| We hope you enjoy your visit. You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free. Join our community! If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features: |
| Bad news for Kawasaki | |
|---|---|
| Tweet Topic Started: Tue Apr 1, 2008 10:22 am (2,081 Views) | |
| k650dsn | Tue Apr 1, 2008 10:22 am Post #1 |
|
Ask anyone in the motorcycle biz and they will tell you times are tough for motorcycle dealer and manufacturers. "No one can afford to even blink right now," say Jim Wycoff of Industry News and Report. But Kawasaki blinked big time last fall and they didn't know it. While Kawasaki was busy introducing new models bristling with technology, a clerk somewhere deep in the bowels of Corporate made a simple but fatal error. They forgot to renew the trademark registration of the most reputable Kawasaki model of all time, the KLR650. "It floated out there in never-never land for almost six weeks," reports Carla Rascon from the trademark office. "We sent out reminders via certfied mail but no one responded." Kawasaki is remaining silent on this matter as it has now escalated to a level that has never before been seen in the powersport industry. While Kawasaki slept, a marketing analyst at BMW was awake and quickly snatched the KLR650 trademark for a paultry $4000.00 refiling fee. "I put it on my company credit card!" exclaimed Todd Jeffers. "We couldn't believe it" explained Terri Hancock of BMW. "Of course we were going to grab it. The KLR has been a thorn in our side for many years and now we own the trademark for it." BMW has no comment on what they intend to do with the KLR650 trademark, but they have already taken action. In a letter leaked to us from Kawasaki USA, we have been able to confirm that Kawasaki as been ordered to remove all new KLR650 models from their showrooms and cannot sell them until they have been rebagded and all supporting literature changed. "This is devastating. Especially since the new KLR650 model has been so well received" reports Tom Elder of Feel Good Kawasaki in Brownsville, Texas. "Kawasaki has told us to take our 650s off the floor and wait for further direction. This is the best time of year for my business and now I can't sell my best seller." Our industry experts tell us that this is not going to be easy and by no means quick to fix. The first action will most likely be legal. Kawasaki will try to get it to an appeal level, but the fact is, BMW holds the trademark so that us unlikely. Kawasaki must get a rebadging plan in place whether it be done by all new body work or decals, but it has to happen soon. But our experts tell us that even a simple decal replacement could take months to execute. All we know for sure is that unless some miracle happens, after today, the venerable KLR650 will not be available for sale until sometime next year. |
![]() |
|
| matteeanne | Sun Apr 6, 2008 9:03 pm Post #2 |
|
I was under the imression this was a hoax?
|
![]() |
|
| moabmc | Mon Apr 7, 2008 12:20 am Post #3 |
|
Administrator
![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Was it the date of the original post that gave it away?
|
![]() |
|
| kekahardr | Wed Jul 9, 2008 7:09 pm Post #4 |
|
Lawyers ruin everything. Surely Kawasaki ownes the copyright for KLR650 if not the trademark commn sense would say someone who has been using the trademark should own it without having to pay a fee, but common sense doesn't work in legalize. |
![]() |
|
| motorheads5 | Wed Nov 5, 2008 9:01 pm Post #5 |
|
That is unreal |
![]() |
|
| wsmmwx | Wed May 15, 2013 6:39 pm Post #6 |
|
I am so glad this internet thing works and your article really helped me. Might take you up on that home advice you Karen Millen Outlet Karen Millen Coats Karen Millen Dresses Sale |
![]() |
|
| 1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous) | |
| « Previous Topic · Everything KLR · Next Topic » |








![]](http://z3.ifrm.com/static/1/pip_r.png)

7:18 AM Jul 11