Folks Of Interest OT: Ford suing The Ranger Station!

At least they're not coming after us!




Ford is actually SUING The Ranger Station ( http://www.therangerstation.com/ ) over trademark infringement! WTF?!?
http://www.leftlanenews.com/ford-re...s-web-sites-over-trademark-infringements.html

If you need any Ranger V8 swap or ch***is info, better check it out over there now, before they take it down!

Here's what Jim sent to members last night:

Dear Member,

I appologize for this email. I don't normally email the members but this is an emergency.

Today, (December 9, 2008) I received a letter from the law offices of Howard, Phillips & Andersen that represent the Ford Motor Company. Ford is forcing us to surrender the name 'therangerstation.com' to them and stop using it. Ford states that using the name 'Ranger' when used in reference to the Ford Ranger is a trademark violation. In addition they are wanting me to pay them $5,000.

As you may know, The Ranger Station has been around for the past 10 years and has been a valuable resource to Ranger enthusiasts.

If Ford does this to us, where will they stop?

I have 10-days to surrender the name and pay them $5,000. I'm asking that you contact Ford online and ask them to reconsider making us change our name and prohibiting us from using the word 'Ranger'.

You can contact them at:

https://secure.ford.com/footer/contact-ford/contact-us-email?contactMainTopic=PublicAffairs

a sample of what one of the members wrote is:

"To whom it may concern:

I am writing concerning your recent legal attacks on various "fan" websites for vehicles such as the Mustang and Ranger. I am insulted by this careless misuse of our legal system and am reconsidering any further vehicle purchases from your company until you cease and desist from any further legal action concerning this subject. I have been a Ford owner for many years and I had hoped to stay that way. These attacks are morally wrong since they are geared towards your customers, and do not instill the least bit of confidence in your brand. For the sake of your business, I ask you to please reconsider immediately.

Thank you."

Thank you for your support and I applogize for this email.

Jim Oaks
TheRangerStation.com

 

Ford, WTF is UP with you?

 

thats bs and they want people to buy there stuff

 

Ford had to put up a bunch of their trademarks as collateral when they secured some loans a couple years ago. It was a smart move for them to secure the loans ahead of the so-called credit crisis, however it means that they will most likely be forced to persue stuff like this to keep their creditors happy. Unfortunately keeping the creditors happy will come at the cost of alienating some of their enthusiasts.

They're not the only ones. Toyota and Chrysler have done some of this too. Really want to be shocked? Read about what Monster Cables has sued for over trademark enfringement.

 

Stupid, they didn't learn from the Black Mustang Calendar fiasco a few years ago.

 

i'm thinking they just want the money

 

tell them to **** off, you sell forest ranger equipment, the car parts is a side business

 

They would have to kill me before I gave them $5K for nothing. They are lucky anyone even wants to try to fix their **** and keep it around. They should be happy about it and supporting it, not trying to solve their financial problems by hurting their own customers. Just proves what complete idiots they are.

Honestly, they all 3 really just need to go out of business. Maybe out of their ashes, some new companies could spring up that actually had some good products run by people with some brains and a set of real balls to make cool stuff that people would want.

 

Seems to me that there are some details being left out. I'd have to see alot more information before I were to form an opinion.

 

The White Motors Company contacted Ford about using the Mustang name in '64. White trucks had been using the name for years. In the end White said that if Ford wanted to name a sporty car after a dump truck so be it. maybe Ford could p*** the favor along.

 

The last thing they want to see is people buying, trading, and selling used parts. They want you to buy new.

 

Apple's been doing it for years, and just now has started to back off... I guess they caught on that the only press you get when you sue your fans, computers or cars, is bad press.

~Jason

 

todays big bussiness have totally lost sight of whats important or resonable, I dont have anything against ford or any other make, but these guys dont care about anything but making money!!! bunch of rotten jive turkeys! heck, I whould be afraid to buy a new car now now days!

 

Oh ya i ****s at typing!!!!