Help us tell Ford they are wrong…

Readers, we need your help in convincing Ford that their efforts to shut down businesses and websites that have helped build their brands and loyal enthusiast base are doing them more damage than good. Submit your well thought-out and civilized comments here. Within the weeks to come we will send these to the highest ranks at Ford.

(Below is the story we posted on May 23rd.)
Apparently Ford thinks a way to improve its image and sales of Ford cars is by alienating the very enthusiasts that loyally buy Ford vehicles. In another one of Ford’s “Bold Moves” they have sent a letter to Mustang Plus, a Stockton, CA based Mustang parts retailer, asking them to stop using Mustang in their business name. They have also sent similar letters to an untold number of other businesses, such as MustangTuning.com and California Mustang. Rumour is they will soon come after magazines, websites, and clubs that also use Ford, Mustang, Thunderbird, Falcon or other Ford brand names.

The Feb. 16 letter from Howard, Phillips and Andersen, a Utah law firm representing Ford (and other automakers in the past and present) on intellectual property enforcement matters, asked Mustangs Plus to:

» Transfer to the automaker the registration for mustangsplus.com.

» Submit to government offices all forms necessary to discontinue registration of the Mustangs Plus name.

» Cancel Internet and telephone directory listings and advertising under the Mustangs Plus name.

» Turn over for destruction all signs, banners, business cards and collateral materials.

» Issue a check to Ford for $10,000 in damages.

Read the entire story and comment:

While trademark infringment is a legitimate issue for all major brands, we just refuse to believe that the executives at Dearborn are really in support of the efforts and actions of the sharks at Howard, Phillips and Andersen. With all the troubles Ford is having with declining market share and lackluster sales, the last thing they should be doing right now is biting the very hands of the loyal enthusiasts that feed them. More to come on this, stay tuned.