Legals issues for MCO, businesses with MINI in their names,
2nd Gear
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 112
Likes: 11
From: St. Petersburg, FL
#1320 - just thought I'd suggest (if no one already has) you may want to mention politely that you'll be inclined to express "general displeasure" in future customer satisfaction survey's. I think they pay real attention to those ratings.
It's really unfortunate that we have to dwell on such a negative topic. Now that I've signed, I'm not visiting this thread intil it's over. I remain confident the MINI USA folks will convince the BMW folks to do the right thing.
I'm outta here.
It's really unfortunate that we have to dwell on such a negative topic. Now that I've signed, I'm not visiting this thread intil it's over. I remain confident the MINI USA folks will convince the BMW folks to do the right thing.
I'm outta here.
6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 4,241
Likes: 0
From: USA
Well as stated earlier BMW lost a sale. I had contemplated another
BMW motorcycle and after this BS I purchased a Kawasaki today.
They even have an enthsiasts site that, for shame, carries the name
of the bike. Bad show BMW!!!
BMW motorcycle and after this BS I purchased a Kawasaki today.
They even have an enthsiasts site that, for shame, carries the name
of the bike. Bad show BMW!!!
4th Gear
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 529
Likes: 0
From: Sarasota, FL
I don't know if anyone has mentioned it yet. It's possible I missed it with the other 600 replies, but the miniusa site has taken minicooperonline down as one of their links.
http://on.miniusa.com/minilinks.jsp
Pretty petty.
http://on.miniusa.com/minilinks.jsp
Pretty petty.
6th Gear
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,010
Likes: 0
From: Austin,Texas
>>I don't know if anyone has mentioned it yet. It's possible I missed it with the other 600 replies, but the miniusa site has taken minicooperonline down as one of their links.
>>
>>http://on.miniusa.com/minilinks.jsp
>>
>>Pretty petty.
Color me surprised!
I'm sure the link will be back once they settle this name thing!
>>
>>http://on.miniusa.com/minilinks.jsp
>>
>>Pretty petty.
Color me surprised!
I'm sure the link will be back once they settle this name thing!
Banned
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,805
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles, Ca
"I'm sure the link will be back once they settle this name thing! "
You mean Once They OWN the url and Fill it with THEIR Content Hoping to absorb the memberships by osmosis... Right?
You mean Once They OWN the url and Fill it with THEIR Content Hoping to absorb the memberships by osmosis... Right?
6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,330
Likes: 0
From: VA Beach
>>I don't know if anyone has mentioned it yet. It's possible I missed it with the other 600 replies, but the miniusa site has taken minicooperonline down as one of their links.
>>
>>http://on.miniusa.com/minilinks.jsp
>>
>>Pretty petty.
Yeah, it was mentioned somewhere in the middle (toward the beginning?), and they even posted a screen capture of the MINIUSA site from months ago that included the link back here.
BTW, has anyone else noticed that this thread has had over NINETEEN THOUSAND Views??
>>
>>http://on.miniusa.com/minilinks.jsp
>>
>>Pretty petty.
Yeah, it was mentioned somewhere in the middle (toward the beginning?), and they even posted a screen capture of the MINIUSA site from months ago that included the link back here.
BTW, has anyone else noticed that this thread has had over NINETEEN THOUSAND Views??
Neutral
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: PDX
The MCO legal team should take note of this -- if MiniUSA acquiesced in the name of the site by linking to it while it grew and grew, MCO may have a detrimental-reliance/estoppel-type argument . . . Or even an implied license based on the apparent permission to use the name and the benefits that flowed to BMW and MiniUSA from the MCO site (hence the linking to it . . . )
>>I don't know if anyone has mentioned it yet. It's possible I missed it with the other 600 replies, but the miniusa site has taken minicooperonline down as one of their links.
>>
>>http://on.miniusa.com/minilinks.jsp
>>
>>Pretty petty.
>>I don't know if anyone has mentioned it yet. It's possible I missed it with the other 600 replies, but the miniusa site has taken minicooperonline down as one of their links.
>>
>>http://on.miniusa.com/minilinks.jsp
>>
>>Pretty petty.
4th Gear
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 548
Likes: 1
From: Cramerton, NC
The MCO legal team should take note of this -- if MiniUSA acquiesced in the name of the site by linking to it while it grew and grew, MCO may have a detrimental-reliance/estoppel-type argument . . . Or even an implied license based on the apparent permission to use the name and the benefits that flowed to BMW and MiniUSA from the MCO site (hence the linking to it . . . )
See ya,
JS
Neutral
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: melbourne fl
If you are serious and want to get listened to, buy a single share of their stock, and start registering offical complaints about the actions of the management to the investor relations officer. Thousands of complaints from minority shareholders get noticed.
6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,422
Likes: 0
From: Lockport, NY, USA
Craftly thinking lately...
Re: Debadging... better than doing a MINI style debadging, why not remove all the stickers with BMW on it and mail them back. That might be a much better statment...
Re: Sending mail...
Why bother spending money on a stamp when you can have MINI send a postcard? What could be better than voicing your protest on a MINI postcard sent to BMW?
http://www.miniusa.com/link/motoron/sendacard
Rocketboy_X
Re: Debadging... better than doing a MINI style debadging, why not remove all the stickers with BMW on it and mail them back. That might be a much better statment...
Re: Sending mail...
Why bother spending money on a stamp when you can have MINI send a postcard? What could be better than voicing your protest on a MINI postcard sent to BMW?
http://www.miniusa.com/link/motoron/sendacard
Rocketboy_X
Banned
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,805
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles, Ca
>>Re: Sending mail...
>>Why bother spending money on a stamp when you can have MINI send a postcard? What could be better than voicing your protest on a MINI postcard sent to BMW?
>>http://www.miniusa.com/link/motoron/sendacard
Brilliant
And ... We can do this on the beach, Slappy.
3rd Gear
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 217
Likes: 0
From: Southern CA
I've primarily been a lurker here... and honestly have only posted on the MCO v BMW NA issue. I just posted the following on MINI USA.com
Let's abuse a website that we've been members of for over a year (user MINI Division at minicooperonline.com). Let's remove the link to that website from our website, and hope no one notices. Let's suddenly, after dozens of posts, go "inactive" on that website. Let's tick off our existing customer base. Let's launch a new lifestyle product line and then demand ownership of mini-motion.com because we'd look really silly going after the elf and fairy painters on minimotion.com. Let's all go check out http://www.minimotion.com and see that it really is a website dedicated to fairies, elves & pixies. Let's deprive ourselves of one of our most effective marketing tools--the voices of satisified owners. Let's be a faceless corporation frustrated by the fact that customers have brains, internet access, and the ability to take action on perceived shortcomings of our product. Let's take out our frustrations on minicooperonline.com. Let's set loose attorneys on one guy who happens to be a MINI enthusiast. Let's **** off his friends. Let's be embarrassed by his friends responses to our own actions. Let's try and pretend it isn't happening.
Let's motor.
Are you getting the hint, Mr. Pitney? Your lawyers are screwing up all your new-found corporate good will. This is definitely not a good thing for a fledgling company.
Find a way to settle with minicooperonline.com. Your company's involvement--for about a year--in the site makes your claim of trademark infringement tenuous at best. License it to MCO, for goodness' sake--perhaps in exchange for the rights to mini-motion.com?
Call off the lawyers!
_________________
2003 LY and B MC R81 wheels Looking for stripes and a spoiler because ... they make me go faster, Mom!
Let's abuse a website that we've been members of for over a year (user MINI Division at minicooperonline.com). Let's remove the link to that website from our website, and hope no one notices. Let's suddenly, after dozens of posts, go "inactive" on that website. Let's tick off our existing customer base. Let's launch a new lifestyle product line and then demand ownership of mini-motion.com because we'd look really silly going after the elf and fairy painters on minimotion.com. Let's all go check out http://www.minimotion.com and see that it really is a website dedicated to fairies, elves & pixies. Let's deprive ourselves of one of our most effective marketing tools--the voices of satisified owners. Let's be a faceless corporation frustrated by the fact that customers have brains, internet access, and the ability to take action on perceived shortcomings of our product. Let's take out our frustrations on minicooperonline.com. Let's set loose attorneys on one guy who happens to be a MINI enthusiast. Let's **** off his friends. Let's be embarrassed by his friends responses to our own actions. Let's try and pretend it isn't happening.
Let's motor.
Are you getting the hint, Mr. Pitney? Your lawyers are screwing up all your new-found corporate good will. This is definitely not a good thing for a fledgling company.
Find a way to settle with minicooperonline.com. Your company's involvement--for about a year--in the site makes your claim of trademark infringement tenuous at best. License it to MCO, for goodness' sake--perhaps in exchange for the rights to mini-motion.com?
Call off the lawyers!
_________________
2003 LY and B MC R81 wheels Looking for stripes and a spoiler because ... they make me go faster, Mom!
3rd Gear
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 217
Likes: 0
From: Southern CA
>>
>>>>Re: Sending mail...
>>>>Why bother spending money on a stamp when you can have MINI send a postcard? What could be better than voicing your protest on a MINI postcard sent to BMW?
>>>>http://www.miniusa.com/link/motoron/sendacard
>>
Any body got MINI USA's real world address?
or Jack Pitney's e-mail address?? Or better yet, BMW NA's attorneys' e-mail address?
_________________
2003 LY and B MC R81 wheels Looking for stripes and a spoiler because ... they make me go faster, Mom!
>>>>Re: Sending mail...
>>>>Why bother spending money on a stamp when you can have MINI send a postcard? What could be better than voicing your protest on a MINI postcard sent to BMW?
>>>>http://www.miniusa.com/link/motoron/sendacard
>>
Any body got MINI USA's real world address?
or Jack Pitney's e-mail address?? Or better yet, BMW NA's attorneys' e-mail address?
_________________
2003 LY and B MC R81 wheels Looking for stripes and a spoiler because ... they make me go faster, Mom!
Banned
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,805
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles, Ca
Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
Address:
Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
Petuelring 130
D-80788 Muenchen,
Fed Rep Germany
CONTACT INFORMATION
Correspondent (Owner)
Donald D. Evenson (Attorney of record)
DONALD D. EVENSON
CROWELL & MORING LLP
P.O. BOX 14300
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20044-4300
Phone Number: (202) 624-2500
Fax Number: (202) 628-8844
Domestic Representative
Crowell & Moring LLP
Phone Number: (202) 624-2500
Fax Number: (202) 628-8844
BMW Of North America, LLC
Chris Pezzolla
300 Chestnut Ridge Road - Dept. ZU-F-44
Woodcliff Lake, NJ 07677
US
Phone: 2013073850
Fax..: 2019303201
Email: webmaster@bmwna.com
Does this help
Address:
Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
Petuelring 130
D-80788 Muenchen,
Fed Rep Germany
CONTACT INFORMATION
Correspondent (Owner)
Donald D. Evenson (Attorney of record)
DONALD D. EVENSON
CROWELL & MORING LLP
P.O. BOX 14300
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20044-4300
Phone Number: (202) 624-2500
Fax Number: (202) 628-8844
Domestic Representative
Crowell & Moring LLP
Phone Number: (202) 624-2500
Fax Number: (202) 628-8844
BMW Of North America, LLC
Chris Pezzolla
300 Chestnut Ridge Road - Dept. ZU-F-44
Woodcliff Lake, NJ 07677
US
Phone: 2013073850
Fax..: 2019303201
Email: webmaster@bmwna.com
Does this help
6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,422
Likes: 0
From: Lockport, NY, USA
You can now kick back and relax while we take care of your mail for you. Your friend(s) should receive their MINI postcard within 2-3 weeks.
Don't forget the e-cards either...
Rocketboy_X
(PS to MINIUSA... Ummm, that's NOT my friend I sent a card to....
)Rocketboy_X
1st Gear
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: Kansas City
>> Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
>>
>> Address:
>> Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
>> Petuelring 130
>> D-80788 Muenchen,
>> Fed Rep Germany
>>
>>
>>CONTACT INFORMATION
>>
>>Correspondent (Owner)
>>Donald D. Evenson (Attorney of record)
>>
>>DONALD D. EVENSON
>>CROWELL & MORING LLP
>>P.O. BOX 14300
>>WASHINGTON, D.C. 20044-4300
>>
>>Phone Number: (202) 624-2500
>>Fax Number: (202) 628-8844
>>
>> Domestic Representative
>>Crowell & Moring LLP
>>Phone Number: (202) 624-2500
>>Fax Number: (202) 628-8844
>>
>> BMW Of North America, LLC
DONALD D. EVENSON email address is devenson@crowell.com this came from Crowell & Moring website. Their tag line is Your guide to the top. Climb safely. Aaa sure whatever, unless your the little guy.
_________________
<b>Jman</b>
<img border="0" src="http://www.mini2.com/gallery/persona...006f.jpg" width="460" height="110">
LY S, 3 packs, clr tails, tint, alum pedals, Whalen, y&b check roof, chrome int.</p>
>>
>> Address:
>> Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
>> Petuelring 130
>> D-80788 Muenchen,
>> Fed Rep Germany
>>
>>
>>CONTACT INFORMATION
>>
>>Correspondent (Owner)
>>Donald D. Evenson (Attorney of record)
>>
>>DONALD D. EVENSON
>>CROWELL & MORING LLP
>>P.O. BOX 14300
>>WASHINGTON, D.C. 20044-4300
>>
>>Phone Number: (202) 624-2500
>>Fax Number: (202) 628-8844
>>
>> Domestic Representative
>>Crowell & Moring LLP
>>Phone Number: (202) 624-2500
>>Fax Number: (202) 628-8844
>>
>> BMW Of North America, LLC
DONALD D. EVENSON email address is devenson@crowell.com this came from Crowell & Moring website. Their tag line is Your guide to the top. Climb safely. Aaa sure whatever, unless your the little guy.
_________________
<b>Jman</b>
<img border="0" src="http://www.mini2.com/gallery/persona...006f.jpg" width="460" height="110">
LY S, 3 packs, clr tails, tint, alum pedals, Whalen, y&b check roof, chrome int.</p>
3rd Gear
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 186
Likes: 0
From: Tarrytown, New York
I just wanted all of my fellow members to know that not only did Mark take the time to send me an e-mail to make sure I was aware if the recent events here aat MCO, he just responded to my reply in less than 15 minutes! Kudos for all of his efforts and hard work during this trying time!
2nd Gear
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
From: Philadelphia, PA
Hello Everyone!!
Now I know why I joined this enthuisiastic community of MINI Owners!!!
PASSION!!!
OK, does anyone have the name, title, email and snail-mail addresses for the following?
President - BMW NA?
President - MINI USA?
Head of Dealership Relations?
Head of Sales?
Head of Marketing?
Head of Public Relations?
The only names I seem to find on these threads are Jack Pitney (no addresses or title) and the attorneys (who will certainly NOT listen to us!).
Scott
Now I know why I joined this enthuisiastic community of MINI Owners!!!
PASSION!!!
OK, does anyone have the name, title, email and snail-mail addresses for the following?
President - BMW NA?
President - MINI USA?
Head of Dealership Relations?
Head of Sales?
Head of Marketing?
Head of Public Relations?
The only names I seem to find on these threads are Jack Pitney (no addresses or title) and the attorneys (who will certainly NOT listen to us!).
Scott