Subaru is getting sued by Trek Bicycle Co.

[KansasOutback]

I too have both brands in my garage, an Outback and at least 4 TREK bikes. I never personally associated CROSSTREK with the TREK bicycle name.

However, in reading the suit, it appears that Subaru did raffle off some TREK bikes as a promotion. Not good information going into a jury trial. And Subaru has sponsored a Trek bicycling team (this can't help that relationship).

Maybe they should have named it the iCROSSTREK and really opened up a big can of lawsuit. Interesting post.
Paul

[Subyblue]

I'm sure that Trek cleared using the name "Cross Country" with Chrysler (who bought American Motors--Rambler Cross Country Station Wagons in the 50's) and Volvo.

[rasterman]

Originally Posted by OutbackUFO

I am on a mountain-bike forum and people there are going to either ditch their Trek bikes, or not buy one at all. Many are Subaru owners who see this as total BS. I am sure that Subaru will win this one. The lawyers are the real winners in this case..

Don't ditch the bikes! Just grind the logos off, or cover them with Subaru stickers

[arthuruscg]

WTF.

This is like sueing over a square with rounded corners.

[Storkiln]

Depending on how far Trek gets with this suit, I may have to start steering friends clear of their products when they ask me bike advice. I already do that with Specialized due to their business practices.



But look at it from this perspective: Trek makes cyclocross bikes, which are often just called ‘cross bikes for short. Maybe Trek is viewing the Subaru name like its referring to one of their ‘cross Treks, if that makes any sense. It doesn’t to me, but then again pointless suits for the sake of money never help a reputation.

[nipper]

Originally Posted by arthuruscg

WTF.

This is like sueing over a square with rounded corners.

Apple just did that with the case against Samsung

[nipper]

Originally Posted by Storkiln

Depending on how far Trek gets with this suit, I may have to start steering friends clear of their products when they ask me bike advice. I already do that with Specialized due to their business practices.



But look at it from this perspective: Trek makes cyclocross bikes, which are often just called ‘cross bikes for short. Maybe Trek is viewing the Subaru name like its referring to one of their ‘cross Treks, if that makes any sense. It doesn’t to me, but then again pointless suits for the sake of money never help a reputation.

Do share about their business practices, i am all ears

[statueim]

Originally Posted by nipper

Apple just did that with the case against Samsung

At least Subaru isn't being sued for having gesture-based motion control that is too similar to a bicycle.

Maybe Trek is just mad that Subaru wouldn't byte on a "Trek Edition" Impreza idea branding for the car.

[iainb]

Three pages and not a single person has actually bothered to read the complaint...

Summarized from another, much larger, car forum that I frequent:

Hey, I've decided to actually read the document.

* Subaru and Trek have had cross-sponsorships in the past with bicycle teams - Subaru-Trek.
* Trek has trademarks on all kinds of TREK words, including the stylized all-caps typeface for all kinds of products (bikes,hats, backpacks, etc)
* Trek is claiming that Subaru is using the trademarked TREK name with a non-distinctive prefix.
* Trek is claiming that the typeface of CROSSTREK is very similar to the typeface TREK.
* Subaru has advertised the CROSSTREK with bicycles on its roof.
* On Subaru's website it lists all the organizations with which Subaru partners with. This includes the Subaru Trek Mountain Bike Team.
* Subaru's CROSSTREK was the main sponsor of an 'Urbanathlon' and raffled away TREK bicycles.
* Trek claims that Subaru is trying to use the goodwill of the TREK name in marketing its vehicles.


*Trek is claiming that Subaru is trying to infer a relationship between the CROSSTREK and TREK bicycles.


There's plenty of other information in the linked document. I suggest reading it before jumping on TREK and calling them outright idiots. Based on their claims, someone might infer a connection between the Subaru vehicle and the bicycle company. I guess it's now up for a court to decide if it is legitimate or not.

[Storkiln]

Originally Posted by nipper

Do share about their business practices, i am all ears

Specialized recently issued a notice to some of their authorized dealers asking them to cut their contract with other brands and push only Specialized products in their place. So much for letting the consumers decide on what brand they prefer at their local bike shops. Just doesn't seem right somehow.

Specialized calls for dealers to drop brands | Bicycle Retailer and Industry News

It's a shame really, because they make brilliant bikes. They are at the forefront of heavy engineering and innovation. Their Brain system on their rear suspensions; the geometry of their Jekyll that makes it work like two bikes in one, those are amazing pieces of work.