Piaggio ... what the ...?!

[Paul Minnaert]

  On 2/7/2023 at 9:51 PM, Paul Minnaert said:

I got the layers letter too, for fastguzzi.nl

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So I gave it to Piaggio, can't afford the time and money to fight it.  Web site is now at http://www.minnaert.net

 

[docc]

  On 3/11/2023 at 10:43 PM, Paul Minnaert said:

So I gave it to Piaggio, can't afford the time and money to fight it.  Web site is now at http://www.minnaert.net

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I recall interviews in the Centenery Videos asking the question, "What is one word to sum up Moto Guzzi?"

Pausing only briefly, Alis Agostini replied, "Struggle. "

She would know.

[docc]

Could the model names be next?

Seems this hapless Cardolino has blundered into the snare . . .

[docc]

All kidding aside, I propose we pin thread in FAQ with links to current business names with links and a reference to the name that had to be surrendered.

[KINDOY2]

  On 3/11/2023 at 10:43 PM, Paul Minnaert said:

So I gave it to Piaggio, can't afford the time and money to fight it.  Web site is now at http://www.minnaert.net

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I think its an excellent name!

[Scud]

  On 3/12/2023 at 12:16 AM, docc said:

Could the model names be next?

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Yeah... California, Nevada, the Stelvio National Park, and LeMans are gonna have to think of something quick.

[gstallons]

Now that's funny !

[gstallons]

  On 3/11/2023 at 10:43 PM, Paul Minnaert said:

So I gave it to Piaggio, can't afford the time and money to fight it.  Web site is now at http://www.minnaert.net

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I like the word left in place but  scribbled out!

[footgoose]

what about Goose, Gootsie, etc? they can't trademark everything

Lots of HD places began using "V Twin"

A local BMW repair shop switched to B&W

must be some creative ways around it.

[Speedfrog]

I wonder if the city of Le Mans, France or its namesake race track ever got any royalties from Moto Guzzi...

[Speedfrog]

GUZZIMOTO -— one word!

If the Piaggio lawyers knock on your door, tell ’em it’s a Japanese name...

[motortouring]

  On 3/12/2023 at 6:13 AM, gstallons said:

I like the word left in place but  scribbled out!

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I wonder if Piaggio has a Guzzi that goes faster, than yours.

In fact there is nothing misleading in FastGuzzi. 😀

 

[motortouring]

  On 3/12/2023 at 7:56 AM, Speedfrog said:

GUZZIMOTO -— one word!

If the Piaggio lawyers knock on your door, tell ’em it’s a Japanese name...

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Sukiyaki Django Guzzi

[Bill Hagan]

 

I am starting to worry about the Moto Grappa …

 

 

 

… and am glad I decided to put this sign inside instead of outside.

 

 

 

 

OTOH, living as I do in Frederick County, at the top of Virginia, I think my views are more of the Molon labe sort ...

 

 

 

 

 

Seriously, I appreciate the commercial need to protect intellectual property of all kinds, yet, especially for mini-brands such as Moto Guzzi, balancing the loss of trade dress protection by the name becoming generic against the gain from “advertising” by enthusiasts of the marque would sure seem counterproductive.  

 

Rather than absolute “cease & desist” letters, Piaggio suits might have accomplished the same thing with requiring a token payment for use, thus protecting their ownership without alienating so many Guzzisti.

 

They must have a rosier view of the moto-future than I do.

 

Maybe it’s just the “principle of the thing.”

 

That then gets to that old curse: “God grant my enemy a lawsuit in which he is right.”  

 

Back to reality here, which, in my case, means Her Grace’s list.  

 

Bill

 

 

[audiomick]

  On 3/12/2023 at 1:53 PM, Bill Hagan said:

Maybe it’s just the “principle of the thing.”

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It's that, and it is a very big corporation that makes millions of scooters and a couple of thousand Moto Guzzis per year. Someone in a suit contracted a lawer's practice to look for "infringements" on the net. No-one is looking to see if the "infringement" is really detrimental to the Moto Guzzi image or not.