Has NAXJA ever been attacked by Chrysler?

[Metal Thrasher]

Ranger is in use by other companies too, Polaris Ranger, Ranger boats, etc.

Why would a law firm wanna shut down an enthusiast website?

Forest Service... USDA... Uhmmm. If the costs of lawyers is worth it it seems pretty defendable. I have to wonder why Ford wants to shut down an enthusiast site. does make an effort to keep in appropriate things like Factory Service Manuals off the site out of respect for Chrysler's rights.

 

[FlexdXJ]

Ford needs all the money they can get right now! This is by far the most ridiculous thing i have heard though! :huh:

 

[ChiXJeff]

It's about money, but indirectly. The big issue is that a trademark owner must pursue infringements, until a court tells them otherwise. The trademark owner can lose their protection if they don't pursue infringments. Kleenex, Xerox, and Coke are more good examples.

 

[ChiXJeff]

Heh...... sounds like there's more to it than just the name. Has TRS been selling items with Ford logos *WITHOUT* paying royalties?

 

[FitchVA]

it must be a ford thing. i remember seeing a mustang forum was stopped from making a calendar full of member's 'stangs. something like they didn't have the rights to the "images" of their own cars. ...crap if you ask me...

 

[GSequoia]

Heh...... sounds like there's more to it than just the name. Has TRS been selling items with Ford logos *WITHOUT* paying royalties?

it must be a ford thing. i remember seeing a mustang forum was stopped from making a calendar full of member's 'stangs. something like they didn't have the rights to the "images" of their own cars. ...crap if you ask me...

I'd bet Jeff's on the money here.

The Ranger boys and the Mustang boys were probably using a Ford or Ranger/Mustang logo on their sites pr promotional products. Notice we don't use the Jeep or Cherokee/Comanche/Wagoneer logos.

 

[rag]

Ford is getting desperate.

At my dealership job the "big boys" in suits that fly in and walk around. I have a hunch Ford may have more tricks up their sleeves.

 

[ChiXJeff]

This has *NOTHING* to do with Ford being desperate.

US law and the court system require that Ford protect their trademarks. If they don't pursue infractions, they will lose the trademark protection. A trademark, especially as well know as a Ford model name, has quite a bit of value to it. Ford has to protect their asset.

 

[Sherman_thetank]

This is why everyone should buy Chevy/GM!

 

[Ted_Z]

To me this sounds like a scam. Why would they ask for 5k, why not 50k or 500k? Because 5k could be coughed up in a pinch. for 50k someone will get a lawyer, but for 5k they'd just pay.

Did anyone actually contact law offices of Howard, Phillips & Andersen to verify the suit. Furthermore did they verify that the contact information given was correct.

 

[Starboard D]

The key here is to send an e-mail to Allan Mullally, the CEO of Ford. Ask him if this is an actual representative of Ford or some legal group going fishing for legal fees. If he (they) reply, then ask them if they really want to alienate their buyers and since the name Ranger is in the public domain, if they really want to push the issue, or continue to support a loyal group of enthusiasts of their products? (Make sure you keep Mr. Mullally "CC'd" on all correspondence. The legal firm is just trying to get you to cease and desist, and pay their legal fees at the same time. You need to establish if this is NON-SENSE or is it real. If it is real, then avoid court... it is a lose, lose proposition.

Good luck!!

 

[ChiXJeff]

Oh, this gets more interesting......

Per the US Patent and Trademark Office, it looks like the term "Ford Ranger" is now a dead trademark, as of August 2007.

I don't think I'd ding Ford's CEO email address. For starters, I sincerely doubt it'll get anywhere near him. Secondly, as an email, it's all to easy to get "lost." Validation of the suit is definitely a good idea. And I'd consider doing that by registered mail.

 

[bigalpha]

Here is a Ford Rep contacting TRS:

Dear Jim,

Thanks for bringing this issue to our attention. Without question, Ford enthusiasts are extremely important to us. Their enthusiasm and loyalty are part of our heritage and part of what's going to keep us moving forward.

Recently, there was an item posted stating that Ford was requesting TheRangerStation.com to turn over its URL to Ford and pay $5,000. We'd like the opportunity to share some additional facts that might make a difference in how you think about this situation.

In its communications, TheRangerStation.com stated that Ford was making them change the name of their site and pay $5,000. What was not mentioned was that TheRangerStation.com was selling counterfeit Ford-brand merchandise on the site. As a company, Ford has a responsibility to protect our brand and a responsibility to our licensees. We cannot let something like that pass. (The counterfeit goods have been removed from the website since TheRangerStation.com got the letter from Ford's attorney.)

Please know that Ford takes no joy in pursuing enthusiast sites. Since there are a number of sites out there with Ford vehicles as part of their names or URLs, some people have asked if they should be concerned. Ford has been and continues to be willing to license its trademarks for use by enthusiast groups and enthusiast websites. Requesting a license is done easily by contacting [email protected]. To request a license to produce or sell branded merchandise bearing Ford's trademarks, contact [email protected].

We encourage TheRangerStation.com to contact Ford to request a license to continue using the domain name.

We hope you will share this information with anyone who is concerned. We deeply appreciate our fans’ dedication and enthusiasm and want to be able to work together with all of our supporters to tell the Ford story.


Scott Monty
Global Digital Communications
Ford Motor Company

I don't understand why TRS would need to license the "ranger" in their name. I mean, TRS can't be confused with the official Ford site.

A while back I had started making decals such as the old FORD tailgate letters, and offering some other decals for Ranger enthusiasts such as the Ranger windshield banner with the Ford logos on each side of it.

Although it was intended to be used as a way to keep The Ranger Station up and running and not a method of becoming independently wealthy...it was vilolating Fords trademarks.

I have talked to Scott Monty from Ford Motor Company and have agreed to:

1) Stop selling the decals since I do not have a trademark license to sell

2) Agree that the 'Ranger' is a product of Ford.

3) Not display any ads on The Ranger Station that would promote a competitor (Example: Banner ad for the new Chevy Colorado, etc)

4) Not use the site to make disparaging comments about Ford (AKA - Anti Ford Site)

5) Not turn The Ranger Station name over to anyone else.

I believe that's about it. I'm waiting from a letter from their attorney.

In return, Ford will allow us to keep The Ranger Station name and will not require that I pay the $5000.00 that the attorneys were asking for.

Scott went on to tell me that they recognize and support their fan websites and I would suggest that any other website owner/administrator reading this will be OK if they judge themselves on the items I had listed above. If you have ad banners you may want to make sure you have Fords competition filtered out.

I would like to say thanks to those that emailed Ford and spread the word. The attention and support from other enthusiats greatly helped in getting this resolved quickly.

I would ask that anyone who has posted about this on another website link the discussions here and ask that the moderator on that site lock the topic.

I also want to thank the other site owners for their support.

I think it's pretty damned stupid that he can't even display ads for competitors. To me, as long as you aren't violating trademarks (i.e. selling FORD stuff) then they can't tell you what to put on your website.

 

[Matthew Currie]

It's about money, but indirectly. The big issue is that a trademark owner must pursue infringements, until a court tells them otherwise. The trademark owner can lose their protection if they don't pursue infringments. Kleenex, Xerox, and Coke are more good examples.

I think you're right about this, but I also think Ford, like most companies, is going about it in all the wrong way. Considering how much they must spend on such pursuits, and how little they have to gain except for trademark protection, I think they'd do better to contact a place like Rangerstation, and offer to sell them the right to use the trademark for a token fee.

 

[wolfpackjeeper]

I remember the calendar incident. Ford confiscated the calenders already made but not sold, as well as all of the images, and shut down the online store. It became a big stink for a buddy of mine. Apparently if you take a picture and the logo is in the picture they were trying to get it trademarked as Ford Property. I started looking, and a lot of products are sold with a ford in the ad, but on most of the ones I looked at the logos had been removed or blacked out. I have not looked recently, but it was on all the product ads featured in go fast magazines.

 

[besthaticouldo]

weird this was on my other forum this morning.

damn shame i tell ya.

 

[nick86]

Here's an idea, next time your in the local Napa, Autozone, whatever. Look at the mud flaps. chevy,dodge, NO ford. They will not allow copyright infringement.

 

[besthaticouldo]

Here's an idea, next time your in the local Napa, Autozone, whatever. Look at the mud flaps. chevy,dodge, NO ford. They will not allow copyright infringement.

no way...i've seen ford ones.

 

[XJensen]

:bs:Give up the URL and give $5K??? Sounds like fraud to me. If you are Ford why ask for five grand, that is just stupid. If anyone should request the termination of "therangerstation" URL it's the park rangers that man the stations.

On the note I am with Chrysler annd we are not happy with individuals using the term "XJ" or "cherokee", we bougth the name from the Indian's. If you are in violation please pm me for pay pal information. :viking:


Josh

 

[Deadman 94 xj]

Intellectual property has become a huge issue in recent years. Hundreds of companies go to court over this every year. If the site was selling merchandise with the logo (which is protected) than Ford has a right to stop it. Counterfeit merchandise can be detrimental to the company if it's not up to company standards. The risk is that this merchandise will confuse customers and give a bad name to the company.
I think it's stupid but it happens every day. I don't think it has anything to do with the site name.