Check out what Ford is up to now...

#3
Yeah, but can you belive that Ford would do something to alienate their grass roots loyalists? There are Mustang parts suppliers that have been around for 30+ years and have done nothing but brought free advertising to Ford and keep the Mustang name alive and well. Were it not for these suppliers, the Mustang name wouldn't be what it is today.
 
#8
I saw this a few days ago... I don't know what ford's problem is... Oh yeah, they can't make cars that Americans want to buy. And the ones that we do like, the dealers put on a AMV so high that we just hate Ford even more. :shrug:
 
#13
Where are they going to draw the line?

Will I get sued for having "stang" in my web address?

This is ridiculous and Ford should be ashamed.

I guess sometimes the big dog needs to have his @$$ beat by a pack of wild wolves.

:notnice:

jason
 
#14
this is pretty much what all major corperations do. The have to protect there name so that the can sell it. So that when people want to use it they make money. I actually don't blame them at all. It sucks for all the little guys but do you really want to see your favorite auto maker go under?
 
#15
86bluecobra said:
this is pretty much what all major corperations do. The have to protect there name so that the can sell it. So that when people want to use it they make money. I actually don't blame them at all. It sucks for all the little guys but do you really want to see your favorite auto maker go under?
Click to expand...


This would be true if Ford enforced this policy from the outset...they did not, and now people who have done nothing but "polish the blue oval" for 30 + years with Ford's blessing are getting screwed.

As far as Ford going under, nothing will cause that to happen faster than destroying the very people that keep it afloat! (and have done so for a LONG time).
 
#16
68keyblr said:
This would be true if Ford enforced this policy from the outset...they did not, and now people who have done nothing but "polish the blue oval" for 30 + years with Ford's blessing are getting screwed.

As far as Ford going under, nothing will cause that to happen faster than destroying the very people that keep it afloat! (and have done so for a LONG time).
Click to expand...
yes i know ford should have done this from day one but i guess you could look at it like a 30 year gift to everyone but now when times are tough and competion is threatening to put them under they have to do everything possible to stay aflout. Sux for the little guys but trademark laws are trademark laws.
 
#17
If this is true, I don't really see myself supporting ford anymore. It's attacking the people that kept the company and product line strong for all these years. They shouldn't bite the hand that feeds them. Whats next then, they change their names to stangs plus or stangs unlimited... they going to still persue them still since its implied?
Kevin
 
#18
86bluecobra said:
yes i know ford should have done this from day one but i guess you could look at it like a 30 year gift to everyone but now when times are tough and competion is threatening to put them under they have to do everything possible to stay aflout. Sux for the little guys but trademark laws are trademark laws.
Click to expand...

I understand the need to protect "Intellectual Property" but how is this threatening Ford's business or making them less competitive? In fact, the opposite is true.

Ford is reaping *huge* benefits of free advertising and also *huge* rewards from the enthusiasm created for the Mustang hobby! I have spent *thousands* on Ford and Ford licensed products for my classics, as have countless others on this site. Ford gets a cut of all of that. Would that market even exist without the "Mustang" suppliers?

Would Ford's Mustang sales be anywhere near where they are today without companies like MustangsPlus, MustangsUnlimited, MustangDepot, Etc etc etc? I seriously doubt it - the Mustang would have likely died off as planned long ago. A major reason the Mustang sales are so strong today is because of the nostalgic allure of the classics. There would be no classics without the suppliers that are getting screwed by Ford.

What Ford is doing is making themselves *less* competitive by alienating thousands of loyalists, both consumers and suppliers!

Why kill off the businesses that are giving you free advertising, name recognition, and brand reinforcement? What does Ford stand to gain by doing this? The only ones I see profiting from this are the lawyers, as usual.

Ford can protect their name by licensing the Mustang moniker to the Mustang suppliers for $1/year - thereby firmly establishing their right to the name and allowing the Mustang suppliers to do what they do best - PROMOTE FORD!

Just my .02
 
#19
thats true. and i do hate it when people get sued over crappy reasoning. Thats the point i was trying to make with my gift comment. If you want to use thr registered name then you should have to pay something. Thats the reason the Ford GT is called the GT and not the GT-40. Ford didn't have the rights to the name anymore and they were not willing to buy it back. Ford is playing by the rules they are trying to enforce on those using there registered trademark. Do you think it is fair that milton bradley had to pay for the mustang name when they brought out the mustang monopoly game if say mustang's unlimited doesn't? the name mustang is sold to many advertisers and other company's to promote the mustang. if people can use it for free how can ford make money off of it to major advertisers. i wonder how must Muscle mustangs and Fast Fords pay's. or any mustang magizine for that matter. yes these company's are helping us out and selling ford products but where do you think the profits are going these parts companies are making using a registered trademark? back to ford? i doubt it.
 
#20
86bluecobra said:
thats true. and i do hate it when people get sued over crappy reasoning. Thats the point i was trying to make with my gift comment. If you want to use thr registered name then you should have to pay something. Thats the reason the Ford GT is called the GT and not the GT-40. Ford didn't have the rights to the name anymore and they were not willing to buy it back. Ford is playing by the rules they are trying to enforce on those using there registered trademark. Do you think it is fair that milton bradley had to pay for the mustang name when they brought out the mustang monopoly game if say mustang's unlimited doesn't? the name mustang is sold to many advertisers and other company's to promote the mustang. if people can use it for free how can ford make money off of it to major advertisers. i wonder how must Muscle mustangs and Fast Fords pay's. or any mustang magizine for that matter. yes these company's are helping us out and selling ford products but where do you think the profits are going these parts companies are making using a registered trademark? back to ford? i doubt it.
Click to expand...

That's a very valid point and also a great example. I think Ford can accomplish what it needs to legally without screwing the loyal folks that have carried the Ford banner for a long time.

It just seems like the execution of the policy was crafted by lawyers instead of by someone who understands the 'big picture'.
 
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