| Author | Message | ||
     Pogue_mahone |
is Buell strict about ppl using the name for such uses as web forums or groups looking for riders and buell people? and i mean as in not for any products or anything for sale.just as in a way to gather enthusiasts together? just a general question.not looking for "the word" from "The Man" i heard a lot of friction from a board called the ranger station got afoul of ford's trademarked logo.they just had shirts and stickers,and was for ranger info and such.i say these sites like that can be good,but also see how they infringe as well. just for discussion...not trying to be a pot stirrer.this time :P thanks | ||
| Roysbuell |
As long as we are questioning Buell I have a question. Whats up with the new Yamaha campaign for the FZSR? "Own the Corners. Without cutting any." I thought Buell had a trademark on "Own the Corners." | ||
| Pogue_mahone |
lol i have no idea!! | ||
| Froggy |
Ford and Toyota went after several places a while back. Your best bet is to not use it at all, that way you don't risk any kind of legal action. There is a reason this is called badweatherbikers and not buellbikers. Same for American Thunderbike Club.  No clue about the own the corners thing, it was brought up a while back. | ||
| Court |
Question #1: Yes. Buell has a dedicated Trademark Enforcement Division in Michigan. I'm not saying stuff doesn't slip by. But if the slipping ever stops and your problems gain traction, it can get very ugly very fast. Know what you are getting into. Over the years I have had the great pleasure of saving the asses of two nice groups who were wise enough (or dumb enough) to contact me before starting in business. I'll keep their "original names" out of this but they became . . .
For a good recitation of the laws go HERE or if you need to borrow law books, drop me a note of check with your local library. I maintain a fairly comprehensive library of law books with lots of stuff on Intellectual Property and Product Liability. I can't, just doing a quick search, find "Own the Corners" but am sure it is DEAD. Many of the Buell marks have been abandoned. Such as "S2 Thunderbolt", BRAG", "Signature Series", and some fun others. Here's an example. . . .  If you really want to have some fun dig around and enjoy all the names "War Hawk" and so forth of Buells that never saw the light of day . . . someday I MUST write about some of the bikes Buell has developed that never made the "jump to consumer light speed". (Message edited by court on September 17, 2009) | ||
| F_skinner |
such uses as web forums or groups looking for riders and buell people? just as in a way to gather enthusiasts together? Pogue_mahone, please excuse my curiosity but what do you have in mind? Frank  | ||
| Pogue_mahone |
i have nothing LOL was just pondering and court is a fountain of useful knowledge and really is helpful and we all see forums with all kinds of names. if i had any motives..it would be to improve what is there as far as a group and get more ppl to participate and that sort of thing. | ||
| Court |
Getting folks to participate is tough . . . As a perfect example . . . take a place like Badweb . . . with something (and this may be dated information) 15,000 registered users. You would THINK when a passionate issue arose and the collective was stirred to action that it would quite an impressive effort. But in fact . . I've learned over the years that no matter how stirred up folks get from insurance costs, winning races, bad service or failed wheel bearings. . that when we "all decide to write letters" that the result is often 3 letters. Best example was a couple years ago. One of the fellows here found a dog in the pound that was going to be put down. The entire population was aghast and the chatter was immense. They needed to raise the money for fees and to transport the dog. Everyone talked, no one did. I watched for a week as folks yelled, screamed and generally went wild with emotion. Alas . . everyone knew where the crank was but no one turned it. Finally . . our of frustration. . . I put 5-$100 bills in a FedEx package and sent it anonymously. Dog saved. The "talkers" and the "doers" occupy they same place on the internet. The guy who spends 2 hours typing his outrage about his failed turn signal shares the thread with the guy who took 15 minutes and simply replaced his. Talk is cheap. Check out the mental giant who threatened to kick my ass and you'll gain a sense for the bandwidth of the mental continuum on the internet. The world belongs to those who "do" . . the "watchers" are mere spectators. I would steer clear of the use of the name "BUELL" in what you do. The Trademark Enforcement folks seem to be quite asleep at the wheel lately but you never know when you might appear on their radar. Act . .but act wisely. | ||
| F_skinner |
Pogue_mahone, if you want to talk on the phone or face to face we could do that. Sometimes it is easier than trying to type it out. There are four Buell groups in Colorado. If you are looking at improving one of those that is great. If you need any info let me know. I am plugged in to all of them. I have studied a few Buell groups and notice that the successful ones are usually so because of the dedication of 1 or 2 people. There is a Colorado section on this site. You are free to use it and to rally the Buellers in the state. Frank | ||
| Ourdee |
Court, Is it legal for me to buy a licensed buell shirt from the HD/B dealer, cut the name off of it, and sew it onto another piece of apparel that I own? ,R.D. | ||
| Froggy |
There are currently 19172 registered users, of which, 2727 have logged in during the past month. | ||
| Zatco81 |
Court, Is it legal for me to buy a licensed buell shirt from the HD/B dealer, cut the name off of it, and sew it onto another piece of apparel that I own? That seems no different than buying a patch. | ||
| Pogue_mahone |
thatd be fine frank-- i know one other buell guy it would be nice to get a half dozen riders together and get out. better yet....that on a more regular basis. | ||
| Fahren |
Court, Is it legal for me to buy a licensed buell shirt from the HD/B dealer, cut the name off of it, and sew it onto another piece of apparel that I own? Like, to make a Buell onesie? You can never start 'em too young!} | ||
| Court |
>>>Court, Is it legal for me to buy a licensed buell shirt from the HD/B dealer, cut the name off of it, and sew it onto another piece of apparel that I own? I'll pass on rendering a legal opinion and simply say that you would never have any problem. I am thinking about taking some of the 500 Buell Racing shirts I have here and "appending" them with "2009 AMA CHAMPION". | ||
| Ourdee |
Or "You Will Be Assimilated" | ||
| Iamarchangel |
Court's warning: years ago, 10 maybe, HD decided to take ownership of their emblems and trademarks here in Canada. They hired people to go to the flea markets, leather stores, etc. Those people took notes and HD followed up with legal. They shut down several vendors, took many businesses to court and one international chain store never really recovered. They're sleeping with one eye open, don't wake them. (About those 500 shirts?) (Message edited by iamarchangel on September 18, 2009) | ||
| Edstevens |
Court, "I would steer clear of the use of the name "BUELL" in what you do." In West Virginia there is only ONE Buell motorcycle (2003 XB9SL) that has a vanity plate reading "BUELL" and that bike belongs to me. Question: Does Buell approve and applaud my proud display of their Product Name for my license plate; or should I consider making a change before legal might be taken. | ||
| Court |
No problem on the plate | ||
| Edstevens |
Court, Thank You for your response because I am Proud of my Buell. |
