Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums  

This is a scam. The lawfirm is looking for a quick buck to scare the website claiming copywright infringement. This is not the first time things like this have happened. The lawfirm threatens action, knowing that the accused can't afford the legal fees. They then demand a small monetary fee and a cease and desist order banking that the website owner will be scared into paying. Nine times out of ten, they pay the fee and the shady lawfirm makes out like a bandit. Ford could care less about therangerstation.com. I think they'd care more about the asshat that published the spyphotos of the 2010 Taurus than that shiznitty pickup that's been around for 100 years.

I hope the owner of the ranger webpage doesn't pay up.

One thing to keep in mind here, is that Ford likely isn't fully responsible for this: their lawyers are. When "VW" did this to a whole host of fansites a year or two ago, it was revealed that VW didn't necessarily tell their lawyers to seek out every copyright infringement they could find, and threaten lawsuits left and right - they just gave the lawyers carte blanche, and told them that they would get a cut of whatever settlements they secured. A friend of mine who runs a German-Car enthusiast website received a similar threat, essentially told the lawyers to piss off, and never heard from them again, because it's not really worth their time to pursue insignificant claims like that. I'm betting this is a similar scenario. So while Ford should get some flak for letting their lawyers be asshats, the law firm is who we should be critical of.

Stupid Ford. RIAA tactics are not the way to win loyalty.

Screw you Ford... I'm going to get a ranger riding a mustang to restore your focus on the expedition needed to escape from the edge of bankruptcy.

I guess Ford really didn't learn from their failed lawsuit on Robert Lane in the early part of the decade.

F ucking
O ver
R emaining
D evotees

Hey, here's an idea: how about calling Ford for an official statement first?

I'm in active discussions with our Chief Trademark Counsel to see what the real story here is.

Next time, Jalopnik, I'd appreciate a little more professional journalism.

Scott Monty
Global Digital Communications
Ford Motor Company

Our (my) Agreement With Ford (remedy)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A while back I had started making decals such as the old FORD tailgate letters, and offering some other decals for Ranger enthusiasts such as the Ranger windshield banner with the Ford logos on each side of it.

Although it was intended to be used as a way to keep The Ranger Station up and running and not a method of becoming independently wealthy...it was vilolating Fords trademarks.

I have talked to Scott Monty from Ford Motor Company and have agreed to:

1) Stop selling the decals since I do not have a trademark license to sell

2) Agree that the 'Ranger' is a product of Ford.

3) Not display any ads on The Ranger Station that would promote a competitor (Example: Banner ad for the new Chevy Colorado, etc)

4) Not use the site to make disparaging comments about Ford (AKA - Anti Ford Site)

5) Not turn The Ranger Station name over to anyone else.

I believe that's about it. I'm waiting from a letter from their attorney.

In return, Ford will allow us to keep The Ranger Station name and will not require that I pay the $5000.00 that the attorneys were asking for.

Scott went on to tell me that they recognize and support their fan websites and I would suggest that any other website owner/administrator reading this will be OK if they judge themselves on the items I had listed above. If you have ad banners you may want to make sure you have Fords competition filtered out.

I would like to say thanks to those that emailed Ford and spread the word. The attention and support from other enthusiats greatly helped in getting this resolved quickly.

I would ask that anyone who has posted about this on another website link the discussions here and ask that the moderator on that site lock the topic.

I also want to thank the other site owners for their support.

4) Not use the site to make disparaging comments about Ford (AKA - Anti Ford Site)"
They would have to show up at my door serving paper to make this hold.