ECR name change

[ECR]

East Coast Rover Co is changing its name to ECR. We've been known by ECR for most of the time anyway, and with Land Rover's legal teams going after everyone with Rover in their name we are making the change early in order to make the change easier for us and web site visitors. We know its just a matter of time before LRNA comes calling about it.
Our web site domain name will be changing as well and we will have a few different versions that we will put up on the web site so that your bookmarks can be updated, and we will maintain eastcoastrover.com as long as possible.

Thanks for your time. Have a Safe and Happy Holiday Season!

ECR

[BOBCAT110]

Wise move, Mike. LRNA is on the warpath. Britrover will also be going through a name/domain change soon.

[130Tdi]

all the cool kids are doing it

[d90boy]

dont worry i wont be changing my domain for land rover. www.keithhumphreys.com is a-ok with me. =)

[cwilder]

Do they have legal rights on the name rover? I will update all of you guys on my bookmarks.

[Bozman]

Guess I need to change the name of my dog then . . . . Rover. :)

[130Tdi]

Do they have legal rights on the name rover? I will update all of you guys on my bookmarks.

Yes they have a patent on "Rover" see the letter from LRNA I posted in my "finally happened" thread. Any business with "rover" in their business name or website domain name is being forced to change their company name as LRNA says "confusion" is being created in the market place for their customers.

[bjf]

I totally fell for Doug's false advertising. I mean when I wanted a new Range Rover I ended up going to Doug totally by mistake. In the end it worked out as he gave a better service warranty that my local dealer but I blame the whole experience on his blatant misrepresentation. I am glad someone is putting a stop to it.

[James Pierce]

Can they really force you to stop using a domain name that you own the rights to?

[bjf]

Can they really force you to stop using a domain name that you own the rights to?

Yeah they can. Think about buying landrover1.com or charlizetheron1.com you are basically using someone elses brand to sell something.

not that i own either of them.

[nathanwind]

WTF? Seriously? When did we move to Russia? I think LRNA should just change their name to Little-Stalin-Regime-NorthAmerica. That would allow more beneficial businesses to remain operating under the status quo.

On an interesting side note, the local "Land Rover" dealer (I use that term loosely) had no idea what my 110 was when I stopped by there. One guy asked me if it was from the 60's, another said 'I think they made a few hundred of these back in 1987'. Of which I smiled and nodded. Of course, we all know they made 500 NAS in 1993. Which my truck of course is not even part of. But hey, they're the experts!

[SMOB]

WTF? Seriously? When did we move to Russia? I think LRNA should just change their name to Little-Stalin-Regime-NorthAmerica. That would allow more beneficial businesses to remain operating under the status quo.

On an interesting side note, the local "Land Rover" dealer (I use that term loosely) had no idea what my 110 was when I stopped by there.

I think that's the same "dealer" that told me they stopped "supporting" the Defender back in 1995. They also told me that they don't offer OEM D90 keys anymore.

[DMSLongLake]

We'll...the key part is 1/4 true. Some 1994/95(?) they can't cut the key from the vin as the info is no longer in their system...

[nathanwind]

Yes they have a patent on "Rover" see the letter from LRNA I posted in my "finally happened" thread. Any business with "rover" in their business name or website domain name is being forced to change their company name as LRNA says "confusion" is being created in the market place for their customers.

Doug - I've searched and can't seem to find the "finally happened" thread. Can you shoot me a link?

[carlosz]

On an interesting side note, the local "Land Rover" dealer (I use that term loosely) had no idea what my 110 was when I stopped by there. One guy asked me if it was from the 60's, another said 'I think they made a few hundred of these back in 1987'. Of which I smiled and nodded. Of course, we all know they made 500 NAS in 1993. Which my truck of course is not even part of. But hey, they're the experts!
LOL........

while working at one of the local dealerships, I had customer with a d90, many techs though it was my personal "jeep" until a couple of them heard me asking for parts at the counter.
the same techs did not know lr had diesel models... and when they saw me pull a timing light out of my box they questioned what it was and what purpose it served.
then they called me "old school"....
I pulled my 87 range for an oil change and same techs could not believe that a p38 oil filter fits an "older"engine.
by now many of the older techs have moved on to greener pastures due to the b/s to which we are subjected at said places, so the fresh out of school guys come in with a chip on their shoulders.. these are the guys whom have never seen a carburator or a distribuitor... ignition points wtf is that?.
lol....

[rrc.swb]

Guess I need to change the name of my dog then . . . . Rover. :)You'll get a letter too... :)

Doug - I've searched and can't seem to find the "finally happened" thread. Can you shoot me a link?http://www.d-90.com/forum/showpost.php?p=252041&postcount=12

[ECR]

I think that's the same "dealer" that told me they stopped "supporting" the Defender back in 1995. They also told me that they don't offer OEM D90 keys anymore.

They are kinda right. The stock NAS 90/110 key blank has been NLA for some time.
What you get now is a huge D2 key.

------ Follow up post added December 18th, 2010 05:18 PM ------

We'll...the key part is 1/4 true. Some 1994/95(?) they can't cut the key from the vin as the info is no longer in their system...

???
Did a key for a customer with a 1993 NAS 110 who lost his key last week. Dealer cut me a key just off the VIN.
I think it depends if the dealer wants to look for the data or not.

------ Follow up post added December 18th, 2010 05:20 PM ------

Take your pic to get to the ECR site. :):)

http://www.newecr.com
http://www.ecrrox.com
http://www.ecr4x4.com


I wonder what LRNA would do if the first page of a "Rover" web site was a disclaimer that stated the company was not in bed with LRNA and that you can't buy a new Range Rover there, etc etc (all said in the correct legalize). Then you click a button to enter the site.
Wouldn't that kinda ends the "confusion" debate?

In one of the letters I saw from LRNA it listed "confusion" and also not wanting to "dilute the brand"... please.

[cwilder]

In one of the letters I saw from LRNA it listed "confusion" and also not wanting to "dilute the brand"... please.


They must have no idea what you do for their "Brand". I would take a 110 from ECR over a Range Rover Supercharged Autobiography anyday!

[rrc.swb]

Take your pic to get to the ECR site. :):)

http://www.newecr.com
http://www.ecrrox.com
http://www.ecr4x4.comStart a poll :)

[woldd90]

I would contact the people at www.ecr.net and see if they would sell you www.ecr.com, since they are not using it.

[DMSLongLake]

a Range Rover Supercharged Autobiography anyday!

Saw one of those at the dealer...BARF!!!

Range = Cool
Rover = Cool
Supercharged = Really Cool
Authbio...:confused:confused:confused

[SeattleRRC]

What does this mean for Rovers North?

[nathanwind]

Someone said earlier that RN is tied in direct with Land Rover, so they *may* not have to change their name. I'd be curious to see though...or maybe I'll ask Steve next time I'm up there, which should be next month.

[don]

The LRNA legal team must not have much to do or they made a great sales presentation to use funds to go after anything with the Rover name. I am not a marketing expert but would think any place that had the Rover name would be a benefit for them. Wouldn't that be greater "top of mind awareness"?

This legal move and the points brought up in the thread about the snobby Range Rover owner seem to show that Land Rover wants to move away from it's heritage. My local dealer has the safari/expedition/Series/Defender propaganda all over the place but then the RR Sports and Disco 4's are slammed to the ground with big rims and some with chromie packages added-on. (But I do have to say, the heads behind the parts counter are always psyched when I come in looking for Defender parts and they know their stuff).

But back on topic - I do like the ecr4x4.com URL. It's short, easy to type, easy to remember, and looks good. Good move ECR.

[wcampbel@nas.edu]

Legally you can probably fight this and win. The problem is do you want to pay for the fight? I am guessing LRNA pockets are deeper than most vendors.

[Dennis]

So I guess locating parts for a "Rover" won't be as simple as searching for anything with "Rover" in the search. Wonder what they'll do about eBay?

[NoVaKevin]

LRNA cannot make you change your name for simply having "rover" in it. Maybe they can if you have the term "rover" inside of a green oval. Hell, I doubt they can if you have a green oval alone. Use the reasonable perosn standard. Ask a reasonable person what east coast rover is and they will no be able to tell you what it is, or that it has to do with LRNA. If they sent me a letter, I would laugh at them. If they sent me a summons, then I would only be worried because these cases can end up costing a pretty penny when up against a large company.

[ECR]

Sadly they can.
They have the word "Rover" as it relates to anything Land Rover trade marked. As I own a Land Rover based business and use their trade marked name in my company name and in my domain name they can go after me for using their trade mark without authorization.

I know many folks who have gone through this. Some have fought it. No one I know of has spent enough money to win.

From one of the formal letters to another shop:

"Because you are using the ROVER mark as part of your trade name and trademark to describe your goods and services, consumers are likely to be confused and believe that you/your goods/services are endorsed by and/or affiliated by Land Rover. Therefore, your use of the ROVER trademark constitutes trademark infringement and does not qualify as nominative fair use.
Furthermore, your use of the term "Rover" in your trade name and domain name is likely to dilute the distinctive and famous Land Rover Trademarks by lessening the ability of those marks to denote Land Rover products and authorized services."

[James Pierce]

Maybe you should just put a big disclaimer at the top of your home page stating that you are in no way affiliated with LRNA other than through parts bought legally from them and that your end product in every way is far superior to anything they have ever produced. That should end any confusion.

[130Tdi]

LRNA cannot make you change your name for simply having "rover" in it. Maybe they can if you have the term "rover" inside of a green oval. Hell, I doubt they can if you have a green oval alone. Use the reasonable perosn standard. Ask a reasonable person what east coast rover is and they will no be able to tell you what it is, or that it has to do with LRNA. If they sent me a letter, I would laugh at them. If they sent me a summons, then I would only be worried because these cases can end up costing a pretty penny when up against a large company.

I guess thats just it-the reasonable person standard is out the window. Companies we are more inclined to change domains, logo's and company names, than spend money fighting a fight that Land Rover can and will out spend the defendant to win. Laughing @ the letter doesn't work.

BTW the oval doesn't even have to be green, their comments in my letter had to do with simply using an oval.
I'm told they have gone after Will Tillery as well. He's one man, parting out primarily disco's. How he could possibly be "confusing" LRNA's customers is anyone's guess.

[nathanwind]

I heard they are shutting down http://www.rovers.com because it's very likely that a geographical surveying company will be confused with LRNA. I myself recently strolled into their Buffalo NY office demanding to know where I could buy genuine Land Rover sweatshirts, and imagine my surprise when all I found was survey equipment and blank stares. Of course, I am joking.

I AM however tempted to legally change my name to Jason Rover Lavender, then snap up all the website domains that you are being forced to sell and then allow you to conduct your business through my store-front under the pretense that you are now in fact operating under my legal name and not LRNA.

[don]

Sadly they can.
They have the word "Rover" as it relates to anything Land Rover trade marked. As I own a Land Rover based business and use their trade marked name in my company name and in my domain name they can go after me for using their trade mark without authorization.

I know many folks who have gone through this. Some have fought it. No one I know of has spent enough money to win.


I think you guys are doing the right thing. Much cheaper to spend a few hundred dollars on a new URL and a little extra website work than more than a few thousand fighting with LRNA.


From one of the formal letters to another shop:

...is likely to dilute the distinctive and famous Land Rover Trademarks by lessening the ability of those marks to denote Land Rover products and authorized services."

Seeing what you guys do with Land Rover (especially fixing some of those famous Land Rover "Trademarks") made me laugh when reading that sentence.

[Wolf Fabrication]

I dream about Land Rovers, am I in trouble too? (Cue Inception and Leonard DiCaprio entering my dreams to sue me).

[BOBCAT110]

Back in the day, early ninties, I think, Mercedes and BMW did the same thing. They went on a massive campaign to protect their trademarks. They targeted independent shops and parts sources very successfully. They, like Land Rover, will spend whatever it takes.
Even if you fought them and managed to win, they would just come back at you again.

[founD90]

Late 90's, Porsche did the same thing to all kinds of enthusiast websites, restorers, and mechanics. Same response, same 'selling out' accusations. The attorneys need something to justify their billable hours.

[ECR]

Thanks for all the comments guys. I know it seems silly, but whatcha gonna do...

I've been getting a number of emails from other places/shops that got "the letter" asking about what I did and how I can help them. Sadly, I can't help at all. I know I'm not prepared to fight it and I never even got "the letter" and have decided to change our name, logo and web site so that I can do it on my own terms without deadlines and such imposed by LRNA.

I don't know any way to get out of it, nor do I have any legal advice for those who want to fight it.

Good luck to those who fight it.