://www.mini-motion.com and make them PAY you for them if they want them!! YOU have the right to keep the domains, since YOU registered them first! Don't give up! We're all behind you 100%!

That logic doesn't apply anymore. If a name is trademarked, the trademark owner has the right to secure the domain without compensation. The rub here is who owns minicopperonline as a trademark? If Mark can show a legitimate business reason for owning the domain, which I think he does, he has a leg to stand on. Only thing is, Minidivision has much deeper pockets. I think our best bet is to continue with this wave of grassroots support. Man, if anyone has any contacts with the automotive or business media, this would be a great story. Heck, I think I'll send this on to Brandweek.

 

>>Thanks to Clover for drafting the petition. The official version is now ready to be signed.
>>
>>
>>


I had to run some errands and when I got back the petition was completed!
I just signed it!

 

Just signed it.

 

If BMW goes after MCO, they HAVE to go after EVERY MINI URL out there, otherwise their complaint is moot and discrimination... of course the compilation of Mini + Cooper is a bit easier to nail, but they have Stated that they will not allow any use of the Word MINI.

 

if it wasnt for this site my mini might not be sitting in my drive way right now... this site gave me confidence and made me love the mini much much more when i seen how every 1 loves theres and it showed me the car was special... so this site help Mini make $26000 i think they should beg u to KEEP the site... rawk on

 

>> and i would be happy to sport a sticker on my car that says "BMW SUCKS!"

For those so inclined, click on this link to download a Word file suitable for fullpage printing and putting in your window (like in my signature).

_________________
/// M3 - Attitude! = MINI Cooper S