Steve, just picked up the May 2001 Muscle Mustang & Fast Fords and on page #30 they have a little ditty about not messing with Ford on the web. It reads,

"DON'T MESS WITH FORD ON THE WEB
Let's face it, Ford Motor Company has more money and more lawyers than you do. So, if you plan on erecting any kind of website that has Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Jaguar, Aston Martin, Mazda or any of the other Ford brand names embedded in the address, you can plan on seeing Ford's lawyers in court. Ford has assembled a legal task force in Dearborn and is systematically rooting out every site like this and taking the owners of the domain names to court to make them cease and desist. More than 60 cases are already pending."

If I remember correctly, you had issues about this once before with Ford, or did you ???? Can't remember but I thought I would let you know about it. Maybe you can talk to your buddy in Virginia and see if he can help because I think he has some friends in the company

Have Fun & Keep on Truckin'
Dean

------------------
1994 F-150 XLT Supercab, Long Box, 302 EFI, 3.55 LS, Superchip, K&N FIPK, Bosch Platinum +4 Spark Plugs, Automatic, Single Catalytic converter, followed by a Raven Z-55 muffler and finished off with chrome tips (2 1/2" to 3"), Royal Blue in and out, Captain Chairs. Chrome Rims 15x8's, Michelin LTX M/S 105S 235/75R15 (Summer), OEM Aluminum Rims 15x8's, Michelin LTX M/S 108S (Winter), Lightly Tinted, Soft Tonneau Cover, Ford Receiver Hitch Cover & Lock, J&J Enterprises Stainless Steel AirDam with KC driving lights, Lund Supersteps, Lighted Grab Bars, VTech Slotted Taillight Covers, Alpine CDM-7829 Head Unit, PPI 4800 Amplifier, Kicker 10" Solo Baric Sub with Custom Box and Kicker Impulse 6.5 Mid & Tweets.

 

If Ford takes any action against Steve I will be at the trial, and will add my financial support to help pay any legal costs. If we all support him and OUR site Ford would be forced to back down.

------------------
SILVER 2001 LIGHTNING
Built 02/14/01
Picked up 03/03/01
Sportmasters tonneau
Bedrug

http://members.tripod.com/donf150/Welcome/id7.html

 

IzzyEddy,

That blurb likely refers to the action that Ford is taking against many of the a**holes that Ford found selling domain names using Ford trademarks quite a while back - i.e. cybersquatting. I have no sympathy for anyone that cybersquats.

With that said, it is possible that anytime Ford's legal team could fax/email/send me a letter and there is not much I could do about it. I have tried to keep the dialog open with the many people I have met at Ford and their creative agencies to show them the positive environment that exists here and to minimize the chances of this happening.

To date, Ford has never contacted or referenced F150online in any of their lawsuits. Ultimately though, it will likely come down to trademark law. Ford has the legal obligation to defend its trademarks or they risk losing them. The same is true of any trademark holder.

Hopefully, the strength and breadth of this community will keep something like this from happening for a long time...

Steve

 

I can see it now,12,000 F-150's blocking traffic in front of the courthouse,LOL.
I'd be there!!! ,,,,98

------------------
98 F-150 4.6 Litre XLT2wd Ext. cab
Yokahama AVS/ST's,,Junk
prarie tan/tan int.
K/N gen.II fipk
custom dual exh/gibson rectangle tips/rear exiting.
color matched snuglid
Superchip!!!
Clear front corners
Stillen Quad light air dam,Sweet!!
Euro taillights
Cobra 75WXST cb w/weather alert
Kenwood cd w/Radio Shack speakers,and Soundstream P203e amplifier//Single 10" sub
Viper alarm
On the way/wheels,tires, etc..etc.......
the monochromatic boogie is done,cool!.
Come see my new pictures@ www.my-f150.com

officialtomwaits.com
reverendhortonheat.com

WOW,what a cool site!

FENDER GUITARS ROCK!!!

 

Hell if they shut down the site for some copyright infringement purpose, just change the name to anything....www.steveiscool.com or something cheesy like that, and just let all the members know. We dont need the word "f150" in the title to be able to keep helping each other out with this awesome site.

 

well I honestly think that Ford gets great use out of this site, whether they realize it or not. The same is true of other sites on the web (explorer4x4.com, f150world.com, ford-diesel.com, etc.). I know without this site and others, I may not have bought my first F-150 (babe the blue ox, back in late 97) and I may not have had the desire to purchase my 94 Explorer without explorer4x4.com, and if it weren't the great experience with my 98 F-150, I wouldn't have bought my current 2000 F-150. It's also great as a marketing tool for Ford and I don't know why they don't use it (or maybe they do secretly)? All they'd have to do is pop into the message boards and say hey if you could make any vehicle from Ford, what would it be?
They actually used to do this with the explorer and ranger folks. I attended several four-wheeling events in Moab, Truckhaven California, and Colorado that were also attended by Ford. Ford engineers came out and took notes not only on what people had done with their vehicles as far as customizations, but also got great ideas on how they could improve the newer models to make us more likely to buy them? I'm not sure where Ford gets the rest of its marketing information but it doesn't seem to be from the public. Jeep offers "Jeep 101" where users interact with Jeep about hte vehicles capabilities, options, and learning how to use them to their fullest capability. Nissan encourages users to "browse the web for 'xterra club'" to see what different options are out there for xterra owners. Other manufacturers have similar things. Even toyotas website used to have a "owners site".
On the other hand, Ford is legally obligated ot protect its trademarks.

------------------

Matt Adams
Littleton, CO
1994 Ford Explorer, highly modified ( http://mattadams.f150online.net )
2000 F-150 XLT Supercab
5.4L Triton V8 Engine, Automatic Transmission, 3" dual exhaust, Rhino lining, K&N Filtercharger Intake Performance Kit (FIPK), JL Audio stealthbox with Phoenix gold amplifier, premium stereo
Genuine Steel brush guard with 4 PIAA 520's mounted on it, PIAA Airdam with PIAA 520 fog's and PIAA 510 superwhite driving lights in it.
off-road and tow packages
and much much more!
Grizzly Roll bar (double bar/single bar) with 5 PIAA 80 XT's mounted on it (3 driving, 2 fogs)
Storage box in the back
Soon to come:
Pistol mod (convenient, easily accessible yet somewhat hidden access).

 

well perfect example. the new 01 lighting. almost all the changes are what people have done or want to do. like the headlights, corners, clear tails. more HP, the intercooler, the computer. all stuff we or at least the lighting folks have talked about.

 

I don't know why Ford would even care, since this site promotes Fords, and F150's in general. Oh well, who know's.

------------------
98 Black F150 S/C 4x4 ORP 5.4

4" Rancho lift, 14 KC lights, lots of other goodies. Check out www.F150World.com/Mudder for pics and all the info.

 

Well count me in for the 12,000 F150's blocking the courthouse - I feel a need for a road trip! LOL!
Seriously - I'd be lost w/o this site & all the friends I've made here. Steve - just PROMISE never to make this topic your next April Fool's Joke or we'll be plotting - I mean planning a revolt against Ford!
If we can help in any way just let us know. I'm positive you have the support of every member here.

------------------

Love my truck & PROUD of it! If you can't beat 'em, you're NOT driving a FORD!
Shovies PROVE that FORD'S are #1!!
'97 Black F150 XLT ORP 4X4 Reg Cab/LB
4.6L/auto/3.55 LS/power EVERYTHING,
nerf bars, 17" wheels, fog lights, trailer hitch w/electrical connector, front tow hooks, bed rail caps,
6 CD changer, lumbar support & 3 cow license plates - so far!

 

but, not something like...www.steveisasweety.com or I can't put a sticker on my truck.

 

Sounds like ford are turning into naziz

------------------
97 F150 Longbed V8 4.6
K&N air filter
K&N FIPK tech MOD & removed elbow silencer
Tires: Yokohama 265/75/16 Geolander AT+
Hyper white xenon bulbs
Bedliner and raven shell
6 disc cd changer
Oil & filter used

Gasoline used

My Truck

 

Hey, maybe if Ford is smart instead of harasing a site like this they would want to sponsor it.

------------------
2000 XL 4.6 5spd 2WD reg-cab long-box 3.55 LS 235/70/16 Chestnut (not 2-tone) Raven-Cap (and a '66 GTO with a '73 455, both combined cost less than a Lightning )

 

No, not really. In the cases noted in the article, Ford is actively defending their trademarks against companies that registered domains that used them, strictly for the purpose of turning around selling them for profit. Cybersquatting. This is illegal and I will (and have publicly) defended Ford's actions in this regard.

If Ford comes after F150online, it will not be for cybersquatting. All the lawyers in the world would not be able to prove that the domain f150online.com has been used with bad intentions towards Ford. They would come after me for trademark infringement, which is their legal obligation.

As sdiesel316 noted above, all that would really have to be done (if Ford were unwilling to license the use of F150 for our use, which I likely could not afford anyway) is change the name of the site...something like raoulonline.com would probably work.

Please don't misunderstand, Ford has not harassed this site, nor as far as I know, any similar sites. (ie. ford-trucks.com, ford-diesel.com, corral.net, stangnet.com, etc.) In fact, I try to continue to have an open dialog with people from Ford...

I, too, am surprised that they have not offered support financially or otherwise. They have spent a tremendous amount of money in trying to recreate something similar (ie Insider), but I would think that they would want our "independent" voice to be able to survive as long as possible. I assure you, none of us are getting rich doing this! Ford could probably spend $25,000 per month to ensure that these sites are able to survive. Not a bad investment from where I am sitting...

BTW, thanks for the support everyone!

Steve

===============
http://www.ownersite.com/OwnersitePu...fm?veh_id=3323

[This message has been edited by webmaster (edited 04-05-2001).]

 

Ford, unfortunately, isn't going to pay a dime for what they're already been getting free for all these years, which is the incredible value of the feedback & effective advertising they get from this web site, and from other enthusiast Ford sites.

I think that Ford would also have a tough time prevailing if they were to go after F-150 Online.com for trademark infringement at this late date, as "selective enforcement" could be used in argument against, how successfully is anyone's guess, but in trademark infringement cases, time can be a big factor, meaning all these years of the obvious & extremely high popularity of this site being allowed to do this all this time. In addition, I suspect that there is a clear track record of communications between Steve & Ford, and Ford has never objected to Steve, in fact they've never done aything but benefit from this site, and others like it. Most likely, they're not going to do anything except continue to take advantage of the free feedback & advertising they get from Steve's (and all the participants here)hard work.

F-150 Online is going to be arond a long time, I suspect.

------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Performance Products F150Online Superchip ordering system: F150Online Superchip Ordering System
First National F-150 Online Rally Event Organizer

 

Unless, of course, someone makes me an offer that I can't refuse...Raoul??