VWoA Rant

Zen · « **on:** March 17, 2005, 12:43:40 AM »

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water . . .

I was looking at the Southeastern Forum on shoptalkforums.com and ran across post about VWoA sending a 'cease and desist' letter to Tony at Suncoast Bugs.

Here is a copy of the letter Tony sent to Wild Bill (Rare Air, Pensacola, FL):

Quote

Bill:

We have received the infamous Cease & Desist notice from Volkswagen-VW of America stating that they did not want us to use the term "BUG" in our name, did not want us to have a website named "www.suncoastbug.com" nor use the logo that we have had for 17 years. Therefore we have changed our name to "OnLine AirCooled Parts" and have a new web address www.onlineaircooledparts.com. Please change our web link "www.suncoastbug.com" on your club website to "www.onlineaircooledparts.com" to help us comply with their demands.

I'm sorry for any inconvenience this might cause. Believe me this is not something that I feel very good about. Thank you for your help. We look forward to seeing you at your upcoming show.

Tony,
OnLine AirCooled Parts

:evil:

I have a couple of big debts that will be paid off within a year or two and I would LOVE to have a New Beetle Convertible. I said I would never buy another new car, but I had changed my mind. As soon as financially possible, I was planning on going to Village Volkswagen and picking up a brand spanking new one. I've changed my mind. I guess I'll buy it used. Until VWoA changes their tactics, I'd rather buy a new Kia than buy a new VW. Hopefully someday VWoA will visit their proctologist and have their head removed from their rear end. I will, however, continue to do business with the business formerly known as Suncoast Bugs.

Bugz · « **Reply #1 on:** March 17, 2005, 03:18:06 AM »

I'm kind of surprised about that. I know VWoA had been on a rampage for years against thier loyal followers for using "thier" names, but I was under the impression that VWoA had finally started to mellow somewhat in thier antagonistic crusade. Guess I was wrong. In my opinion "Bug" is public domain and they shouldn't keep up thier self-defeating tactics by trying to be the bully in the playground. It's almost like they are parasitic - living off thier customers yet killing goodwill with the customer and severing future business with them. Such a shame.

vwherb · « **Reply #2 on:** March 17, 2005, 08:26:19 AM »

I, too, am very disapointed to hear about this recent development and the sad part is there is nothing, really, that can be done. VWoA basically has everyone's feet to the fire. :? I still can't understand their reasoning in doing what they are doing. What is wrong with "free" advertising. I can understand them thinking they are "loosing" money because of "copyrights" but how much would they have to spend for advertising if they had to pay for every VW emblem that went out the door, on some enthusists VW and then driven up and down the road. Dee told me the blue and white VW splitty didn't have a VW emblem on the front. I haven't seen the comercial yet.

Ignorance can be fixed.................stupid is FOREVER!!

Keep in mind we are talking primarily about lawyers at VWoA. I guess they have to do something to justify being kept on the payroll.

What do you have when you have a lowyer up to his chin in concrete?

NOT ENOUGH CONCRETE!!!! :lol:

Why are lawyers buried 24 feet deep?

DOWN DEEP THEY ARE GOOD PEOPLE!!! :lol:

cindy · « **Reply #3 on:** March 17, 2005, 02:25:40 PM »

Wonder when they will go after Webster's dictionary for having the word bug in it?

:shock:

cindy · « **Reply #4 on:** March 17, 2005, 02:25:55 PM »

Wonder when they will go after Webster's dictionary for having the word bug in it?

:shock:

Ret.Bugtech · « **Reply #5 on:** March 17, 2005, 07:32:26 PM »

I`m Bach!!!!!!! With Mac The Knife. This thing with VWOA is nothing new. When I had my shop , people came to see us in person and told us we could not display the VW logo on a sign. We change the color from Memphis Blue to black and told them to kiss our behinds. Never heard another word. Soooo , spell Bug with two Gs and tell them to BUGG off. :twisted:

Bugz · « **Reply #6 on:** March 17, 2005, 11:44:08 PM »

Well screw VWoA! They obviously do not represent the heart of VW. For myself I will enrich the world with the VW logo and Trademarks.

Bugz · « **Reply #7 on:** March 17, 2005, 11:45:02 PM »

By the way... good to see you back on the boards David. I know that Mac Mini serves you well.

Zen · « **Reply #8 on:** April 10, 2005, 09:31:30 AM »

In another recent development that directly had a negitive impact on Bug-A-Paluza, VWoA sent a 'cease and desist' notice to CIP1. CIP1 was going to send us several T-Shirts to give away as door prizes . . . but instead of sending us a few of their stock of cool shirts and selling the rest online, they have boxed them up and sent them to VWoA. They even had to pull a poster they were selling because it had a blown up black and white photo of the EMPI Imp Pincher running down the drag strip. The fellow I talked to at CIP said they could probably win the legal battle, but they had found from past experiace that it's finacially better to give in to their demands than fight a long drawn-out court battle.

Every company has the right to defend their trademarks. If someone is selling an aftermarket part as the real deal complete with VW Logos and parts #s without VWs approval, VWoA SHOULD do whatever is necessary to make them stop. But when a company can't sell a copy of a 40 year old photo of a car because the company that built the car thinks they own the rights to it . . . THAT is just wrong.

Until VW becomes strapped for cash this crap will continue. If no one buys their new cars, they will become strapped for cash. The solution here is pretty simple. :-k

Ret.Bugtech · « **Reply #9 on:** April 10, 2005, 11:51:28 AM »

Zen, Who is griping EMPI or VWOA ? I don`t think EMPI is in any Shape to do much "bitching" . They are a longggggg way from the company that they use to be. 40 years ago they were" IT" but not now. They should be thankful that anybody would think enough to remember the famous "Inch -Pincher" and the company that did so much to promote VW with their excellent high quality parts and speed equitment. For the most part now they seem to sell the same old "stuff" that is second rate like some others do. Its a shame. What in the heck does VWOA have to do with EMPI ? I don`t know what VW-AG is thinking about, but VWOA has their heads up their Butts. Do they not realize the brand loyalty that a lot of folks have ? Look at the VolksFolks. They have old Bugs, Campers and Vans in all states of condition and that new Jetta,Golfs,Passats in the driveway. I guess VWOA doesn`t give a Crap.
Zen, Im like you. If everyone traded their new VWs in for Toyotas and Hondas, VW might sit up and take notice. I won`t hold my breath though.
VW sold a lot product when they sponsored the Rabbit Bilstien Cup and the Super Vee racing series and then something really went wrong.
This probley would not ever happen,but what would happen if every VW club and companys that produce quality parts in the USA ban together and hire a battery of very hungry 50 cent lawyers and take on VWOA. This might show VWAG that the USA is serious about the word BUG and VWOA can kiss our arogant Butts.
Please excuse my language, But this whole thing just "Pisses me off"
:thebirdman:

Bugz · « **Reply #10 on:** April 11, 2005, 09:41:11 AM »

I wonder, if we ever get a group together to do the Germany trip if we could also arrange a meeting with some VWAG executives to complain to. I mean if they think that a bunch of Volkswagen enthusiasts were willing to come to Germany to complain I would think that would get some attention. Or does VWAG have any control at all over VWoA?
I plan on going to Germany and tour Volkswagen and even if nobody else goes I'm going to make sure they know some of their clientel is NOT happy! :twisted:

Zen · « **Reply #11 on:** April 11, 2005, 01:40:09 PM »

Quote from: "Ret.Bugtech"

Zen, Who is griping EMPI or VWOA?

From what I understand, VWoA says that CIP1 can't sell the poster 'cause it shows the likeness of one of their products and the poster isn't officially licensed by VW. I've never heard of EMPI saying anything about the unofficial use of their logo even though it happens all the time.

Ret.Bugtech · « **Reply #12 on:** April 11, 2005, 04:57:49 PM »

I wonder if we could find out the names of the "Num-Nuts who are in charge of VWoA. I mean the Head Nut !! Not some P.R. Lackey. I sure would like to have some "Meaningful Correspondence" with these"Intellectual Midgets". I raised two children . Should be just about the same thing. I would wait until BP-7 was over just in case they got "Froggy"
:evil: :evil:

Russ · « **Reply #13 on:** April 11, 2005, 05:23:10 PM »

Quote from: "Zen"

I've never heard of EMPI saying anything about the unofficial use of their logo even though it happens all the time.

Maybe it has something to do with EMPI's unofficial use of Pan Am's logo :shock:

Ret.Bugtech · « **Reply #14 on:** April 12, 2005, 09:31:32 AM »

Correct me if Im wrong. Isn`t Pam-Am now defunt and EMPI still in business? Could it be true that the "Inch-pincher" took out a fleet of 747"?

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