I just saw this post (out motoring in my friggin' MINI before) and I am really shocked this would go this far. Corporate stupidity is amazing. And Mark, I must say, I am shocked you would wait this far in the process to ask all of us for help. You are 100% in the right, and this is a bandwagon I am sure most all of us would have jumped on from the first letter from them.

Anyway, I just fired this off to the two email addy's provided above:
Gentlemen,

I own two MINIs. A Cooper and an S.

My advice? Pick on someone your own size. You give us this cutsie ad push, try to foster a MINI community, and then give a run around to someone who succeeds in building a good site.

My $45,000 worth of purchases, to your division alone, says get your act together. This is bad, bad business.

David Rose

A legal defense fund is a perfct way to start to take action. (Of course, a better way is not to buy MINIs. Smarten up, BMWNA) Mark, if one starts, feel free to email me. It would be an honor to contribute.

David
now driving my SIXTH BMWNA auto

 

Believe me everyone, I say this with all due respect, and I'm not referring to anyone in particular. Please run a spell check on your communications with MINIUSA and BMW. There have been some really great e-mails/letters posted here, and their impact would be easily strengthened if they were stripped of their misspellings. Thanks! :smile:

 

Saddened to learn about this latest development, but very proud to be among you all after reading the insightful posts and notes to BMW/MINI.

I just sent this to MINIUSA:

"Is it true you are trying to shut down MINIcooperonline.com?

I understand that you must protect your trademarks, but I believe you are underestimating the backlash this will create. Many folks base their purchase decision at this site, and receive much enthusiastic and helpful advice from the members.

I own a 03 MCS, and check the site quite often. Something should be worked out. 9,000 members are helping spread the word about MINI.

What word do you want them to spread?"

Mark, we stand behind you.

Regards,
Red

 

OMFG! All I can say is OMFG!

I'd sure like to find the guy in charge of MINI and give him a piece of my mind

 

has anyone checked if "IndependentMCO.org" was still available?

anyway I just got back from driving myself (motoring is trademarked?) and am sickened with this attack on Mark's site. the press would be a good place to take this. It would be good to see in which pocket BMW is willing to take the hit.

 

ok, totally off topic, but that is one great license plate frame.

 

Let it be known that one family, based on BMW"S behaivour in this matter, will never purchase another BMW vehicle, shirt, hat, sticker or anything. This site has done more to influence my purchasing of the MINI than miniusa.com, any magazine, any remake of a chessey film or my M/A for that matter. Knowing that there was a fan base and being able to find products and vendors that were behind this tilted the table in BMW's favor. Going after the very people that made this thing such a hit in the US, makes about as much sense as them damn GERMAN porno's !!!! What the heck is wrong with those people anyway !!!!! :evil:

My M/A will definetly get a earfull.

 

I will put together a (semi) intelligent e mail to send to MINIUSA. But for now my knee jerk reaction is slightly angry. Yes copyright infringement is an important issue, but this forum does not take anything away from BMW, it serves them by bolstering their sales and trouble shooting their product.

My Domain Suggestion:
maybethecurrentownersshouldstopencouragingothersto buyyourproducts.com

I realize it is pedestrian.

Mark may be riding their wave somewhat and feeding his family in the process, and that is what they are attempting to curtail. I cannot however believe for an instant that they can even pretend to discount the revenue in vehicle sales and dealer parts that this website has generated at dealers nationwide.

 

REMEMBER people, BMW isn't pushing to shut MCO down, they want the name changed. Granted doing so will have a significant impact on how visible the site is, but they are not trying to shut it down.

They're still blatantly wrong...

 

blink-blink.com (as in get out of my way: thanks)

 

>>REMEMBER people, BMW isn't pushing to shut MCO down, they want the name changed. Granted doing so will have a significant impact on how visible the site is, but they are not trying to shut it down.
>>
>>They're still blatantly wrong...

sounds to me like they want to take over MINI motion, and MCO for that matter. they've let mark do all the work for them, and now that they're "owners lounge" is a flop, they're looking for more control.

 

What owners lounge. Oh, yeah, I remember that.

 

Thank goodness I found this site! To have the insight from fellow owners, fans without feeling I'm being taken advantage of by a dealer, has helped sell me on the car. The feedback and support is amazing.

Maybe I won't get a vanity license plate after all - my dealer may be forced to come after me! After all, BMW didn't make any money on the plate - just the car.




Seriously, I will support Mark and send a letter too.

Thank you for updating us!

 

i find this very disturbing. I was looking forward to buying an S this winter. I don't know now. I just joined here a couple of days ago after test driving an S. I wanted to get as much info about the car as possible.

VW did this to all of us old aircooled people too. We could not have the vw logo on any of our stuff as well. If you look in some of the adds for restoration parts you will see modified logos or none at all.

this a sad state of affairs.

i.e.

 

Pleae Visit www.petitiononline.com/MCOFORUM/petition.html and sign the petition that I will send to BMW/MINI once we have Enough Signatures.

Thanks
Dan
Pilo Racing

Support MCO Sign the Petition

 

Sent emails to both BMW and MINI. Just keep pounding them with respectful and well written letters and they will get the point. They may not do anything, but they will know they have ruffled feathers and that may be worth some relief to Mark in this process.

 

Mark,

With just about 9000 members, you should set up a Legal Fund. Set it on PAYPAL or tell us where to send to checks. I mean who here has not gotten good advice? I mean is the advice you've gotten here worth a few bucks. Come on LET FIGHT the FIGHT!

We could always set a date and stage a protest! Lest pickit every MINI Dealer location on the same day at the same time. Lets give the world something to look at. Who knows with enough attention we could get some free legal help. BMW does not want bad press!

Dennis

 

Mark,

With just about 9000 members, you should set up a Legal Fund. Set it on PAYPAL or tell us where to send to checks. I mean who here has not gotten good advice? I mean is the advice you've gotten here worth a few bucks. Come on LET FIGHT the FIGHT!

We could always set a date and stage a protest! Let's pickit (sp?)every MINI Dealer location on the same day at the same time. Lets give the world something to look at. Who knows with enough attention we could get some free legal help. BMW does not want bad press!

Dennis

 

Hello, Mark

I would like to join everyone that has already sent their support for you and minicooperonline.com.

I and many other people have gained greatly from the existance of your great website.

I also feel that miniusa is doing all us mini enthusiasts a grave disservice in trying to strong arm you. This is also strong arming the very customers that mini is trying to generate.

If people that are interested in a mini are unable to find information on the car they will likely move to a car that generates more interest. If people only find the official mini site they will be very let down, as the official mini site are extremely weak.

If you or someone can let all of US know how to best help you we will gladly lend our support.

Again THANK YOU for all you have done for us mini enthusiasts.

MINIUSA you should be ASHAMED of yourselves.

Lance

 

The Oprah Show gave away a Mini Cooper on Friday's episode. Yes, Oprah opened the show while driving the car and said it was voted best car in North America...by someone / some significant publication that I cannot recall. Opps on my part.

Somehow I don't think she paid Mini for the use of the name. Great freebie advertizing. And the dealership that gave her the car to give away probably will get a few extra sales out of it too. Not bad for a show that is broadcast worldwide. And this site is obvisoult viewed by people from all over.

I wonder how many people decided to go out and buy a Mini based on the information / help they found on MCO? I'm curious.

 

My Email to MINIUSA

Sirs, I realize that copyright infringement is an important issue, and can have a negative effect on any business, however, I am sure you realize that MCO is partly responsible for the success your product has seen in the United States. You can and have produced very clever websites regaling YOUR product,but none of it is as valuable as a community of THOUSANDS of owners proclaiming the virtues of ownership and (your catch word) "Motoring". When considering purchasing your product, I researched online and found MCO. There I spoke with "real" owners and found out what I deemed to be the "truth" about the MINI. I was even afforded the luxury of an informal test drive from a member of MCO. I live 150 miles away from the nearest dealership and might not have committed to the drive to see one in the "flesh".
Without the input I received from MCO, I would not have purchased one. I cannot make my point any clearer that that.
I suggest you come to an equitable arrangement with Mr. Ferguson, in as painless a method as possible, that does not render access to his (your/our) website so obscure that it will not be readily found by internet search engines.

Respectfully submitted,
B.D. Morton
Pueblo,Colorado
(719) xxx-xxxx

Best of luck, Mark. Thank you for MCO
_________________
Bradley

 

Yes I am new to this board, and yes I have a MINI on order.

While it is sad that BMW feels the need to have you change the name it is not the end of the world. With google being the king of all search engines new members should have no problems finding this site.

I am currently a member of the site named nasioc.com (formerly iclub.com) neither of these names explictly state that they are Subaru WRX "club" sites yet they are both very active. In fact I would say that nasioc (Noth American Subaru Impreza Owers Club) is even MORE active than this site.

It is possible for you to have a site without using the tradmark MINI.

How about -- namoc.com .org or .net (All available)
pocketsupercar.com net or org
tinysupercar.com net or org
fastcorner.org or net
cornerfast.com .org or .net (Actully I think that I like this one best)

Just remember how Google works if you site has the highest number of referers then you get the top ranking. Right now inspite of the minicooperonline.com domain name the top hit for the search "mini cooper forum" is some Audi site, in fact this site (MCO) does not even fall in the first page of results. See for yourself.

Google for it

So domain names are not the end of world.

Flame away.
Trevers

 

7 hours 170 posts 7 pages 3200 page views.

HOW DO YOU LIKE DEM APPLES?

 

I do want to add one voice of reason here.

Yes what BMW is doing is atrocious, however those of you who are threatening to sell your car over this.... Umm lets think about that one... You sell your car, the one you like driving because the manufacturer is pushing around a website you frequent. How exactly does that send a message to the manufacturer? How does that affect the manufacturer? You've already paid them for the car, if you financed the car, the manufacturer still gets their money... You however are out of a car....

Polite informed and accurate letters and phone calls and LOTS OF THEM. Don't think they'll listen? Well we're getting fog lights aren't we?

 

>>Additionally, that same day, yet another condition arouse…It was learned that I had registered the domain mini-motion.com. This domain, registered in September 2002, was never developed, and in March 2003 I learned that MINI had launched a new apparel line called…MINI Motion. To date no trademark filing has been made for this brand. Regardless, the condition stated that as part of the settlement I would be required to turn this domain over to BMW as well.
>>
I would use this other site as a bargaining tool, haven't you always wanted to be in the infant clothing business?

Good luck, I'll complain to my dealership tomorrow.