Legals issues for MCO, businesses with MINI in their names,
6th Gear
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,265
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From: Dunedin, FL, USA
MCO is a online community that does an outstanding job of promoting the fun of owning a MINI... bringing together both potential, anxiously awaiting, and current MINI owners. It is a know fact that bringing together owners improves overall owner satisfaction and loyalty.
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Alta pulley, Stebro exhaust, Pipercross intake, Progress rear anti-sway bar.
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[img]albums/album25/ama.gif[/img]VinceAndJessica.com
Alta pulley, Stebro exhaust, Pipercross intake, Progress rear anti-sway bar.
6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 7,062
Likes: 1
From: Boston, MA
>>MCO.com .org .net etc.. are all taken already everyone.
For what it's worth, www.mco.ws is available.
For what it's worth, www.mco.ws is available.
6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,432
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just called 866-ask-mini....voiced my concern.
They said they hadn't heard anything about it...I told them to prepare for a barrage of phone calls.
He stated that MINIUSA has a staff of people that do nothing but monitor these sites.
well, WAKE UP MINI! Your success greatly depends on the "community" that has been established by minicooperonline.com and other community websites that promote MINI motoring! DON'T RUIN IT NOW!
MINI's attitude makes me want to sell my MINI. I'll go buy another car. I'm not joking.
What would happen to the value of MINIs if the calssifieds were full of ads of "best offer" :???:
They said they hadn't heard anything about it...I told them to prepare for a barrage of phone calls.
He stated that MINIUSA has a staff of people that do nothing but monitor these sites.
well, WAKE UP MINI! Your success greatly depends on the "community" that has been established by minicooperonline.com and other community websites that promote MINI motoring! DON'T RUIN IT NOW!
MINI's attitude makes me want to sell my MINI. I'll go buy another car. I'm not joking.
What would happen to the value of MINIs if the calssifieds were full of ads of "best offer" :???:
3rd Gear
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 243
Likes: 0
Everytime I've seen this, it's not the company but the lawyers that take it to the extreme. I'm sure BMW Mini loves this site. But their lawyers can't see a gray area. They only see black and white.
I wouldn't fight it because of the cost. But if they make you change your name, I'll fight it by tossing anything that I own that promotes the Mini Cooper (but the car). I'll toss all the cool stuff they sent me, all my shirts with their logo I bought and the stuffed Mini Bulldog my wife bought.
In short, if they don't want to promote their product on a positive web site, then why should I promote it for them. Not online that, this is the number one positve Mini web site. If anything they should just make a deal with you. Like a link to their site for free (like to mini.com)
As for name changes,
Can you do
MConline.com or something like that. OK, starting to get worked up here.
I wouldn't fight it because of the cost. But if they make you change your name, I'll fight it by tossing anything that I own that promotes the Mini Cooper (but the car). I'll toss all the cool stuff they sent me, all my shirts with their logo I bought and the stuffed Mini Bulldog my wife bought.
In short, if they don't want to promote their product on a positive web site, then why should I promote it for them. Not online that, this is the number one positve Mini web site. If anything they should just make a deal with you. Like a link to their site for free (like to mini.com)
As for name changes,
Can you do
MConline.com or something like that. OK, starting to get worked up here.
6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,244
Likes: 0
From: Speedway
IMO, I bet some copywriters were wrapping up "MINI Motion" rights and came across the likeness of one mini-motion.com domain registered to MCO prior to their press release. Someone upstairs ***** themselves and now we have this.
2nd Gear
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
From: Fort Lauderdale, FL
I can not understand what I am reading here. I do, but cannot imagine MINI / BMW taking such a hard line. I agree with all the threads here, and have changed my sig to reflect it Mark ! I DO feel before this escalates out of your control, right now you should put up one thread, this or another, to capture all comments to be forwarded to MINI USA / BMW EACH AND EVERY SINGLE DAY from this point forward. AND I do not just mean MINI USA, I mean MINI BMW Europe !
As all have commented, this is a rediculous tactic on their part, and towards a sight that promotes the product alltogether. IF they go chase all the other commerical sights the same as they are you, then they will without doubt kill the brand as people are people, they will rebell if for no other reason it is a corporate entity. Further, you will see meets stop, one of which I just attended, and all other "community" things. NOW that will slump the sales end, and then perhaps they will come to their senses.
SO, lets unite our viewpoints, lets make them known ( via all ways feasable such as various media outlets ) and perhaps they will reconsider their stance. If all the people out there care that much, then DO something about it. I will be the first to offer financial support, and I will take part in assembling at the dealerships with other drivers EN MASS to make our viewpoints known in a civil manner. THIS will get their attention like no other method known !
Bite the hand that feeds them, YES, they bit and the problem is, the customer will bite back twice as hard, they always do ! Guess the CEO's are not keeping tabs on the marketing and lawyer types representing the company. This is Not Brand Protection, this IS BRAND DESTRUCTION !!! It actually disgusts me to no end !
:evil: :evil: :evil:
As all have commented, this is a rediculous tactic on their part, and towards a sight that promotes the product alltogether. IF they go chase all the other commerical sights the same as they are you, then they will without doubt kill the brand as people are people, they will rebell if for no other reason it is a corporate entity. Further, you will see meets stop, one of which I just attended, and all other "community" things. NOW that will slump the sales end, and then perhaps they will come to their senses.
SO, lets unite our viewpoints, lets make them known ( via all ways feasable such as various media outlets ) and perhaps they will reconsider their stance. If all the people out there care that much, then DO something about it. I will be the first to offer financial support, and I will take part in assembling at the dealerships with other drivers EN MASS to make our viewpoints known in a civil manner. THIS will get their attention like no other method known !
Bite the hand that feeds them, YES, they bit and the problem is, the customer will bite back twice as hard, they always do ! Guess the CEO's are not keeping tabs on the marketing and lawyer types representing the company. This is Not Brand Protection, this IS BRAND DESTRUCTION !!! It actually disgusts me to no end !
:evil: :evil: :evil:
Coordinator :: South East - Florida
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,603
Likes: 0
From: Tampa, FL
Just a thought, but if you had Mini Motion before them, as is easily proven by the date you purchased it, you have what is called previous use rights. I reccomend you sell that one to em, or in some other way get compensated by them. Personally if they did not do things the way I'd like I'd just keep it and not use it. If the date you purchased it preceeds the date they started the Motion line, well then you are not obligated to give it up.
6th Gear
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,406
Likes: 0
From: Northeast Ohio
Supposedly BMW/MINI are introducing the fogs due to owner complaints, maybe we can get them to back down.....
Mark, stall. Give your members a week or two to get nicely fired up. You've done a lot, now it's our turn!!!
Dave, the big guns please!!!!
I'll be drafting my own message to MINI customer service, and another one to my friend IJ Hudson the technology reporter for the NBC affiliate here in DC, and another one to the Sales Manager at MINI of Sterling......
"Let loose the dogs of war!!!"
Mark, stall. Give your members a week or two to get nicely fired up. You've done a lot, now it's our turn!!!
Dave, the big guns please!!!!
I'll be drafting my own message to MINI customer service, and another one to my friend IJ Hudson the technology reporter for the NBC affiliate here in DC, and another one to the Sales Manager at MINI of Sterling......
"Let loose the dogs of war!!!"
OVERDRIVE - Racing Champion
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 15,262
Likes: 72
From: Mililani, Hawaii
Mark and MCO,
We support you and your efforts fully. Point us in the right direction and we will put our collective energy to work for you. Thanks for sharing this predicament.
We support you and your efforts fully. Point us in the right direction and we will put our collective energy to work for you. Thanks for sharing this predicament.
2nd Gear
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
From: oak park, il.
how utterly ridiculous!
what vehicle has a larger community following than harley davidson?
bmw goes to the trouble of bringing in the HD marketing guru,
who helped revitalize the HD brand, to build a cult-like following
for their new MINI (which can only get larger)...
only to spit on the community it spawned!
mark, i wish you and the mco family at large the best.
what vehicle has a larger community following than harley davidson?
bmw goes to the trouble of bringing in the HD marketing guru,
who helped revitalize the HD brand, to build a cult-like following
for their new MINI (which can only get larger)...
only to spit on the community it spawned!
mark, i wish you and the mco family at large the best.
Coordinator :: South East - Florida
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,603
Likes: 0
From: Tampa, FL
Wait, well please have your legal people look for prescedence where other motor clubs use the names of the products they support. Furthermore try BMW, though I saw they did dumb things like bimer and beemer to get around it. IVIINI or
//InI though that will not register for the characters I was using that to make the point. As for the Motion thing though, you got previous rights, just get a small moveable product and sell it on the minimotion site lol. OMG, I have a MINI mag light! wow BMW is really getting st00pid over this. Try registering INACME or some such acronim.
Are these allowed???
http://www.bimmervibe.com/
http://bmwmotorsports.org/forum/index.php
http://www.maxbimmer.com/
http://www.topbmwsites.com/
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//InI though that will not register for the characters I was using that to make the point. As for the Motion thing though, you got previous rights, just get a small moveable product and sell it on the minimotion site lol. OMG, I have a MINI mag light! wow BMW is really getting st00pid over this. Try registering INACME or some such acronim.
Are these allowed???
http://www.bimmervibe.com/
http://bmwmotorsports.org/forum/index.php
http://www.maxbimmer.com/
http://www.topbmwsites.com/
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I do not do things in measures...
<img src="http://webs.hylanium.com/lance/minisig.gif" width="504" height="72" border="0">
For sale 1 351 Cleveland BOSS as well as a standard 351 Cleveland.
6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,892
Likes: 0
From: Long Island, New York
<<We have 8765 registered users so far. There are 87 registered user(s) online right now.>>
This stat is as of....5:10 PM EST on Monday 8/4/03.
We are almost 9,000......strong!!!!
Mark...point this mass of enthusiasts in the direction you feel will best serve the MCO site & community :smile:
We will stand by you :smile:
Peace,
D
This stat is as of....5:10 PM EST on Monday 8/4/03.
We are almost 9,000......strong!!!!
Mark...point this mass of enthusiasts in the direction you feel will best serve the MCO site & community :smile:
We will stand by you :smile:
Peace,
D
3rd Gear
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
From: Palmdale, CA
Adding my .02... MArk, please let us know what we can do aside from writing letters to assist you in this fight... Below is my e-mail on hte subject.
Dear Sirs,
Please convey to your legal counsel that you are receiving bad advice regarding their stance with regards to https://www.northamericanmotoring.com. Click on this link to understand how their narrow legal position is seriously undermining all of the marketing efforts to date that have made the MINI the car to own. If you think this is hyperbole, just look at the facts. Mark Ferguson posted the information relating to his struggles with your legal eagles at 1:00 west coast time. In less than an hour, 3 pages of replies have been compiled with no end in sight.
BMWNA, MINIUSA, and the parent company BMW AG have, through numerous advertising avenues, encouraged MINI owners to go their own way, to customize their car as they see fit and in essence, to become a community unto themselves. We heard you, believed you, followed you and for over a year THRIVED WITH YOU. As a reward, as a way of saying thanks, thanks for helping us build this brand beyond our lofty projections, this legal mumbo-jumbo gets thrown in our face. Shame on you, MINI. Shame on you.
Motoring on with a heavy heart...
Garth Erdrich
Dear Sirs,
Please convey to your legal counsel that you are receiving bad advice regarding their stance with regards to https://www.northamericanmotoring.com. Click on this link to understand how their narrow legal position is seriously undermining all of the marketing efforts to date that have made the MINI the car to own. If you think this is hyperbole, just look at the facts. Mark Ferguson posted the information relating to his struggles with your legal eagles at 1:00 west coast time. In less than an hour, 3 pages of replies have been compiled with no end in sight.
BMWNA, MINIUSA, and the parent company BMW AG have, through numerous advertising avenues, encouraged MINI owners to go their own way, to customize their car as they see fit and in essence, to become a community unto themselves. We heard you, believed you, followed you and for over a year THRIVED WITH YOU. As a reward, as a way of saying thanks, thanks for helping us build this brand beyond our lofty projections, this legal mumbo-jumbo gets thrown in our face. Shame on you, MINI. Shame on you.
Motoring on with a heavy heart...
Garth Erdrich
6th Gear
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,406
Likes: 0
From: Northeast Ohio
>>How About a National MCO Rally Day? We could all rally around the MINI Dealerships and Picket, preventing sales that day.
I would think twice about this. Protesting without a permit in many municipalities can lead to arrests. That's not what we need....
A massive letter writing, petition, and phone call campaign to ASK-MINI however probably will.
If MINI sees that taking on MCO will **** over a lot of US owners and make no mistake 8000 US owners (I'm guessing I don't know for sure how many members are outside the US) is a lot of owners to **** off, they probably will back off.
I would think twice about this. Protesting without a permit in many municipalities can lead to arrests. That's not what we need....
A massive letter writing, petition, and phone call campaign to ASK-MINI however probably will.
If MINI sees that taking on MCO will **** over a lot of US owners and make no mistake 8000 US owners (I'm guessing I don't know for sure how many members are outside the US) is a lot of owners to **** off, they probably will back off.
2nd Gear
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
From: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Mark ................ just visited Petition On Line
I think this could be a god way to go. Either you, or someone elected by you should wrtite a civil manner, explecit petition that all here, and on other sights can go to, to sign thier support.
Posts can be put up on other sights that many members here belong to also, that way it would be a wide, concerted effort from the whole MINI community, and the VENDORS they support. This is NOT just about MCO online, this is industry wide, so therefore it should be a format that supports the industry as a whole.
I think Petition On Line could be the format to accomplish this........... IMHO
I think this could be a god way to go. Either you, or someone elected by you should wrtite a civil manner, explecit petition that all here, and on other sights can go to, to sign thier support.
Posts can be put up on other sights that many members here belong to also, that way it would be a wide, concerted effort from the whole MINI community, and the VENDORS they support. This is NOT just about MCO online, this is industry wide, so therefore it should be a format that supports the industry as a whole.
I think Petition On Line could be the format to accomplish this........... IMHO
Coordinator :: South East - Florida
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,603
Likes: 0
From: Tampa, FL
Sign me up.
I do not do things in measures...
<img src="http://webs.hylanium.com/lance/minisig.gif" width="504" height="72" border="0">
For sale 1 351 Cleveland BOSS as well as a standard 351 Cleveland.
I do not do things in measures...
<img src="http://webs.hylanium.com/lance/minisig.gif" width="504" height="72" border="0">
For sale 1 351 Cleveland BOSS as well as a standard 351 Cleveland.