Lawsuit in the making !!!


NorthwoodGT

GT Owner
Jun 12, 2009
1,217
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!
 
It’s an amazing world we live in!
 
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.
 
Yes its called domain squatting and its perfectly legal. (Unethical, but legal).
 
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.
 
I just put claim on fordgt2016.com
 
Guy has done nothing wrong. Called free country / trade, etc. If ford wanted it, trust me, they would have already owned it...
 
Crapola, I thought he's selling the car for $10K, (need me glasses darn it)
 
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.
 
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
 
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.
 
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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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.
 
Hey, it could always be worse.


www.whitehouse.com was porn.
 
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
 
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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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!
 
I agree with Shelby on this one. Free market.