Posted on 01/12/2008 6:01:31 PM PST by Spktyr
Own a Ford product? Ford doesn't agree.
Once we've paid for a car and driven it off the dealership lot, most people believe that you own that car. You have all rights and privileges of ownership, nobody but you (and the bank, perhaps) can determine what you do with it. Or, so we thought.
Ford Motor Company recently decided to go after two car clubs, the "Black Mustang Club" and the "Rice Haters' Club" for various trademark and copyright infringements. In both cases, the clubs had put out an annual calendar, featuring photos of members' cars, some of which were Fords. Ford proceeded to get the calendars' publication stopped on the grounds that they owned the images. Yes, even though the cars are privately owned and non-Ford photographers took the pictures, Ford claims that it owns all rights to any vehicle they have ever produced.
As you can read in the above threads, Ford has gone after these clubs and others for no apparent reason. In the past, Ford has prosecuted companies that produced parts for Ford products, or who had the name of a Ford product in their name. Going after clubs and forums and by extension, Ford owners is a new and frightening low in Ford's behavior.
When asked for comment, a Ford spokesperson refused, saying it involved pending litigation and referred us to the legal department.
The only conclusion that one can draw from this action is that Ford believes that *they* own your cars, not you, and that you have merely paid Ford for the privilege of driving it.
FORD = Found On Road Dead
FORD - First On Race Day (nah)
FORD = F***ed up Rebuilt Dodge
Um, no, Ford really did go after some of those firms.
www.americanmuscle.com used to be www.mustangtuning.com (they specialize in parts, service, and upgrades for Mustangs) until Ford sued them.
And you really need to read this: http://www.mustangfactory.net/lawsuit.html
And these people wonder why people would rather buy a Honda?!?!
These guys are almost as bad as Prince. Prince Copyright Crusade Clashes with Fans
Just don’t let the “Rice Haters’ Club” see you.
I just called Ford Dearborn at (313) 322-3000 in an effort to speak to some executive in Customer Service and see if they were aware of the situation.
What I got was a rather rude man who identified himself as “Charles” from “Executive Services” who explained to me that Ford had no interest in how their legal department’s activities were causing damage to Ford’s image or sales.
I guess that settles it.
“Rice” does not refer to where your vehicle was made or by what brand. It refers instead to useless accessories and stickers installed on your car with the intent or belief that it makes the car faster.
Wow.
So this is how Ford treats its loyal customers and biggest fans, huh?
I own a GMC and 2 Nissans. Could use a newer vehicle, but Ford doesn’t have to worry about my infringing on their (perpetual) rights. Ever.
Just wow.
And what gets me is how hypocritical the RIAA is because for years and years and years, people made mix tapes for themselves and others and the RIAA never peeped once about it.
Now that it’s digital music they sh1t bricks and start saying legally you can’t do it. I think they already allowed it as a precedent by not putting this argument up when people were doing it on cassettes. It doesn’t matter the medium is CD or tape (quality is not hte issue) it is the principal of whether you can legally make a copy of music you purchased or not. It doesn’t matter the quality of the copy, they let it slide for so many years with people doing it with tapes that their silence agreed that people could do this.
Of course they had way better music back then compared to what passes for it today, and they’re not making money like they used to because nobody wants to buy the crap they are peddling.
“But then, Ford also built my Explorer with the cracked rear body panel (no recall although they say it is very common) and grinding rear differential (no recall, although they say it happens all the time).”
I think I am lucky. My 1994 F-150 has close to 160k miles, and has yet to have a major mechanical that I can recall. The transmission has shuddered shifting into overdrive (or even the gear below) for many years.
I spoke a few years ago to an owner of the same model with more mileage, and he reported the same lack of mechanical issues except the transmission as well. He had eventually had to fix/replace that.
Honestly, if i needed another truck, I would be sorely tempted to just find the same model used, check it out very carefully, and buy it.
The issue has been resolved. Ford Car Communication's Whitney Drake tells us "Mustang (and other car owners) can take pictures of their cars and make calendars and sell them to whomever they like. They can't however use Ford logos in the calendar." She further clarifies, "The club (Black Mustang Club) and cafe press (or another printer) now has permission to print the calendar. Apparently, CafePress misunderstood the intent of an earlier communication from Ford regarding the use of trademarks on other products they sold when it told Black Mustang Club it would not print its calendars.
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