Specialized Sue Tiny Shop over ridiculous copyright

I was considering a Tarmac. I definitely am no longer considering a Tarmac. >.<

A really interesting explanation of the legal side - http://redkiteprayer.com/2013/12/the-explainer-because-i-ing-hate-bullies/

When this story first broke, I checked the Cafe Roubaix twitter account (@CafRoubaix if you're interested) and it had about 120 followers.
Checked again just now and it's at just over 2000!

Just back from the Sunday run, out past the Sewage Works. Thought 'Fellas, better get that sign repaired and repainted or the lawyers from Specialized will be on your backs.'

More info on http://www.bikebiz.com/news/read/specialized-facing-social-media-storm-a...

out of interest, bike shop is in CANADA afaik, how does US law apply??

They're taking a slaughtering on Facebook, cannot believe they haven't posted some sort of statement. You can imagine their PR\legal teams pacing about the office going "shit, shit, shit, shit...... shit, shit, shit..". Spectacular own goal!!

There are some great comments on their company facebook page such as 'my shop sells badly designed over priced chinese made crap so I hope you don't sue me for breach of copyright as well'.

https://www.facebook.com/specializedbicycles

For those of us wondering about the rights and wrongs of the claim have a look at the TM registration: http://www.cipo.ic.gc.ca/app/opic-cipo/trdmrks/srch/vwTrdmrk.do?lang=eng...
Spec TMed " (1) Bicycles, bicycle frames, and bicycle components, namely bicycle handlebars, bicycle front fork, and bicycle tires. " so not wheels, clothing, cuddly toys nor retail outlets. If the shop could afford to fight, as his lawyer said, they might well win.

This is possibly going to go down as one of the great corporate pr disasters, up there with Ratner and his prawn sandwich, the difference being this is just naked corporate aggression.
It is notable that the company's twitter feed has gone silent as I expect the board are going to have to put out a grovelling apology on Monday morning and make some major gesture.
Cyclists do seem to have embraced social media rather alot and specialized have been playing along. They really underestimated this one though.
As a roubaix rider I hope they do the right thing, otherwise I might just have to change bikes - that cannondale synapse really sounds like a good replacement.....

More bad PR for Specialized. Not a clever move from a not nice company founded on nicking Tom Ritchey's design and mass producing it in Japan. Another reason to avoid them...

Not defending Spesh but they are probably originally got excited because the guy sells wheels with Roubaix written on them and then their lawyer got carried away.

They would have difficulty chasing Endura etc because their trademark registration is not registered for the trademark class for clothing. (Only for protective clothing in the EU) probably because MITI produce roubaix fabric and have done so for ages.

It stinks though because I can't see a small Canadian bike shop having an impact on their global brand unless his sales really take off.

IMHO the only winners will be Spesh's lawyers and it's totally out of order them expecting the guy to change the name of his business.

A bit cheeky to seeing as Spesh 'borrowed' the name in the first place from one of the spring classics.

Anyone any clues if there is an agreement between Spesh and Fuji on the use of Roubaix for bikes.

I'm particularly annoyed as I recently attempted to purchase a region of France as a holiday home - imagine my disappointment when I ended up with a road bike.

Idiots, I could see their point if the guy was using their font, but surely one may name their shop after the most famous of the one day classics.......who would name their shop after a mass produced comfort orientated plastic frame.......

I will avoid any of their kit in future, not that I'm a big customer anyway.

Feel free to visit my strip club....Sinelli....

I can see this article being added as a comment to any and all future reviews of Specialised products. They may do decent bikes, but things like this are free advertising for their competitors.

I would certainly confirm that my opinion has been unsalvagably lowered. Won't Be rushing to buy a specialized any time soon.
Tomorrow's club run will be fun, as one of our group is a total spec uber fan. He'll have some argument for why specialized are the hero in this.

Fuck em. I think the most I've bought from them in the past is bar tape - though my ex had an allez - but that's the last they'll get from me. They can issue the most heartfelt apology and it still won't count for anything.

OH BOLLOCKS I've just remembered I use a Spesh Toupe for my saddle. BOLLOCKS.
What's like a Toupe but isn't Spesh?

I think he would have lost the case (Depends on the Canadian legal system), but in my mind, anyone who associates 'Roubaix' with Specialized is going to know enough about cycling to also know about Paris-Roubaix as well, and thereby won't confuse the LBS with Specialized...

Unnecessary show of corporate muscle, this will do them no favours.

But Specialized have a history of this kind of aggression.

I like Specialized rather less now than I did before. What a cunch they are.

The bike shop has a message of support on their FB page from Greg Lemond, who knows how it feels to be bullied by big bike companies.

Good luck to the fella. I hope all the publicty does his business a power of good.

"Also no sign of road.cc reporting this. Agenda?"

Other than finding it difficult to write two articles simultaneously, no

We were aware of it and it's on the news list to do, but it's always good that people flag things up in the forum, so thanks.

well they are now on my list.....i suggest anyone that has any sense of what right post on there facebook and twitter, and do the same to there sponsored riders