QUOTE(SirAndy @ Oct 20 2016, 10:34 AM)
QUOTE(Tom_T @ Oct 20 2016, 09:39 AM)
...
Oh boy, some people just don't get it.
I really don't care if someone on the internet thinks this or that is public domain and thus open to fair use, blah blah blah.
You know what i *do* care about?
The certified letters from the PCNA lawyers to me personally about 914world.com and the unauthorized use of their trademarks.
I *really* don't give a rats ass what you or any other arm chair lawyer thinks.
If we're going to do 914world hats they will *NOT* have any Porsche trademarks on them.
Simple as that, no discussion.
Hey Andy,
I didn't mean to touch a sensitive nerve with you, but rather,
had offered to help out with that issue.
I actually do "get it" - & do in fact know something about dealing with copyrights, trademarks & servicemarks as a businessman with several myself, & about the process to both get & defend same.
I also did not know that you did have any official communication from them yet, by certified mail or otherwise - just that it came up a while back.
So I was just offering to talk with somebody at PCNA to explore where they had concerns & how you could proceed to use something - NOT to "armchair lawyer" for you.
If you got an official cease & desist letter from Porsche AG/PCNA/their lawyers, then it should be handled any further by a properly qualified attorney familiar with trademarks & service marks.
IF you would like some professional attorney assistance on a Pro Bono basis as a non-profit (i.e.: FREE), then I'd be happy to check for you with my business contacts in Atlanta (since PCNA's HQ is there), to see if I can find anyone willing to lend a hand pro bono. Of course, their advice may still be no - or maybe that it's possible to use the "914" in the original font, or maybe for 914world too, &/or that the cost to do so may be prohibitive (e.g.: the cost to do & maintain an NFP LLC 401.c.3, etc.), even if you could eventually get permission.
They can best advise you at this point on which aspects of their model numbers & font is or is not Trademarked, since corporate attorneys are well know to overstate what they actually have covered by registration.
If you just don't want to mess with it any further, then I understand that too.
Ergo, I won't do/say anything to outsiders without your go ahead. You can PM me for my cell # if you want to talk further about this matter.
I just don't like big corporations trying to bully around the little guys, & all too often overstepping what their intellectual/service property rights protections really are covering! I've been there myself for my business & prevailed with legal assistance.
And Porsche sells a lot of parts to 914world members, so they benefit from it's existence!
In the future though - it is really preferable to respectfully decline an offer to help, with any relevant facts on the matter -
rather than insulting & slamming the person offering such help.
Over & Out Chief!
Tom
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