Specialized OWNS Roubaix

Just so you know..

http://blogs.calgaryherald.com/2013/12/07/war-veteran-forced-to-change-bike-shops-name-after-threat-from-u-s-bike-giant-specialized/

Yeah I think it's bad but on the other hand they have to sue or lose the trademark on the line of bikes , not great either way

That's such bullshit! Such short sighted crap from a huge company. I don't normally get worked up about this kind of stuff but if anyone was to set up a fund to help this guys legal fees I would definitely donate a little.

Nice response on their facebook page. Fuckers.

I'm a Londoner who lives in the this little town in canada and the response to this ridiculous decision has been amazing. Specialized are getting bashed left right and centre. Dan who owns the store is a great guy who is an ex-velodrome racer who builds great fixies. Specialized are assholes. Thanks for your support guys and girls.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/ede2c41265cbab8d03362730f139d7cd/tumblr_mwyhxhxJvG1t47b23o3_400.jpg
http://25.media.tumblr.com/47344a49d249179ba8033a6ee8b3f3e6/tumblr_mwyhxhxJvG1t47b23o2_400.jpg

http://25.media.tumblr.com/7b14b3761abcea8ed4f61677df77af8b/tumblr_mwyhxhxJvG1t47b23o4_1280.jpg

Congratulations Specialized! you've started losing hundreds of buyers

Also FMB Roubaix tyres, which Specialized rebadge with their own logos when needed

Trademarks are registered in classes- it may be that a trademark for a bicycle name is broad enough to cover a shop name but I suspect that a decent lawyer would get this thrown out.

The company I just resigned from would have advised to send a cease and desist, but leave it there- if the client was willing to take the potential negative publicity.

This looks lose-lose for Specialised, and I doubt that the principal of aquiessence would apply to this.

Specialized seem to extremely litigious as a rule, the bullshit with Volgari (sp? disc braked road bikes started by ex-spesh employess) and now this.
Combined with hearing about how they treat some LBSs, forcing them to drop other brands that are in too close competition etc lead me to suspect that they're a pack of cunts.

Yeah I think it's bad but on the other hand they have to sue or lose the trademark on the line of bikes , not great either way

But what gives them the right to trademark a town in northern France? It's not like they were the first, or last, to try and give their brand a certain legitimacy by using the name in a cycling product.

It's corporate douchebaggery of the highest order, picking on the little guy who can't defend himself.

The fact that it's turned into a huge PR disaster shows how misguided the decision was in the first place.

I hope Tarmac are about to sue Specialized for misappropriation of their long standing trademark.

Seems only reasonable.

Amazing. Feel slightly vindicated in my bike snobbery.

Anyone want some S-Works cranks?

American cunts.

I suspect this is why Spesh have done this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acquiescence

However the US trademark law in this area is very similar to ours- to be infringing the mark must be "confusingly similar", i.e. a layperson would have a reasonable belief that the shop was run by Specialised due to the use of the term "Roubaix", which I think would be a very difficult case to argue.

I hope Tarmac are about to sue Specialized for misappropriation of their long standing trademark.

Seems only reasonable.

Different trademark classes- I would guess, anyway.

Like Scandinavian Airlines and SAS- both have "SAS" trademarked, but for different areas of business.

this makes me so angry...i hope the man sells lots of bikes and forces specialized to close dwn

I hope Tarmac are about to sue Specialized for misappropriation of their long standing trademark.

Seems only reasonable.

too right.

i only found out this year that Tarmac was a brand name.

I hope Tarmac are about to sue Specialized for misappropriation of their long standing trademark.

Seems only reasonable.

Different things i.e a road surface product and a bike don't fit into the same trademark segments ergo scandinavian airlines and the SAS both have SAS trademarked with no issues

Let's not forget, the guy is canadian.

So why have Specialized suddenly decided to take this one guy to court and not any of the other myriad companies that sell cycling products with the word Roubaix in the name? If its a case of defending their trademark then surely they would have to defend it in all instances or have I missed something?

They might licence it to the other companies.

I suppose that could be the case but it seems a bit unlikely that any time somebody makes a roubaix bib short/roubaix gloves/warmers with roubaix fabric that they are having to pay coin to Spesh, it would be easier to just rename the product in that case woudlnt it?

"His store sells high-end bikes and his handmade wheels in an Italian-cycling inspired environment"

Must be gutted he can't name the store after a french race then.
Cafe Lombardia sounds better anyhow.

I don't know if this link works for everyone: http://www.ipo.gov.uk/tmtext/Results

I searched for "Roubaix", would need a registration in (maybe?) 12 or 28?