Nissan sues BMW over the letter "Z"
11-01-2002, 12:23 PM
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Nissan sues BMW over the letter "Z"
Chicago, Nov. 1 (Bloomberg) -- We'll Z you in court.
That was Nissan Motor Co.'s response after German rival Bayerische Motoren Werke AG started emphasizing the letter `Z' in ads for its Z3 and Z8 roadsters. A federal judge this week agreed to let Nissan proceed with a lawsuit that claims BMW infringed its 1990 trademark for the letter's use to promote ports cars.
Nissan is trying to protect an image that dates to 1969, when the inexpensive Datsun 240Z sports car it introduced to the U.S. helped tear down Americans' resistance to Japanese vehicles. Nissan resurrected the Z-car line in August after a six-year absence with the $30,000 350Z. Nissan has sold more than 1 million Z cars in the U.S. over the years.
"The use of `Z' is real important for Nissan,'' said Jim Hall, analyst at AutoPacific Inc. in Southfield, Michigan. "They were using Z-cars in advertising even when they weren't selling them here. It's that important to them for their image.''
A federal judge in Chicago declined to dismiss the case Oct. 28 and the two automakers are now trying to settle the matter out of court, Nissan spokesman Kyle Bazemore said. BMW has no commenton the case, spokeswoman Martha McKinley said.
Both Nissan and BMW promote their Z sports cars' performance to help increase total sales for their brands. BMW trademarked "Z3'' when it started selling that model in 1996 and its replacement, the $40,935 Z4, which went on sale on Oct. 26. The company also has a $132,000 Z8 model.
Nissan didn't object to the Z3 trademark prior to this year because BMW wasn't using a standalone Z, according to court documents. Last year, BMW started to refer to "Z-series'' cars and "Z-technology'' in advertising and Nissan sued to protect its trademark, the documents said. The judge disagreed with BMW's contention that Nissan waited too long to sue, the filing said. The next hearing in the case is Dec. 17.
For now, it's a case of wait-and-Z.
That was Nissan Motor Co.'s response after German rival Bayerische Motoren Werke AG started emphasizing the letter `Z' in ads for its Z3 and Z8 roadsters. A federal judge this week agreed to let Nissan proceed with a lawsuit that claims BMW infringed its 1990 trademark for the letter's use to promote ports cars.
Nissan is trying to protect an image that dates to 1969, when the inexpensive Datsun 240Z sports car it introduced to the U.S. helped tear down Americans' resistance to Japanese vehicles. Nissan resurrected the Z-car line in August after a six-year absence with the $30,000 350Z. Nissan has sold more than 1 million Z cars in the U.S. over the years.
"The use of `Z' is real important for Nissan,'' said Jim Hall, analyst at AutoPacific Inc. in Southfield, Michigan. "They were using Z-cars in advertising even when they weren't selling them here. It's that important to them for their image.''
A federal judge in Chicago declined to dismiss the case Oct. 28 and the two automakers are now trying to settle the matter out of court, Nissan spokesman Kyle Bazemore said. BMW has no commenton the case, spokeswoman Martha McKinley said.
Both Nissan and BMW promote their Z sports cars' performance to help increase total sales for their brands. BMW trademarked "Z3'' when it started selling that model in 1996 and its replacement, the $40,935 Z4, which went on sale on Oct. 26. The company also has a $132,000 Z8 model.
Nissan didn't object to the Z3 trademark prior to this year because BMW wasn't using a standalone Z, according to court documents. Last year, BMW started to refer to "Z-series'' cars and "Z-technology'' in advertising and Nissan sued to protect its trademark, the documents said. The judge disagreed with BMW's contention that Nissan waited too long to sue, the filing said. The next hearing in the case is Dec. 17.
For now, it's a case of wait-and-Z.
11-01-2002, 12:30 PM
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Cajun Gumbo Man
11-01-2002, 12:37 PM
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Moderator Alumnus
Originally posted by TypeSKid
I agree. They SHOULD protect it. That little BMW should be called something that sounds ALOT less aggressive than Z!
I agree. They SHOULD protect it. That little BMW should be called something that sounds ALOT less aggressive than Z!
But the MZ3 and the MZ4 (to be) would easily lay out the 350Z.
Should be interesting to see how this ends...
11-01-2002, 12:45 PM
#6
trying to get a lil V-I
not only is Nissan starting to kill them in the luxury coupe market, but they're suing them for brand infrangement. haha...sucks to be BMW.
speaking of which, I saw the new Z4 in the dealership the other day. It doesn't look as bad as the commercials i've seen, but it still doesn't look good.
speaking of which, I saw the new Z4 in the dealership the other day. It doesn't look as bad as the commercials i've seen, but it still doesn't look good.
11-01-2002, 12:47 PM
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Originally posted by IntegraVT
How far back does BMW's use of 'Z' go? I can only remember as far back as the early 90's Z1...
How far back does BMW's use of 'Z' go? I can only remember as far back as the early 90's Z1...
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11-01-2002, 03:41 PM
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In other news....
HMC's Luxury division Acura is suing BMW for its Mini Cooper Type S, Jaguar for its S-Type, and Porsche of America for its Boxter Type S.
And Mercedes is suing Acura for the "CL" designation...
Gota love the Alphabet soup lawsuits
HMC's Luxury division Acura is suing BMW for its Mini Cooper Type S, Jaguar for its S-Type, and Porsche of America for its Boxter Type S.
And Mercedes is suing Acura for the "CL" designation...
Gota love the Alphabet soup lawsuits
11-01-2002, 03:56 PM
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Originally posted by KavexTrax
In other news....
HMC's Luxury division Acura is suing BMW for its Mini Cooper Type S, Jaguar for its S-Type, and Porsche of America for its Boxter Type S.
And Mercedes is suing Acura for the "CL" designation...
Gota love the Alphabet soup lawsuits
In other news....
HMC's Luxury division Acura is suing BMW for its Mini Cooper Type S, Jaguar for its S-Type, and Porsche of America for its Boxter Type S.
And Mercedes is suing Acura for the "CL" designation...
Gota love the Alphabet soup lawsuits
11-01-2002, 04:14 PM
#11
Suzuka Master
Originally posted by KavexTrax
In other news....
HMC's Luxury division Acura is suing BMW for its Mini Cooper Type S, Jaguar for its S-Type, and Porsche of America for its Boxter Type S.
And Mercedes is suing Acura for the "CL" designation...
Gota love the Alphabet soup lawsuits
In other news....
HMC's Luxury division Acura is suing BMW for its Mini Cooper Type S, Jaguar for its S-Type, and Porsche of America for its Boxter Type S.
And Mercedes is suing Acura for the "CL" designation...
Gota love the Alphabet soup lawsuits
Can I "buy" a vowel? :P
What next? Sue scrabble players? Learn to use Kanji? Greek letters
What's next?????
(2005 "Lawyer-free" designation for lux tourer)
11-01-2002, 05:05 PM
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bmw should donate some $$ to www.nissan.com go to the website and you will see why
11-01-2002, 05:17 PM
#13
Suzuka Master
Originally posted by amirsafdari
bmw should donate some $$ to www.nissan.com go to the website and you will see why
bmw should donate some $$ to www.nissan.com go to the website and you will see why
With sales of golf towels going through the roof, I don't know if anyone has enough money to reclaim that domain name...
11-01-2002, 08:33 PM
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How about volvo S80.S60..Audi S4,S6,S8? Benz have S class b4 they do..and like 2 years ago..i remember does sue Volvo for the "S"..say that don't want them to have S on the Volvo in Euro..I think..don't know is it true..read it in some mag.
11-01-2002, 11:31 PM
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IMPORTANT LEGAL NOTICE
Ok, I have copyrighted the letters A, E, I, O, U ... now, everyone send me those use/royalty checks promptly or my bank of attorneys will be in contact with you...
Ok, I have copyrighted the letters A, E, I, O, U ... now, everyone send me those use/royalty checks promptly or my bank of attorneys will be in contact with you...
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