43 replies to this topic

[Biggles!]

Sorry for being Rude I will post newbie post soon but I wanted to post this first...

I have just heard a nasty romour that BMW is now going after the Mini Clubs in the same way they went after our friendly suppliers.

The romour is that BMW lawyers are stating to serve papers on Mini Clubs for having the word Mini in their name...

A: has anyone else heard this B: has your club been targeted and C: what can we do about it if it is true

Oh and BMW are still after our traders Mayfair Motors (importer of cool mini stuff from Japan) has just suffered a £17000 fine

[mk1leg]

I'm shaw if all Mini clubs got together and a good lawer it could be sorted, bmw have only had name for 7 years our club been around 20, we will just have to wait and see...................

[Bungle]

didn't i say the other day will will have to call our selves the small car designed in britain stolen by the Germans forum

[nurseholliday]

I very much doubt it will happen since Mini clubs aren't making money out of Minis.

[james962]

Oh and BMW are still after our traders Mayfair Motors (importer of cool mini stuff from Japan) has just suffered a £17000 fine

Ouch

I might be wrong, but i don't think it would matter if the clubs name was created before BMW took over the rights for the name, or is that wrong?

[Roo]

I spoke to a trader at Malvern.

Shes having to sell all her mini merchandise at half price as its not licenced by BMW. she is currently in legal proceedings and has had her website closed down.

Haynes are in legal proceedings for the mini mercandise they have recently brought out. (bags, mugs, keyrings etc) and they are only using the same image as the actual Haynes Manual.

Corgi are okay as they are licenced to sell mini collectables.

Notice M&S have no longer got mini remote controll cars they normally sell for xmas? Also the charity ones they had done had to be withdrawn as again... its not licenced. Don't know if it applys to all branches but the one i went into this weekend had nothing.

Apparently if BMW have their way they will be stopping parts for the mini completely unless they are Heritage.



Basically BMW is trying to get rid of the classic mini all together!

[Pie]

excuse my german but what a bunch of complete .

they cannot shut down forums or clubs if they are not making money. Where is the law on this?

This is getting more and more stupid wth each case BMW have.

[RetroRay]

This is a joke :| basicly your saying that all mini parts dealers such as mini spares are in the S**t or is it the smaller dealers im confused

[minili]

Nobody actually knows they're doing it to clubs. It's a rumour, as the O/P said. So let's not get too up-in-arms just yet

With regards to businesses, I don't know what happens with the parts suppliers, I suspect there are licences in place for anything bearing the likeness of the Mini but parts I wouldn't have thought matter. I expect the large suppliers can afford to pay BMW the licence, but small companies such as My Little Car and Mayfair Motors can't.

[Roo]

This is a joke :| basicly your saying that all mini parts dealers such as mini spares are in the S**t or is it the smaller dealers im confused

Basically she said if BMW get their way, they will only allow heritage parts to be sold. I doubt anything will happen now but it could do in the future if that is what BMW plans.

whoo knows. she could be speculating. but she knows about corgi and haynes because they were some of the items she sells.

[Sprocket]

Mini spares and minisport are fine as they both supply genuine parts for the BMW Minis as well

[Jammy]

Not only that but the larger mini part suppliers have agreements with BMW, so they are all fine.

[miniturbonutter]

Someone should arrange a massive protest at the BMW head office in Germany, and invite every classic Mini & owner, to bring to everyones attention what the R soles are doing to Britains best loved classic!!!

[insamoufonyx]

i recon every classic mini owner should meet outside bmw head office and rev the C**p out of there car untill bmw gives up and cant stand the noise

surely it works the same with bmw mini's then, if they dont want anyone using the mini name why will they let bmw mini people sell stuff under the mini name?

and surely they cant claim all these companys are using there name to make money kinda thing, they were here before bmw bought mini.........

Edited by insamoufonyx, 10 December 2007 - 11:44 AM.

[Matt]

hmm and then done for breaching the peace..

lol

i think a few brave souls should do a lil commando mission into the CEO's office