[Closed] Specialized threaten to sue over Roubaix name!

Interesting. SBC are pretty aggressive (as are trek AFAIK).

Odd that they'd get to own IP rights in "Roubaix" but we'll never know until it's tested in courts.

The "victims"'s story re his PSTTD/time as a veteran etc is PR in a similar way...

Change the name to cafe roobay?

Change it to Roubiax, not many people would notice.

Well, I don't think I would confuse the two and I have to say, it does make me slightly less inclined to keep the specialized tarmac on the shortlist of road bikes I'm looking at.

Interesting outcome of specialized "protecting their business interests".

Depending on one's point of view, one could see it as PR, certainly.

The reason it annoys me though, is because it's the name of place in France, and part of the name of a world famous cycle race.

It's specialized deciding to have the monopoly over something which is previously 'public property'.

It reminds me of how The North Face nearly sued the college student in America for selling his own spoof brand of clothing called The South Buff, they called off their legal action once people got wind of it and thought they were being overly heavy handed.

Didn't Cannondale get some rights over "Freeride"?

Perhaps we should all email SBC telling they are being ****s.

dabble - Member

Change it to Roubiax, not many people would notice.

Doesn't work (for exactly that reason)

I'm tempted to start a facebook group and see if a similar outcome to that for The South Buff person can be achieved. See if things can 'go viral'.

specialized tarmac

Lafarge could take down Specialized! http://www.tarmac.co.uk/

I think this is fair. They own the trademark. Just change the name.

Reminds me of when that green energy drink brand went after a micro-brewery. They backed down after a general social media backlash.

They own the trademark. Just change the name.

I expect that this only applies in N. America but even so it's no big surprise. Much like their other recent case against. Volagi

http://m.cyclingnews.com/news/specialized-v-volagi-verdict-choi-guilty-forsman-not-guilty

My winter road bike is a Claude Butler Roubaix (2007 I think, a red one anyway)
Did Spec not get all grumpy about another bike company using it for the name of a different bike? Or did CB use it first? Maybe they could sue Spec...

The name is already associated with cycling so it is difficult to see how they would succeed. However in the end it is often the deepest pockets that win, however clearly that is wrong 🙁

Spesh have loads of history of behaviour like this. Mega corps arseholes!

There was a Mr Spielberg who wanted to claim he owned the word 'Jurassic'. He didn't get very far.

Change it to Allez Bikes?

Warrants a boycott. They don't own cycling's heritage

Can see why this is making people angry but I think the 'offence' is surely that Specialized were able to register the trademark in the first place.

Once it was a registered trademark then they were clearly going to enforce it- like the quote in the article says, the guy could have found this out with a simple search and as it is a trademark they are kind of obliged to enforce it or lose it.

What are they going to annex the town as well or something?! Muppets

probably some 6-figure salary "brand manager" just woken up, due a performance review and decides this is what needs to be done to show their contribution.

Someone has posted a link to the TM site on Twitter. Shops aren't covered so it seems pretty clear that Specialized are hoping to just force this through on the basis that the owner can't afford to defend it.

http://www.cipo.ic.gc.ca/app/opic-cipo/trdmrks/srch/vwTrdmrk.do?lang=eng&status=OK&fileNumber=1331172&extension=0&startingDocumentIndexOnPage=1

I hope they realise that this kind of behaviour is more damaging to their brand than a guy with a shop named after a town. What they're effectively saying is 'Our customers are too stupid to tell two clearly different businesses apart.'

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.

Regarding the comment above, they'll claim that they're protecting their ip because if you don't it can be claimed to have passed into the public domain.

I expect that this only applies in N. America but even so it's no big surprise.

The trademark only exists in North America where, by law, you're required to defend trademark infringements. Otherwise there's little point in having the trademark.

But cos it's only in N. America, it explains why Fuji can get away with this:

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/fuji/roubaix-15-compact-2013-road-bike-ec041879

And Endura can get away with this:
https://endura.co.uk/product-detail.asp?ProductID=35

Still, it's keeping the cycling community occupied on Twitter and internet forums. 🙂

I'd rename it the Specialised Roubiax cafe

That ought to work!

Top thread reading there!

I hope they realise that this kind of behaviour is more damaging to their brand than a guy with a shop named after a town

Based on Specialized's previous history of legal action against common sense.... no they will not realise 😉

And will they claim to own the name Paris next?

And will they claim to own the name Paris next?

Well surely they most own one of the most overused words lately too... EPIC!

Yeah, he could call it Paris-Roubaix café Cycles? Doesn't sound as good though.

...P-Roubaix Café Cycles?

How can it be specialized IP when it is also the name of a town?

They also have 'Epic' trademarked. I don't blame the Specialized lawyers, I blame the stupidity of a copyright system that allows such words to be copyrighted. However, it's nothing compared to the madness that Monsanto has been allowed to get away with.

pillocks

They've trademarked that too. Please edit your comment 😉

So the bike shop was established in 2012. Which is fine, but by that point the name Roubaix was pretty well-known as a Specialized brand. 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'.

Of course you gotta have some sympathy for the bike shop, but there have been more severe injustices done in the International MegaCorp vs Small-Town LittleGuy battle. And as an aside, I don't see what it's got to do with any wars or PTSD.

I've just been outside and hopped over a rock.
I may jump over a stump later.

That'll teach 'em.

Specialized Hardrock Cafe?

And will they claim to own the name Paris next?

Paris France or Paris Texas ?

Plus ca change....

See also Apple, Samsung, Microsoft, etc. They all do it. Hell, even the New Zealand RFU went after Launceston RFC, who are know as the Cornish All Blacks.

I'm a bit concerned as I've got some hard rocks in the garden, they might claim to own them.

I think I was aware of Specialized's Roubaix bikes before I knew the story behind the name

Are there any lawyers out there who specialise in representing penguins?

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.
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What it means to specialsed.
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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

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