[Mgs] Trademark infringement?

[Aeseeyou at aol.com]

I still remember the heavy handed tactics that  BMW used when they took over 
the MINI trademark. They were really hard core,  threatening small business 
owners who, for instance, used a name like "Sam's  Mini Repair" or "The House of 
Mini's" etc. Supposedly even business's that  weren't automobile related like 
"Joe's Mini-burger's"  felt the wrath of  "the blue propeller" (The BMW logo) 
and were forced to change it or be  sued..
They say BMW's Lawyers had themselves a real field day threatening  little 
shops with huge Gazillion dollar lawsuits.. BMW itself decided to  differentiate 
it's name by using all caps on their official logo "MINI" as  opposed to the 
earlier Morris Mini's or Austin Mini's or the  Mini-Cooper's....That still 
remains to this day.
Out here on the Left Coast  people were really outraged by the Teutonic 
terrorism of the BMW's lawyers.  Eventually it subsided but there was much bad 
blood for years...With some Mini  owners saying they'd never buy a new MINI!
As for some true blue MG followers  take the "GoF's" or "Gathering of the 
Faithful" for instance, some of those guys  are really hard core about anything 
related to the Sacred Octagon and all things  Abingdon ....   
Albert Escalante~CCBCC-West Coast   




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