DC Clamping down on trade marks!

[Rare_T_A]

   I just got an email from MoparStyle that they had to change their name. They were contacted from the crouts and forces into it. I can post the link to the total uproare if you want it. I don't know how you guys feal about board links. Has anyone here gotten wind of the brewing storm? 

[Madmax440]

I did actually hear something like this about a month or two ago. Based on my understanding it has to do with DC selling off the unit. There will be alot that goes along with something like this and will be far stretching. MoparMatt start thinking of another userid. 

[Tropicalcats]

I got the same e-mail this morning from MoParStyle. DC has bigger fish to fry then to worry about stuff like this IMO. If somebody was trying to commit fraud thats one thing but this is rediculous.

[mopar_guy]

DC has bigger fish to fry then to worry about stuff like this IMO. If somebody was trying to commit fraud thats one thing but this is rediculous.

 

[torredcuda]

Haven`t we been down this road before?DC can once again pi$$ off us loyal car guys by going after those kind of petty trademark rights with car clubs and internet boards.

[inot2old]

Are they gonna try to make C-c.com change our name too?   It seems like they would like us out here drawing more attention to their products.   

[Tropicalcats]

The name has been changed .......

mopowerstyle

 I'm sure DC will sleep better tonight

[hemi71]

Ma Mopar went thru this about 10 years ago.....if they dont protect their copyright, then it's fair game to anyone. They can't employ selective enforcement, they either enforce the copyrights across the board, or not at all. I founded a local Mopar club, and to use the name "MOPAR" in our name, i had to ask DC's permission. They granted permission with some caveats, nothing major.

[70_challenger]

 

Obviously, some of the examples of their enforcement will seem silly.  But it really is up to companies to protect their copyrighted names and trademarks.  Right now, for example, DCX has quite a bit of equity in the name 'Hemi'.  Imagine if a company wanted to make 'Hemi' cell phones or 'Hemi' computers (or worse...).  It would dilute the brand name, and take the image out of DCX's hands. 

The tricky thing is...If they choose to ignore some unauthorized usage of their name (or trademarks), it sets the precedent for anyone else who uses it.  Another example: DCX did not go after Hummer when they started copying the 7-slot Jeep grille for military vehicles.  Then, when Hummer started making civilian vehicles, DCX filed a lawsuit for infringement on their patented design.  They lost the case, because they didn't pursue it the first time, thus setting a legal precedent.

It certainly does not make sense for DCX to go after car clubs and such, and they've been pretty good about not doing that.  But they do have every right to control the usage of their names, trademarks, and patented designs.  So I don't think it makes much sense to chastise them for it, and I can assure you it has nothing to do with the current financial situation.  They actually started taking increased action on some of this a couple of years ago. 

Just my 

-Tom

[360 'CUDA]

Yep,,

In a couple of months they will have to protect the MoparKia name or maybe ChangfengDodge   

[whitesatinmopar]

  I'm usually wrong, but dosen't this trademark thing deal only with those who use the Mopar name or isigna in a business related sense? If you haven't paid them the right to use that in a business where you make money then you are liable for a lawsuit, correct ?. But to just use this say as a tatoo or such there is no actual infringement upon those copyright rights. Or is it more detailed than this?

[70_challenger]

Well, I am certainly not a lawyer...
A company would have copyrights and patents to protect inventions, intellectual property, and designs.  But they would also have trademark protection for their names and logos.  I would think that any usage without permission (or legal agreement) would be in violation. 

In your example, I don't think having a Mopar tattoo would be illegal, but the tattoo shop might have violated a trademark.  But I have seen DCX take action more on companies like T-shirt vendors, which is understandable...The Mopar Nationals shirts use the logos/likenesses with permission (and show the trademark logo), so I would not expect another company to have any right to make shirts that say derogatory things about Mopar drivers or something. 

It looks to me like DCX has taken a pretty balanced approach to this.  They have granted usage permission to quite a few car clubs and organizations over the years.  And their licensing of restoration parts has allowed the restoration companies to give us parts that look like the originals.  Imagine if they had lost the rights to the names 'Cuda' and 'Challenger', by allowing other auto companies to use them without permission!  [The Mistubishi 'Challenger' SUV had to be re-named 'Pajero' in the US market, because Chrysler owns the name]

-Tom

[moparclown]

Oh boy,does this mean I can't be the Moparclown anymore?And this seams crazy but we are the driving force to the love of our cars,and we all pay for that.Just price out some GM parts and then price out the same part but under the Mopar name.