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news
Neil Pryde NazareNeilPryde Bikes renames its Alizé bike following trademark dispute... with Specialized again
Hong Kong-based watersports to bicycles brand NeilPryde says it is retiring the name of its Alizé bike and replacing it with Nazaré with immediate effect due to a copyright dispute with "a well known bike company" - confirmed to road.cc as Specialized.
NeilPryde had announced the news that it was changing the model's name on its website, under the headline Allez, allez Nazaré, leading many to assume that Specialized is the other party.
That was indeed the case, as Mike Pryde, the company's bike division manager, told us. He said: "Specialized's legal representatives in various jurisdictions where they have trademarked 'Allez' wrote to us asking us to stop using the Alizé name as it was in their opinion 'confusingly similar'."
He went on: "NeilPryde never intended to use the name Alizé in order to confuse consumers. In fact, our customers are all well educated and are in our opinion, able to tell the difference between an aluminium bike sold and marketed by Specialized and that of a cutting edge BMW designed carbon fibre bike by NeilPryde under the name Alizé.
"Especially since both Specialized and NeilPryde marks are clearly visible on the product and that Allez and Alizé have completely different meanings. "
road.cc reviewd the Neil Pryde Alize back in 2011 and the Specialized Allez Comp in 2012. Apart from the fact tht one is a carbon bike and the other aluminium the other, and related, major difference between the Alize and the Allez is their respective price tags. When we reviewed the Alize it cost £4099 while the Allez range currently starts at £600 and tops out at £1300. Last year Specialized produced a worldwide 200 limited edition run of the S-Works Allez selling for £6,500 in aluminium.
Specialized's base model Allez in it's various builds is Specialized's its biggest selling road bike, and the California-based brand has threatened legal action in the past against other businesses in the industry to protect what it sees as its trademark - including last year, the Alberta, Canada bike shop, Café Roubaix.
Less than four months ago, Specialized backed down in its dispute with Café Roubaix, with the brand's founder Mike Sinyard personally apologising to the store's owner, Dan Richter.
“I just want to say a big apology for this whole thing,” Sinyard told him in a video filmed during his visit to the shop in December.
“It got out of line and I completely take full responsibility for it. And most importantly, withdraw any claim and you can proceed as you like.”
In an open letter published shortly afterwards, Sinyard said that the company had been aggressively pursuing counterfeiters although he acknowledged that Café Roubaix, which has its own branded line of wheels, wasn't one.
He also confirmed that a separate action against clothing firm Epix Gear had been brought to an end.
"I realise now that we went too far with this aggressive approach and as a result and in some cases we hurt the local bikes shops and small businesses we wanted to protect," he said.
He also promised: "We’re going to take a much closer look at all pending and future intellectual property and trademark issues, making sure to only pursue those that present a clear and obvious danger.”
Referring to its complaint over the use of the Alizé name, Pryde told us: "This happened during the Cafe Roubaix affair. The founder of Neil Pryde Limited, Mr. Neil Pryde who knows Mike Sinyard reached out to him via email in order to find an amicable solution, but we never received a response."
He added: "NeilPryde are fully focused on developing awesome products and we did not want this to become a distraction. Therefore to avoid a protracted and costly legal battle, we decided to change the name to Nazaré."
A number of Facebook users who correctly assumed that Specialized was the other company involved posted messages over the weekend on its page on the social network to protest.
One, Nick Pelckmans, said: "Maybe you can contact the French government and ask them to change the conjugation of the verb aller as it seems allez is 'owned' by you. Never again a specialized for me!"
One distinguishing factor in the Café Roubaix case is perhaps that Fuji owner ASI, which licences the Roubaix name to Specialized in the US, said that the brand had no right to register the trademark in Canada - since Fuji had already done so itself - and therefore no power to threaten legal action.
In its message on its website, NeilPryde said:
On its website, NeilPryde said:
Effective immediately we are retiring our ALIZE bike name and replacing it with NAZARÉ. This is just a name change – your beloved bike will remain exactly the same.
This change comes at the behest of a well known bike company. According to their lawyers the ALIZE name was too close to one of their trademarked bike names and, as such, we need to stop using it.
We didn't really see it the same way. Both the spelling and meaning are completely different. All our names come from winds (or other water sports references) which is in our heritage. ALIZE is a north-easterly wind found in central Africa and the Caribbean. Any similarity with the name in question, however questionable, was purely coincidental. We are proud of our bikes and our heritage and wouldn't swap it for anyone's.
In the end, after months of arguing with lawyers, we were forced to change the name to avoid a protracted and potentially costly legal battle. We prefer to focus on designing great bikes than communicating with lawyers. As such, all ALIZE bikes produced from this spring will carry the name NAZARÉ.
Nazaré is a town and a well known big wave surfing spot on the coast of Portugal. It's fast, powerful and impressive – just like NAZARÉ.
We hope that you forgive us for this disruption.
So long ALIZE and allez, allez NAZARÉ!
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
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59 comments
Surely someone out there is offering a Nazare build with Cafe Roubaix wheels!
Latest news from Specialized head office:
Lawsuit launched against mayor and corporation of small town in northern France. Specialized officer commented: 'who do these guys think they are, using the name 'Roubaix'? They can't even surface their roads properly!
All girls named Alice to be named in group action for copyright infringement.
In a countersuit, joint action by Macadam.plc and sundry Irish drive layers claiming infringement of trade name 'Tarmac'.
Top model bike to be renamed BSworks
Publishers of the Oxford English dictionary taking legal advice about language violations: it's spelt with an 'S'.
Further news from Specialized:
it has been agreed with the UCI that track riders in Derny paced events may no longer use the term 'Allez!' in communicating with their pacers, unless they are riding bikes supplied by and clearly branded as, Specialized (sic).
The counter command 'Ho!' is under review as it may be held to be a defamatory reference to Specialized CEO Mike Sinyard.
Similarly, the French national guard are being briefed in respect of spectator behaviour at all next year's UCI calendar events, especially the TDF. Only riders on the relevant American branded bicycles may be encouraged in the traditional way, on pain of fines and/or imprisonment.
This isn't surprising has nobody else noticed?
When I ride a Cervelo I can feel the science and engineering that go into making it a bike that performs at the edge of what's currently possible.
When I ride a Colnago I can feel the passion that goes into making a bike that is as enjoyable to ride as possible.
When I ride Specialized I can feel the accountancy that goes into making it as good as possible while maintaining the largest profits available.
I like their Rib Cage bottle cage as it perfectly fits a large bottle of bud, looks pretty and matches my bike in red and white. Does anyone want it for free if you collect? I will find one of another make.
If you were in any doubt before (my comment on that is appended below), this latest incident should leave you in no doubt whatsoever about Mr Sinyard. Maybe Mike will now claim he never received an email from NP?
Regardless, I have to congratulate NP on using this situation to their advantage. PR 1, Lawyers 0. Very smart.
=============================
Here's my comment on the Cafe Roubaix saga -
Mike Sinyard did the only thing he could given the circumstances he found himself in. However, said circumstances were of his own making.
I always wait to hear both sides of a story. Now I have, the one thing that really jars for me is that the letter Richter received was from Specialized (see velominati article) and not some third party legal firm as Sinyard would have you believe.
I have no doubt that Sinyards story about protecting from fakes is very true, but the overlap with this case is tenuous indeed. It just looks to me like it was the only hand he had to play given the enormous (and well deserved) backlash....
Sounds like the lawyers at Specialized have been at their anal worst. I have to say I am glad that my cycling equipment tends to be from more niche companies that tend to not be as corporate centred. Personally I like to be different and not ride the same bike as 70% or so (Giant/Trek/Specialized) when I participate in a sportive.
It's a shame that an element of common sense has not been applied in this situation. Perhaps Specialized's PR department needs to give the lawyers' heads a shake!
I will never buy a Specialized bike. Bullying small companies is out of order especially when they are doing nothing wrong.
Twats.
This is really irritating because it renews my determination to boycott $pecialized forever but their pesky Romin Evo Pro is the saddle I settled on after an extensive and rather unpleasant period of research into finding something that doesn't hurt my arse after a few hours. Does this mean that this expensive, time-consuming and rear-pummelling exercise has to start all over again? *sigh* principles are painful sometimes...
Yes, unfortunately.
As always, it's the result of government granting of the so called intellectuall property, which of course isn't a property.
smash the state
A little bit more to the story revealed here:http://singletrackworld.com/2014/04/alize-is-too-much-like-allez-says-sp...
I'll only get shot down for saying this because I own / ride Spesh bikes amongst others, however, much of the ranting on various cycling forums seem to forget 2 things.
Firstly, they are an American company and this behaviour is rife throughout business in corporate USA so it should not really be a surprise. (Not that makes it right, of course)
Secondly, I do wonder how many who shout boycott/rant are doing so by typing on their Apple devices. (If you know, you'll know what I mean!)
Whats your point
sent from my eyePad
Well I hope Specialized are going to sue Renault who have been making a car called the Alizé for a few years now, and there's a coach company in France called Alizé too.
I've been a fan of the All Conditions Armadillo Elite but I will never buy another again.
Yes but trademarks only cover certain aspects - otherwise things would just get stupid. So you can trademark a name as it applies to cycle frames (which is what Neil Pryde have flouted) but not as it applies to cars or coaches.
In much the same way that Orange (the UK based MTB company) has trademarks on "Orange" but not as it applies to fruit (obviously) or telecommunications companies. However you can bet that if you tried to set up a company making MTBs and called it "Lemon" using the same font, they'd be down on you like a ton of bricks.
Same here - I've not got a problem with what Specialized are doing and as usual, there's more to the story because Neil Pryde were using the term Innovate or Die which is a Specialized trademark too. And again, that doesn't stop anyone saying that phrase, it simply stops you applying that phrase in a marketing sense to your line of bikes.
I can't for the life of me work out why anyone is getting wound up over it all. The words Storm and Teacup spring to mind.
If you don't mind, I have given my wife the nickname 'storm in an A cup' as such I feel that its is similar sounding to Storm in a tea cup
The problem for me is that this would have not gone Specialized way in court, but right and wrong don't count, its who has the biggest pockets... notwithstanding the legal position, its the moral position I object to.
Yurp, Sinyard started Specialized by buying a handful of frames from Tom Ritchey and Gary Fisher and sending them to the Japan to be copied - thus the Stumpjumper was born. Tbh, given their roots, this sort of behavoiur ^^^, whilst not on should be somewhat expected. I for one can't wait for Sinyard's response to this.
if I remember correctly when watching Klunkers didnt one of the guys that was one of the first people to build/design MTB's give one as a gift to Mike Sinyard, who sent it to be copied and mass produced? As I recall it was a Richey Frame?
Have I got that right, I hope so...cant afford to be sued
https://scontent-a-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/v/t1.0-9/1457728_969934...
Is it coming to the stage when people will look at me in disgust as I ride an s-works Tarmac SL2?
Personally speaking No
............................... fools !
Will they be suing Mrs Doyle for her catchprase next?
So - big bike company tells smaller bike company that the product names are a bit too similar. Smaller bike company changes product name. End of story.
This isn't Cafe Roubaix round two - it's not vast evil corporate machine vs little guy on his own is it?
I'd hope all those loudly declaring that they'll never (never I say, NEVER!) buy Specialised EVER AGAIN apply such ethical purchasing policies when it comes to food, meat, clothing, banking and everything else they buy and services they use.
Did you miss this bit? (quoting Mike Pryde here)
"This happened during the Cafe Roubaix affair. The founder of Neil Pryde Limited, Mr. Neil Pryde who knows Mike Sinyard reached out to him via email in order to find an amicable solution, but we never received a response... we did not want this to become a distraction. Therefore to avoid a protracted and costly legal battle, we decided to change the name to Nazaré."
What it is, is corporate lawyers thinking customers are effing dim enough to confuse an entry level alu bike with a serious pro-level aero design.
And yes, I do try to buy according to my principles. So what?
I was disgusted by the whole Cafe Roubaix saga, I couldn't afford to replace my helmet, glasses, gloves & mitts at the time, but I did remove all decals showing the logo, and I vowed that unless they changed their decission I would never buy another of their products.
They did indeed change, and broadcast a humble apology, but it still left a sour taste in my mouth, that it was only due to the amount of awareness raised by JoePublic, and Fuji stepping in after the outcry.
Helmet, gloves & glasses have over the months since needed to be replaced. New summer mitts will be next on my list.
I will not buy their products again.
In answer, yes.
I have a whole list of companys, or stores I have boycotted over unethical issues.
Dear me. I could give them the benefit of the doubt on the Cafe Roubaix affair, especially given how Fuji then made them look monumentally stupid ("Er, it's not even your trademark. Dude."), but this uses up their second chance.
So, I had heard that the Tarmac is a great bike, but it won't be my next great bike.
I tried on the S-Works Prevail and it fitted me really really well. Tough, I'll find something else.
Conti inner tubes are as widely available as Spesh inner tubes (both of which appear to be omnipresent in my LBSs), so I can avoid that.
I had meant to try their different saddle widths. Never mind, my Fizik Aliante is a great saddle.
My only remaining reliance on them is for the Body Geometry shoes, and thats only because they patented the use of a built-in varus sole tilt. (how can that be patented?!) I use so much varus tilt (4.5mm) that I need the built-in bit in order to try and minimise the additional tilt that I obtain via sole and cleat wedges. Unless anyone has any better ideas?
My only remaining reliance on them is for the Body Geometry shoes, and thats only because they patented the use of a built-in varus sole tilt. (how can that be patented?!) I use so much varus tilt (4.5mm) that I need the built-in bit in order to try and minimise the additional tilt that I obtain via sole and cleat wedges. Unless anyone has any better ideas?[/quote]
You could replace them with professionally made to measure orthotic inner souls they last years and if not using them causes knee pain ect your GP can refer you to your local hospital who will make a mould of you feet to perfect the fit free at the point of need. (Until true capitalism takes hold and you pay for health care... Sorry can't help my self).
I have used specialised shoes, helmets, mitts for years, they are off my shopping list now. Greedy bullies!
Well I do have custom orthotics for my normal shoes, but they are heel-based and only extend as far forward as the instep. For cycling, I need lateral tilt in the forefoot (if I have a horizontal pedalling platform, then the front half of my foot rolls inwards on each pedal downstroke, causing my knees to knock each revolution - gets painful). Are you aware of custom orthotics for the forefoot?
The heat-moudable insoles that are available don't seem to offer a solution, because none of this is reflected by my foot shape.
You can have custom shoes made, for several hundred pounds. Bit much, that.
If I were to use stock shoes from another brand, the amount of insole wedging I would need would reduce the available space in the shoe for my foot. Either that, or the cleat wedging would make for an unacceptable stack height.
Given that I use speedplay pedals, I already have cleat adapters increasing the stack height somewhat. Maybe the solution is to go with speedplay-specific shoes to mitigate that, then use extra-long screws to secure a double layer of cleat wedges. Then again, the bike fitter wasn't keen on the cleat wedges at all, saying they aren't as stable for my foot as insole wedges...
I have similar issue. I have full-foot insoles. Podiatrist gave me three sets; I had one lot for regular use, one for playing sports (rugby etc) and then I got another set last year for cycling.
I have a pair of Louis Garneau with standard (temperature-focused) insoles and I stuck them to my prescribed ones, and I'm fine.
They weren't even expensive insoles from the podiatrist; actually the 2nd cheapest and he just customised them by using what looked more or less like a blowtorch (!) to mould a piece of rubber to the instep to provide a ledge to keep the front of the foot level.
My only remaining reliance on them is for the Body Geometry shoes, and thats only because they patented the use of a built-in varus sole tilt. (how can that be patented?!) I use so much varus tilt (4.5mm) that I need the built-in bit in order to try and minimise the additional tilt that I obtain via sole and cleat wedges. Unless anyone has any better ideas?[/quote]
You could replace them with professionally made to measure orthotic inner souls they last years and if not using them causes knee pain ect your GP can refer you to your local hospital who will make a mould of you feet to perfect the fit free at the point of need. (Until true capitalism takes hold and you pay for health care... Sorry can't help my self).
I have used specialised shoes, helmets, mitts for years, they are off my shopping list now. Greedy bullies!
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