How long before NewBeetle.org goes the same way

[Blugg]

Beetle or iconic German car?
Same difference at Just Kampers

Volkswagen AG, of Wolfsburg, Germany, has asserted its right to the trademark ‘Beetle’ and has served notice on Just Kampers Ltd to prevent us using the domain name for our website.You can find the full letter from VW at the following address: http://www.justkampers.com/vw-letter.pdf

I must say that having worked with VW worldwide for the last 18 years of our 22 years of trading, I was a bit disappointed. However, it will not dent the enthusiasm of either myself – or my team at JK – for owning, driving and supplying spares for the cars and Campers.

Don’t panic! Although we’ll still be able to supply our full range of parts for your VW Camper or Beetle, it’s with great regret that we announce that from Friday, 25th November, www.justbeetles.com and www.justbeetles.co.uk will no longer be accessible.

Instead, the site is incorporated into the www.justkampers.com website.

Volkswagen seem to be clamping down on any site with the name Beetle recently. I know of one other site that has been forced to take the name down.

Is NewBeetle.org safe As it's an Org dot domain, or does that still infringe on copyright

[MyOtherRidesAVette]

Originally Posted by Blugg

Volkswagen seem to be clamping down on any site with the name Beetle recently. I know of one other site that has been forced to take the name down.

Is NewBeetle.org safe As it's an Org dot domain, or does that still infringe on copyright

Oh, I'm sure it does unless there was written permission obtained in the beginning or somewhere along the line. Especially anything that cuts into their revenue. As with the Org...

[squeebug]

Nothing on the internet is safe when it comes to domain names. If they really wanted it (nb.org), they could fight for it. Although one could claim that the site doesn't sell anything, and the ads are to cover operational costs, it's still a trademark.

Recently apple won the rights to some....adult domains, because they had iphone or something along the lines in their domain name.

[MyOtherRidesAVette]

Originally Posted by squeebug

Nothing on the internet is safe when it comes to domain names. If they really wanted it (nb.org), they could fight for it. Although one could claim that the site doesn't sell anything, and the ads are to cover operational costs, it's still a trademark.

Recently apple won the rights to some....adult domains, because they had iphone or something along the lines in their domain name.

But this really isn't a domain name issue, it's about using a registered trademark "Beetle", and I'm going to assume "New Beetle" is likewise trademarked. Infringement is so common, typically big corps leave it alone unless it is used in a negative fashion that reflects back poorly on the owner of the trademark, or it is used by someone who's use significantly cuts into revenue. It could be argued the Org does the later, "circumventing" their licensed Service Centers by it's purpose alone. After all, the Org wasn't developed to be a social site. I might believe the .org in lieu of .com or the fact that this is not a retail site would have nothing to do with it.

What Blugg suggests, could easily happen unless express permission has been granted. I might suggest, however, while the founder, Jeff, I believe, may have not addressed this issue, I can't imagine it getting by AutoGuide's Corp lawyers when the purchase was done. Lawyers tend to think about these things.

[Smileybug]

VW does this all the time. Recently, they went through a lot of the local VW mechanics and made them take out "VW", "Volkswagen", etc. from their names. And I think they can say like "We service VWs/Volkswagens" but can't say "VW/Volkswagen service" or something stupid like that. I know one of the local shops had to change their name, my mechanic's shop had to change the wording of what cars they serviced. Its fairly ridiculous, but VW has been like this for a long time.

[squeebug]

Yeah I wouldn't expect anything to happen, and I sure wouldn't be surprised that Autogide thought about it before the purchase closed. I think we're fairly safe, not like we're a threat to VW in any way.

[squeebug]

Originally Posted by Smileybug

VW does this all the time. Recently, they went through a lot of the local VW mechanics and made them take out "VW", "Volkswagen", etc. from their names. And I think they can say like "We service VWs/Volkswagens" but can't say "VW/Volkswagen service" or something stupid like that. I know one of the local shops had to change their name, my mechanic's shop had to change the wording of what cars they serviced. Its fairly ridiculous, but VW has been like this for a long time.

That they have, way way way back in the day where I lived in TX, there was a place called the Bug Shop or Buggy Shop or something, well VW came in and make a stink of it. Although it worked out for the guy who owned the shop cause they eventually offered him the VW dealership in town since it was going down the crapper, although some might say it still is.

[Oldbugman]

Well from what I've read here New Beetle is a registered trademark of VW so I would only suspect it will be a matter of time........Not only is New Beetle a registered trademark the VW in new is as well with or without the circle. It's not in this link but I did read it somewhere else on VWOA site.


Volkswagen of America, Inc

[kcfoxie]

We're a registered VW club, thus we have rights to their logos and naming schemes...or we WERE... at one point in time.

[digitalputty]

With SOPA (American Censorship Day November 16 - Join the fight to stop SOPA) being on the list of 'things to do' ... I wouldn't be surprised if this site and vwvortex go away. I know it sounds silly but ... it might happen.

[MyOtherRidesAVette]

Originally Posted by kcfoxie

We're a registered VW club, thus we have rights to their logos and naming schemes...or we WERE... at one point in time.

Without seeing the terms of that document, that should probably afford the necessary protection. That would be between the current Owner and the entity with whom that registration was issued. Most agreements are written with a time frame, few are perpetual. I'm sure AutoGuide's lawyers addressed this issue, no one would make such a substantial investment without covering all their bases.

[marvins_dad]

I know we dealt with that issue when they cracked down the first time 5 or more years ago. We had been doing the calendars and got flack from Cafepress about using the likeness of the new beetle and VW logos.

I think Jeff checked into it back then...don't know what the final conclusion was, but we have been up and running and a positive site for VW and the new beetle for something like at least 10 years. I wouldn't think that VW would shut us down because of how much we help out the community.

It might be that the new crack down will make it more difficult for a new startup website to use that language.

[Blugg]

Originally Posted by marvins_dad

It might be that the new crack down will make it more difficult for a new startup website to use that language.

I must say that having worked with VW worldwide for the last 18 years of our 22 years of trading, I was a bit disappointed.

Nothings sacred anymore. They just seem to be going down the Apple route. Albeit not as fierce as Apple go about things.

Interesting to read about, behind the scenes though

[kcfoxie]

if we did lose this domain, it's a chance for another site to crop up and replace it. I suppose the good thing about being owned by a media company like AutoGuide is they have the legal department to handle such disputes vs being independently operated.