[Mountain Medic]

Again a big corporation is going after a small grassroots company over a trademark dispute. Last time it was Monster energy drink vs rock art brewery. See this you tube story.

I say it is ludicrous. This time Specialized is going after Epic Designs that makes awesome bike packing bags in Alaska. They think "Epic Designs" will cause customer confusion and weaken their trademark rights over their Epic line of bikes. WEAK.
http://epiceric.blogspot.com/2009/12/name-company-contest.html

http://www.epicdesignsalaska.com/

I say lets let the special idiots know that this type of practice is unacceptable.

Here is the link for customer feedback at specialized. Tell em that you think this is unacceptable.

:madmax: :madmax: :madmax: :madmax: :madmax: :madmax: :madmax:

 

[iheartbicycles]

Again a big corporation is going after a small grassroots company over a trademark dispute. Last time it was Monster energy drink vs rock art brewery. See this you tube story.

I say it is ludicrous. This time Specialized is going after Epic Designs that makes awesome bike packing bags in Alaska.
http://epiceric.blogspot.com/2009/12/name-company-contest.html

http://www.epicdesignsalaska.com/

I say lets let the special idiots know that this type of practice is unacceptable.

Here is the link for customer feedback at specialized. Tell em that you think this is unacceptable.

:madmax: :madmax: :madmax: :madmax: :madmax: :madmax: :madmax:

Specialized has been doing this for years. They sued Mountain Cycle out of existence for producing the "Stump Town" CX bike.

They sued WTB for the Epicwolf tire.

They sued Stratos shocks for a design stratos invented.

They sue and sue and sue for designs they believe are rightfully theirs.

But how did Specialized get their start? They stole the design for their first mountain bike by shipping a Charlie Kelley/Gary Fisher "Mountain Bike" off to asia to be mass produced and called it the Stump Jumper.

Yeah Specialized!:madmax:

 

[w00t!]

It's a perpetration by the Man to keep a brother down.

 

[pimpbot]

YEah, like another poster said on the blog....

... Specialized can suck it. They won't get another dime out of my pocket. I don't even think I would buy one of their bikes used for fear of being associated with them in any way shape or form.

Plus, I'm gonna bad mouth them every chance I get.

They can kiss my ass right in the crack.

I wrote my nasty-gram to them already.

 

[nachomc]

They're going to blow this guy up. Either the case will fail or the guy will change his company name, but the exposure he's received already (I've seen this thread in multiple forums thus far) will get him out there. Before those threads, I'd never heard of this person/company. If he responds correctly, and can handle new demand, he'll be rocking.

Blessing in disguise?

 

[droptopchevy]

Didn't Specialized get sued by Fuji a while back and that's why Fuji now uses their FSR in their mountain bikes. If I remember correctly it had something to do with the Roubaix. I'm trying to find something about it, but coming back empty handed. I did see that Specialized was sued by Stan's though. Thankfully I do not work for a Specialized dealer.

 

[fizzywater]

This is beyond BS....yeah I know ....almost every company on this planet (guess I should narrow it down to the US of A) is doing the same thing as long as they have deep enough pockets, but I do care about cycling in particular and this is pissing me off royally. I am no longer buying any of the Big S*** products! AND I am spreading the word....

I wouldn't even care if they went after some other big corporation...say one of the other 2 Big S corporations in the cycling industry, that at least would be a level playing field, but this is simply just abuse of the legal system.

 

[redmr2_man]

I thought they dropped the case against him and let him do it.......like a month or two ago?

?!?

 

[Speedub.Nate]

I thought they dropped the case against him and let him do it.......like a month or two ago?

Dunno, but his "Name My Company" blog entry is dated Christmas Day '09.

 

[Whafe]

Who is REALLY surprised by this move by the BIG S? Oh no one....

So people, if it urkes you, vote with your feet and do not support the BIG S.

 

[ratpick]

I hope none of you use Microsoft products either since they got their start exactly the same way

 

[pimpbot]

I hope none of you use Microsoft products either since they got their start exactly the same way

... as little as possible. Open Office rocks... well... it's at least free for non-commercial use. I use a Mac much of the time, but Apple is just as bad.

 

[Joel.]

Every company is just as bad.

 

[bmike]

I have some of Eric's bags. Top notch, and a pleasure to work with. I'll have to see if I have any 'S' gear in the stable - maybe some gloves and clothing - but thankfully no bikes.

The Rock Art incident was a classic case of net support. Forums lit up with the legal BS from the energy drink company, blogs picked it up. Facebook groups were formed, the local media and then the national media picked it up. Local distributors pulled their swill off the shelves... and in the end the brewer and the megacorp came to terms...

BS, and I wish Eric the best. Hopefully he'll keep his name, sully 'S's, and gain a whole new crop of customers... (guess I should order up a few bags now before he is swamped...)

 

[ATBScott]

Message sent to the Big "S" customer feedback.

If you have to change your name - how about "Epicalized Design Adventure Gear"? Or maybe "Stumpalized..."

 

[grrrah]

I thought they dropped the case against him and let him do it.......like a month or two ago?

?!?

are you thinking of the rock art brew vs. Monster energy case? That was dropped after consumer backlash. I think thats the intention of making everyone aware of the big S.

For me, I haven't bought anything S (new) for the above reasons, and several other.. But my commuter is an S bike I got used.

 

[wg]

Big part of the reason I don't use their products over the years and my different bike purchases. Can I patent or trademark "Special Ed"? Then I can sue them for infringement and brand weakening too. Specialized Attorneys = Nimrods.

Did a search for "Epic Designs" and came up with another hit Spec should go after: One of the documentaries in the Start Wars III DVD is called "Epic Designs for an Expanding Universe"

FYI, LinkedIn has some other contact info including corporate counsel: http://www.linkedin.com/companies/specialized-bicycle-components

 

[Carl Hungus]

I think one of the only ways to truly effect change in this country or any other is to vote with your wallet. If you don't like what Specialized is doing, do not buy their products. I have mixed feelings because I know some really good people that work at Specialized. They have a genuine love of bikes and cycling. Unfortunately, I think many times the company's business practices leave a lot to be desired.

 

[usmcruz]

why shouldn't a company who has invested millions of dollars be concerned with a company, who is trying to ride their coattails? if i had a multi-million dollar company, i would also go after copycats.

 

[Ryan G.]

What happens when I name my kid Enduro?