[Closed] Specialized threaten to sue over Roubaix name!

Why doesn't Specialized just protect it's name by licencing it to that shop for a small sum? That way they have protected their trademark, and the shop gets to use it too, and lots less people get to think that Specialized is run by complete and utter bankers??

I can't see what they actually thought they would achieve by taking the bloke to court?

I can't see what they actually thought they would achieve by taking the bloke to court?

Bullies don't need a reason. They just like picking on weaker types, it makes them feel big and strong. Like when they threatened to cut off any shops selling giro shoes.

S'funny coz I've heard of the Paris-Roubaix but didn't know specialized had bike called a Roubaix

It does smack of corporate bullying but that's the world

I was on my own at home having a w@nk once, when i got a knock on the door from some lawyers working for Cove Bikes.

They'll be claiming they invented the term enduro next

way to give something back to the biking community..
hope it goes to court and they get told how stupid they are, what a waste of time and money this is for something nobody cares about and why dont
they sack the whacko's who decided that this is a good idea and advise them employ staff who have a bit of common sense. 🙂

pitcherpro. Specialized legal dept will be contacting you soon ref your forum name! 😀

Epic, Roubaix, Enduro... they seem to have the main words across associated with a broad spectrum of cycling trademarked 😀

Richter says his lawyer thinks they have a good case to make, but the fight could cost upwards of $150,000 in legal fees, a price too steep for his small company.

chunkymonkey - Member

I can't see what they actually thought they would achieve by taking the bloke to court?

Instant erections, I think.

Edric 64 - Member

And will they claim to own the name Paris next?

Paris France or Paris Texas ?

Paris Hilton! 😉

She's been ridden more than...

S'funny coz I've heard of the Paris-Roubaix but didn't know specialized had bike called a Roubaix

Same here.

Looks like their weird advertising campaign is working 🙂

Local US mtb group sent an email 45 minutes ago and there have already been several responses!

I understand the need to defend a trademark, but I don't think that the shop name infringes or would cause confusion. The wheels may be a little more of a gray area, but I think the shop could win as wheels aren't mentioned in the trademark document. I also think that this would have been the best solution for the big S:

maxtorque - Member

Why doesn't Specialized just protect it's name by licencing it to that shop for a small sum? That way they have protected their trademark, and the shop gets to use it too...

A nondisclosure clause for the license fee could have been part of the agreement.

Another reason to avoid Specialized. 'Its not their fault'.

Err it is. They instruct solicitors to start any action.

If I was the owner I'd write to Specialized and ask them if it would be acceptable for me to add "No Specialized brands sold here" underneath. That ought to keep them busy for long enough for a campaign to grow to the point where they start to feel embarrassed.

Glad I don't own any Specialized bikes any more.

I won't even consider them next time. Anyway, I hated my Allez, the Enduro was ponderous and cumbersome. Crap bikes made by a company that I have zero respect for, now. Well some S!

There's a good matt hunter video on pink bike.
First comment "screw specialised" and link to the story.
A massive PR fail for spesh.

I don't know why he doesn't tell them to piss off and see them in court.

Joe because court cases like this are essentialy a war of attrition his pockets will be drained long before the case sees the inside of a courtroom and specialised know it . It's the same reason why Tesco's get to build what they want where they want they know they can bankrupt the opposition by endless appeals and legal challenges.

From the article mentioned by uselesshippy;

Specialized can go eat a bag of dicks

This is a bloody joke. Just because you can afford to doesn't mean you should trademark and patent everything. This is the game Apple play. How the hell can you ever think it's a good idea to trademark Roubaix, it's used throughout cycling. I bought a new Specialized helmet recently and noticed on the packaging that the visor had a patented mounting system. In reality this was a small dimple that clipped into a small hole. It couldn't have been more basic if you tried. How the hell can this be patented.

If you support this shop owner but a comment on Specialzed Facebook page.

Some of the comments are great, like "dear specialized please be aware I have trademarked the letter S"

I've not bought anything specialized since the volagi case, bunch of ****ers.

It's amazing I can even type this tbf, they'd sued me a few years ago and I'm not allowed to use my brain any more.

I suspect that the truth is that Specialized are probably big enough now that most people buying their bikes won't ever hear about this so they don't care about any small losses.

Up to a point, but this story is going viral and could get picked up by the mainstream media. Fingers crossed anyway.

Could the town of Roubaix sue Specialized or could one of their cafe's twin with this one?

As if I needed another reason not to buy a bike from a company I already don't respect.

Having successfully sued Epic Cycles (trademarking "Epic" FFS) they know no limits 🙄

The Pinkbike comments are pretty funny 😀 I'm surprised they have been left up as PB usually censor anything negative towards SRAM/ Specialized since they are some of the main funders for the site. Stick it to the man! 😆

Expect some Internet japery as [url= https://twitter.com/search?q=%23WeAreRoubaix&src=hash ]anonymous have just tweeted about it[/url]

Specilized Roubaix was on my shopping list not now I will be buying something else. Specialized are underlining everything that is wrong with huge corporations, not happy until they rule the world killing anything that gets in the way.

Thank you Specialized, nice of you to come out and show the world where you stand in the world of cycling.

We were talking the other night about potential new bikes for 2014, and it was remarked about how specialized don't seem to have much new to offer. That now this 🙂

I think I was aware of Specialized's Roubaix bikes before I knew the story behind the name. So yeah, I think some people who see the shop name might automatically think 'Specialized'.

Fair enough. For me the Paris-Roubaix has been (since 1973) and always will be 'the' race of the year.

Tarmac?

Roubaix.

What it means to me.
[img] [/img]

What it means to specialsed.
[img] [/img]

Surely the name, as used in the world of cycling, is 'prior art'. Since 1890something ffs.

The US patent / copyright / trademark system is a joke. It doesn't (or shouldn't) mean much. They don't check anything, they accept any application AFAIAA and then it is up to the courts to decide later if it is valid or not.

I feel a bit sick I bought a $pecialized helmet not long ago. Guess I'll be avoiding the brand from now on.

Were $pecialized the company that caused Epic Designs to rename to Revelate Designs? http://www.revelatedesigns.com/blog/index.cfm/2010/06/04/lift-off

If people post on the Specialized facebook page saying what they think about this and include the link I posted, that may help change their minds?

It worked with The North Face, when they were going to sue the college kid who sold The South Buff spoof clothing, enough people grumbled that they desisted in their legal action.

The Spesh FB page is rather busy

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

Specialized do make fantastic bikes and their warranty department is excellent should anything go wrong

Shill!

Iolo I disagree.

Post my third pair of Specialized shoes falling apart I put my $$$ into other companies.

You kind of expect these PR gaffes from non cycling companies.
For one of the biggest cycling brands in the world, the company behind the first ever mass produced MTB, you sort of assume that they'd be aware of the power of social media, PR and marketing and they might be aware of how media savvy most cyclists are. Epic fail. (Using "epic" in the non-Specialized trademarked sense of the word there...)

Somewhere at Specialized HQ, there must be some high level WTF?! meetings going on now cos they're getting such a hammering on FB, Twitter and cycling forums worldwide.

I know it's been mentioned but this company used to be Epic Designs. Basically a one man operation at the time in Alaska. Until Specialized got their meat hooks into him. Specialized can suck it
https://www.revelatedesigns.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=store.catalog&CategoryID=1&ProductID=6

I'd refrain from using the word Epic poster. You will receive a legal letter for that.

I'm definitely trademarking Gnarpoon.

TBH though, Specialized's ninja lawyers have led to a 90% cut in the use of the word "epic" to describe completely everyday things, so it's not all bad.

The Spesh FB page is rather busy

They're getting a bit of a hammering. Have they issued any sort of statement?

[quote=moondoggy]I know it's been mentioned but this company used to be Epic Designs. Basically a one man operation at the time in Alaska. Until Specialized got their meat hooks into him. Specialized can suck it
https://www.revelatedesigns.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=store.catalog&CategoryID=1&ProductID=6

Yup, as I mentioned above. I knew they had had to change from 'Epic Designs', I didn't realize till this thread that it was bloomin $pecialized who did that.

To be honest, if ANYONE in the world had a right to use that word, it was 'Epic' Eric Parsons.

Q; what's the difference between $pecialized and cotic?
A; $pecialized have no souls.....

I'll get my coat.