peterjcb

OK, I just received a letter from some legal firm saying that they represented Porsche and basically because I own the domain http://porsche944s.com and have pictures of my 944, they want me to take my web site down.
I wanted to get a concensus of opinion of folks on the forum here.
I am not selling anything nor am I profiting from the Porsche name. I just thought that it was a cool domain to own and since it was available, I bought it. I just wanted a domain to post pictures of my car and various projects.
If I'm in some violation of their rights, I'll take it down and get another Domain name. Give me some feedback.
Thanks,
Peter

iloveporsches

You are in violation of their rights. However stupid they may be, they are legally right. Porsche cracked down a few years ago on anyone using their name, for profit or not. Sucks, but they are right.

starr944

That's why Porsche and other corporations spend 100's of thousands of dollars on trademarking and copyrighting each year - they want to protect their name. And because of the trademark and copyright laws, you cannot use their name(s) or other materials without permisson.

UDPride

Friggin Porsche ***** at it again. Personally I'd tell the legal firm I'll take it down after telling them to shove it up their a-hole, however they have to buy the domain back from you or else you will sell it to a pornographer.

Second, I would tell them Porsche needs to get off their high horse and use some common horse sense, especially toward customers that own Porsches, maintain Porsches, buy Porsche parts, participate in Porsche sanctioned events, Register with PCA, and pass along otherwise good words about the car company. I would mention that you would also like the instructions from Porsche on the best way to remove all Porsche logo and insignias from your vehicle because for years you've been offering them free advertising and would like to discontinue the practice not only on the web site but on the car itself.

I know Porsche lawyers have their reasons, but most of them are crap reasons, with no degree of application based on situation and context. Narrow-minded tunnel-visioned bookworms who read the scripture word for word and have absolutely no critical thinking skills or deductive reasoning. I mean if you give them a hard time, what are they going to do? Sue you for $10 million? Take some schmuck with a 4 page web site (not necess. you) with a couple pictures of his car and a photo of his pet goldfish to the supreme court and spend $40,000 in lawyer fees?

How Porsche has been harmed I dont know. Any crap about people confusing the domain with an authentic Porsche AG domain is pure utter 100% bull****.

I hate the Porsche *****. One of the reason I dont buy or own any clothes with Porsche on it. I like the cars I have, but Porsche doesnt go out of their way for their devoted owners in so many ways, so I dont go out of my way to promote them with their name all over my bags, clothes, and things.

OK Im done. I feel better.

Tom M'Guinn

It is quite possible for a company to protect its trademark without bullying its biggest fans. Sadly, I'd take it down unless you are prepared ($) to fight. --Tom

UDPride

Thinking some more about it:

Heres some domain alternatives:

www.p-o-r-s-c-h-e-9-4-4-s.com -- its not a word, its letters and dashes. the fact that if you phonetic it out is sounds like porsche is merely coincidental.
www.ehcsrop.com
www.porsch-a.com
http://www.pcarlawyersneedtofindahel...etheirtime.com
www.learnsomethingfrombmw.com

peterjcb

I didn't put this site up to make any money, I just thought it was a cool domain name for an 18 year old car that would hardly draw much attention from Porsche owners, let alone the general public.
I believe that the trademark laws were meant to protect the company's profits and I understand that and totally agree; but that is not the case here. The problem is that they don't look at a case by case incident. It's just a blanket decision not to allow that name anywhere they can't make a profit..period.
I personally wouldn't fight it bacause I really don't care that much. What's so ironic is that they seem to be against people who actually want to promote their cars.

Mike the Rookie

Car companies are all about "Brand Management" these days. Porsche is worried that someone may damage their fancy brand name. Nothing could be more harmless than a guy posting pics of his ride on his web site, if anything it is a positive. Never mind that it is the enthusiats, not the lawyers and managers that have made Porsche a cool brand. They just shut everyone down.


Why do you think the Boxster has power steering. I have read it is so that women (who as you know always have to be fashionable) would buy them.

MichelleJD

Has anyone ever fought Porsche on this? If I remember copyright law from law school (didn't take many classes in that area), you can't infringe if you aren't making $$. How do you think satire is allowed to exist? You can make jokes about Porsche all day long and use their name, symbols, etc. Many lawyers win by being bullies (I know, I deal with the a$$holes on a daily basis ). Any lawyers here do copyright? If you really like it, talk to a copyright lawyer and see what he says. If you do take it down, sell it to me for cheap and I'll see what shakes

Rich Sandor

Don't blame Porsche, blame their lawyers who have nothing better to do than "chase ambulances"

joseywhales

Change to "my porsche944.com, it's now personalized! By the way sharp car great interior, is it orignal. Scott

Epic2112

Put "This site is not affiliated by Porsche AG or any of its subsidiaries", or something like that on the page somewhere. If you're not making money I say you should keep the site up. At least until you start getting serious threats.

Danno

How about "porshe944s.com" ? or "porche944s.com" or "porch944s.com"... jeesh... what arrogance!

Porsche-O-Phile

Did anybody also notice that Porsche was the only major automaker to NOT appear in Grand Turismo III? Because of the Porsche *****, their cars only appear in the game / simulation as the Ruf variants and are referred to as "a major German automaker". Pathetic. Needlessly elitist.

Alex Cook

That should do it... my local independent mechanic is 'Porschtech' for the same reason.

What I don't understand is we have parts supplier over here whose domain is www.porsche-shop.co.uk/ . How they get away with that I don't know, esp as they are a business