Specialized...you may want to rethink this one

[BalkanExpress]

Just seen this on Richard Moore's twitter feed

http://blogs.calgaryherald.com/2013...after-threat-from-u-s-bike-giant-specialized/

I hope Specialized see past their lawyer's advice as I like their stuff and it would be a shame to stop buying it

 

[fossyant]

You cant make it up.

 

[postman]

I would have thought a free bit of advertising like this would be beneficial for Spesh.It could get the customer thinking, Spesh bikes.

 

[TheDoctor]

Trouble is, you protect a trademark or you lose it.
Certainly in the States, anyone who felt like it can sell a thermos flask, since the Thermos firm lost the rights to the trademark in 1963.

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

I think it is a shame when these things happen, however it is not just his shop which bears that name. He is selling custom wheels with the 'Roubaix' branding and I expect Specialized do not want products of unknown quality confused with products they offer bearing the same name.

Unfortunately I don't think it will end up good for anyone including me who I expect will be seen simply as a spech fanboy.

I'm curious to know though if specialized would have an issue, if products bearing this name were not being sold.. Guess only lawyers know.

 

[palinurus]

I'll give this comment a bit of U.S. flavor.

Oh, Specialized seem to be one of those sucky sort of brands.

 

[vernon]

I would have thought a free bit of advertising like this would be beneficial for Spesh.It could get the customer thinking, Spesh bikes.

But it's not free advertising for Specialized. It could get customers thinking that Specialized nicked/borrowed the Roubaix name from the bike shop. It seems to be picky but if a company doesn't defend its brand, it loses cachet amongst the (potential)customer base.

 

[PaulSecteur]

Seems a bit harsh, especially when there is a cycle brand called fuji that also make a bike called Roubaix.

I would have thought the spesh lawyers would have got that one sorted first.

 

[zizou]

Disgraceful behaviour from Specialized

Although i wonder if there is more to the story - Fuji have a model called a Roubaix and numerous cycle clothing companies have tshirts with Roubaix on them or use terms like Roubaix fabric to describe fleecy lycra.

 

[fossyant]

The lawyers need a slap

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

Maybe someone should take them up on their user of "Tarmac" "Epic" "Allez"

 

[vernon]

Maybe someone should take them up on their user of "Tarmac" "Epic" "Allez"

Most words are fair game for protected trademarks.

Harley Davidson even tried to patent the sound of common crankpin v-twins. They failed after six years of negotiation.

 

[400bhp]

The letter is surely bollox

Roubaix (possibly in conjunction with the UCI) should counter-sue Specialized for nicking their town name/race name.

Typical American corporate BS.

 

[Dangermouse]

So Specialized start using bullying tactics...........shame on them, after all Café Roubaix isn't much of a threat to their empire is it.

 

[vernon]

The letter is surely bollox

Roubaix (possibly in conjunction with the UCI) should counter-sue Specialized for nicking their town name/race name.

Typical American corporate BS.

Ok then, fund the fightback.