Lawsuit in the making !!!


NorthwoodGT

GT Owner
Jun 12, 2009
1,215
Michigan
is this guy for real ??? Ford will have a field day with this one.
see link below
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2016FORDGT-...202?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e9848bf02

hopefully one of you Ford guys can lead Ford security right to this guy. this is ridiculous in my opinion!
 

roketman

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Oct 24, 2005
8,005
ma.
It’s an amazing world we live in!
 

timcantwell

Le Mans 2010 Sponsor * Moderator
Mark IV Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
Jan 22, 2006
2,634
N.E. OH & Naples, FL
I think that in the "internet world", if you own the domain, you don't necessarily have to own the brand. It is an interesting business model snapping up all the good names and then selling them off to their rightful owners who either didn't have the foresight or dollars to reserve the domain name they really want.
 

dmark1

GT Owner
Dec 18, 2010
202
Dallas
Yes its called domain squatting and its perfectly legal. (Unethical, but legal).
 

Specracer

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Nov 28, 2005
7,088
MA
I remember Dodge didn't have dodge.com. Used to be 4adodge.com (or something like that). Many other examples of how the early bird got the worm.
 

roketman

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Oct 24, 2005
8,005
ma.
I just put claim on fordgt2016.com
 

shelbyelite

PERMANENTLY BANNED
May 10, 2007
1
Guy has done nothing wrong. Called free country / trade, etc. If ford wanted it, trust me, they would have already owned it...
 

junior

GT Owner
Mar 9, 2007
1,151
So Cal
Crapola, I thought he's selling the car for $10K, (need me glasses darn it)
 

B. West

GT Owner
Dec 17, 2012
356
Irvine, CA
This could be considered copyright infringement. I doubt our Office of General Counsel would pursue it but if he using Ford licensed media i.e. photos to sell/promote his product, it could be perceived such.
 

centerpunch

ex-GT owner x2
Mark II Lifetime
Sep 16, 2005
952
OH/NC
There is a very simple process for Ford to get this domain from the "owner," if they want to.

See section 4.

https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/policy-2012-02-25-en
 

BAT

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
Oct 11, 2012
946
Central Mitten
Somewhat related, go to Nissan.com and you will find Nissan Computers. On their front page, they link an article on how Nissan has filed a 10mm lawsuit to get this domain name.
 

shelbyelite

PERMANENTLY BANNED
May 10, 2007
1
So is Dave infringing on Ford by this site being called FORDgtforum and having pics of Ford GTs on the main page? Free trade people. The guy is simply trying to sell a domain name that he registered ownership for fair and square. Just my opinion...


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RALPHIE

GT Owner
Mar 1, 2007
7,278
Doesn't sound like I'll be adding it to my "Favorites" list, so I really don't care - If and when it becomes something I wish to follow, I'll add it.
 

FENZO

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
Jul 7, 2008
1,518
Lafayette, CO
Hey, it could always be worse.


www.whitehouse.com was porn.
 

NorthwoodGT

GT Owner
Jun 12, 2009
1,215
Michigan
So is Dave infringing on Ford by this site being called FORDgtforum and having pics of Ford GTs on the main page? Free trade people. The guy is simply trying to sell a domain name that he registered ownership for fair and square. Just my opinion...


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not sure exactly how all this works. this is for the trademark lawyers to figure out. A few years ago Ford cracked down on all the Mustang companies using the word "Mustang" in their company name. we won't even get into the war over the name "cobra" and who owned it but it cost both sides a lot of time and money figuring that one out. I just don't see how ebay even let's this guy post a domain with the word FORD in it. I also have to believe that Dave and others did their homework long before this site and other Ford and Mustang forums were built. I think FORD also looks at the good these type forums do for the company image and the consumer as well. jmo
 

B. West

GT Owner
Dec 17, 2012
356
Irvine, CA
DBK isn't selling anything under the guise of, on behalf of, or representing Ford.

I'm not saying he can't sell it or is doing anything illegal, however, automobile manufacturers and most large companies have become very protective of intellectual property regarding image and others profiting from it. If Ford owns the name (Ford GT) and the associated site could be considered harmful to or misrepresentative of Ford's intentions, they could possibly pursue copyright infringement. I'm no attorney so don't quote me, but I have dealt with such things during my tenure with the company.
 
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NorthwoodGT

GT Owner
Jun 12, 2009
1,215
Michigan
DBK isn't selling anything under the guise of, on behalf of, or representing Ford.

I'm not saying he can't sell it or is doing anything illegal, however, automobile manufacturers and most large companies have become very protective of intellectual property regarding image and others profiting from it. If Ford owns the name (Ford GT) and the associated site could be considered harmful to or misrepresentative of Ford's intentions, they could possibly pursue copyright infringement. I'm no attorney so don't quote me, but I have dealt with such things during my tenure with the company.

All very good points. I think that's exactly why it's not a clear and cut answer on the ramifications to this. However when someone is selling something like this guy is on ebay I think the view is fairly clear that he is trying to profit from the word Ford and Ford GT. I offered him $1.25 for it so I could give him my opinion of his anticts- legal or not, freedom of speech or not, free society or not. I just think it's a low life stunt. jmho

p.s. he hasn't responded to my offer yet!
 

Black GT

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
Jan 2, 2006
771
I agree with Shelby on this one. Free market.