Ferrari corporate forcing Rob to shut down F-chat... | FerrariChat

Ferrari corporate forcing Rob to shut down F-chat...

Discussion in 'Ferrari Discussion (not model specific)' started by Piton, Aug 11, 2008.

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  1. Piton

    Piton Karting

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    ...so say the whispers in the wind.

    No word on the final "doomsday" date yet.
     
    Piton, Aug 11, 2008
    #1
  2. rmk

    rmk Formula 3

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    sup mako
     
    rmk, Aug 11, 2008
    #2
  3. Piton

    Piton Karting

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    Not much, but very shocked by the news. Typical Ferrari legal nonsense in action, can't believe they'd go after a site that supports them and doesn't on the surface seem to infringe on any copyrights.

    Crazy.
     
    Piton, Aug 11, 2008
    #3
  4. LamboLover

    LamboLover F1 Rookie

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    I'm hoping this is a joke. What on this site could possibly offend Ferrari?
     
    LamboLover, Aug 11, 2008
    #4
  5. SFchallenge

    SFchallenge F1 World Champ

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    This would be very sad if true but Rob can always re name it to "Fchat" since we're always referring it to the shortname.

    Porsche Stuttgart did do this to our local club long ago, citing infringement of brand blah blah blah. Then tookover & it's all good now but they have full control over it.
     
    SFchallenge, Aug 11, 2008
    #5
  6. Blue4reF1

    Blue4reF1 Formula 3

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    Noooo. This can't be true. :(
     
    Blue4reF1, Aug 11, 2008
    #6
  7. jd121

    jd121 Formula Junior

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    Your Kidding right. :(
     
    jd121, Aug 11, 2008
    #7
  8. RacerX_GTO

    RacerX_GTO F1 World Champ Silver Subscribed

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    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    RacerX_GTO, Aug 11, 2008
    #8
  9. Greg Z

    Greg Z Formula Junior

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    LOL, This almost doesn't surprise me. Typical Ferrari BS! Its why I plan on never buying a NEW Ferrari just so I don't support them. I will only buy used, but yet I would buy a new Lambo if I could.
     
    Greg Z, Aug 11, 2008
    #9
  10. GrigioGuy

    GrigioGuy Splenda Daddy Lifetime Rossa Owner

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    "Whispers"? Or deliberately spread rumors from a certain pack of known jokers and ex-sponsors?

    I note that the other board is now no longer public....
     
    GrigioGuy, Aug 11, 2008
    #10
  11. mattymouse33

    mattymouse33 F1 Rookie

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    This would be devastating to me if true, not that i believe it.
     
    mattymouse33, Aug 11, 2008
    #11
  12. CornersWell

    CornersWell F1 Rookie

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    Generally, yes. Remember FML used to have the prancing horse logo? No more. For years, SpA has been going after replica manufacturers even going to the point of having cars crushed. Mattel/Hot Wheels is still the only toy maker with a license. SpA wants to get PAID! Frankly, I'm a little surprised that it took them this long to take notice. I guess they had their resources too focused on things like their sales contracts and Classiche to do anything until now.

    I'm also certain there's a way for this site to continue operations.

    Oh, and why is this in the Lamborghini forum? Shouldn't this be in the general forum?

    CW
     
    Last edited: Aug 11, 2008
    CornersWell, Aug 11, 2008
    #12
  13. henryr

    henryr Two Time F1 World Champ Silver Subscribed

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    looks like ferrari has better lawyers than part suppliers
     
    henryr, Aug 11, 2008
    #13
    Texas Forever likes this.
  14. Devilsolsi

    Devilsolsi F1 Veteran Rossa Subscribed

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    BMW did this as well to BMWm5, they renamed it to M5board.
     
    Devilsolsi, Aug 11, 2008
    #14
  15. WJHMH

    WJHMH Two Time F1 World Champ Silver Subscribed

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    I call BS, bitterness must be a hard pill to swallow.
     
    WJHMH, Aug 11, 2008
    #15
  16. FredParoutaud

    FredParoutaud Formula 3

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    Well if you charge for something...and call it "Ferrari-" anything...I'm not surprised.

    Fred
     
    FredParoutaud, Aug 11, 2008
    #16
  17. WILLIAM H

    WILLIAM H Three Time F1 World Champ

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    or Ferrarichat.com

    they have no claim on the word Ferrarichat :)
     
    WILLIAM H, Aug 11, 2008
    #17
  18. CornersWell

    CornersWell F1 Rookie

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    As a lawyer, I think that while you are technically correct, a judge looking at that defense would ultimately reject it. It incorporates the word Ferrari and it's a Ferrari-oriented site (ironically, much of the non-Ferrari content is subscription-based, too). It's also "The Online Ferrari Community" according to the upper right of the page. I think Rob would have some issues if SpA chose to bring a cease and desist order.

    CW
     
    Last edited: Aug 11, 2008
    CornersWell, Aug 11, 2008
    #18
  19. JohnnyS

    JohnnyS F1 World Champ Owner Silver Subscribed

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    That means that anyone that uses the word Ferrari in any form is in violation. Buzzzzzzzzzz. Not going to happen (IMO). It will go back to exactly what is in violation to Ferrari's copyright and trademarks, exactly as they are written. My company had a trademark issue and got around it by simply changing the shape of the first letter in the company name. Up held in the courts so I know there is absolutely no wiggle room when it comes to trademarks. They are exactly as submitted, written and approved.
     
    JohnnyS, Aug 11, 2008
    #19
  20. CornersWell

    CornersWell F1 Rookie

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    You may well be correct. However, I've seen some strange things when it comes to these matters over the years.

    CW
     
    CornersWell, Aug 11, 2008
    #20
  21. 2NA

    2NA F1 World Champ Consultant Owner Professional Ferrari Technician

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    This is beginning to look like another "My Lambo was reported stolen..........................." thread :(
     
    2NA, Aug 11, 2008
    #21
  22. sparta49

    sparta49 F1 Veteran Owner

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    That makes sense. They don't see a cent when you buy parts from them since all the parts for these cars are readily available at Autozone.
     
    sparta49, Aug 11, 2008
    #22
  23. wax

    wax Five Time F1 World Champ Lifetime Rossa

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    Complete crock of ****.

    This is yet another one of Gustan's impractical jokes, with an old hater* of FerrariChat being the delivery boy to FerrariChat this time.

    As Rob has indicated elsewhere on threads I'm not going to bother with, Ferrari S.p.A. has been aware of FerrariChat for many years.

    Bye- bye, "Piton" - who will get a 2-year ban, then, just to rub salt in his gaping maw, have said ban renewed every 2 years.

    *Using a different identity, the same individual was permabanned 4 1/2 years ago.
     
    wax, Aug 11, 2008
    #23
  24. rob lay

    rob lay Administrator Staff Member Admin Miami 2018 Owner Social Subscribed

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    FerrariChat.com has been around 8 years, there simply requires common sense on both sides. We have never used the prancing horse, other protected trademarks, or even the 'Ferrari' font. Ferrari has been aware of FerrariChat.com since the beginning and overall I have heard personally from Ferrari and through insiders they are fine and pleased with us. They know how to contact me personally if issues and I think the community would be pleased to hear Ferrari respects our community and freedoms to communicate. +1 for Ferrari. Any intervention has been minor, like recently requesting that specs of the California be removed before the official release date. That seems reasonable and I fully complied. The Ferrari organization will certainly change over the years and their position may change, but from early on through several years ago when Jean Todt passed along a message to add 'FerrariChat.com has no association with Ferrari S.p.A.' to each page they have been very professional and appreciative.

    We do have alternate domain names, currently using www.thebestemployee.com and I have about 20 others without the Ferrari name that could be turned on quickly. Why would Ferrari go after us at this point? Are they going after the 10 other Ferrari forums, Ferraris-Online, Ferrari Market Letter, Ferrari Owners Club, and etc? FerrariChat.com is basically a club, actually the largest Ferrari club in world by tens of thousands. Think if Ferrari went after the FCA or FOC and what kind of impact it would have on their business to tick off that many of its enthusiasts. For those clubs we're are talking thousands, for FerrariChat.com we're talking over 60,000.

    <removed by Rob>

    I have not been legally contacted, although for 8 years I have heard every rumor from A to Z and nothing has ever come from it. Usually common sense rules out in business and there are mutually beneficial solutions, so why would they go down a mutually damaging path? All is cool, with 60k users there are a few disgruntled and jealous users that lead to a headache here and there. Anyone think my job is easy and want to take it over? :D
     
    Last edited: Aug 11, 2008
    rob lay, Aug 11, 2008
    #24
  25. JH

    JH F1 Veteran Silver Subscribed

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    Application sent ... haha
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 11, 2008
    JH, Aug 11, 2008
    #25
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