M-napped....

**theveed** · January 31st, 2006 03:05 PM

M-napped? BMW demands $260 million for Infiniti campaign

By AUTOMOTIVE NEWS

AutoWeek | Published 01/30/06, 8:27 am et

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How much is a letter worth? When it comes to branding hot cars, BMW says it has invested at least $260.7 million internationally over nearly 30 years promoting its M series.

So it took offense when a Nissan Canada ad campaign used "the M is coming" - with a capital M and a Nissan logo - to advertise the Infiniti M35 and M45.

BMW sued Nissan in Canada's federal court, alleging trademark infringement. It says it fears even aficionados could confuse Nissan and BMW cars.

But BMW has not produced any evidence of harm, the judge noted in denying BMW's request for an injunction to stop the ads.

No proof, no injunction.

The judge, acknowledging the importance of the M cachet to BMW, told the companies the case would be heard as soon as possible, perhaps late this year.

**pajerokid** · January 31st, 2006 03:13 PM

There are, after all, only 26 letters hehehe.

**niky** · January 31st, 2006 03:23 PM

Hmmm... if I copyright "X", how much money do you think I'll get?

Reminds me of something happening on my former boards, some guy is suing Nissanforums for using "Nissan". And, get this, he's not connected with Nissan Motors in any way... :lol:

**aceshark** · January 31st, 2006 03:32 PM

save ko na letter "R"...

**chieffy** · January 31st, 2006 03:33 PM

Originally Posted by niky

Hmmm... if I copyright "X", how much money do you think I'll get?

Reminds me of something happening on my former boards, some guy is suing Nissanforums for using "Nissan". And, get this, he's not connected with Nissan Motors in any way... :lol:

nisaan na ba yung taong iyon at nang mapukpok sa ulo

**aceshark** · January 31st, 2006 03:34 PM

pati sa web may kaso nissan.... naunahan na kasi sila sa nissan.com e... dinemanda naman ng nissan motors yung company. try nyo www.nissan.com

**theveed** · January 31st, 2006 04:01 PM

dito palang yung pldt.com tagal nang issue yan, hehe 1994 pa ata.

**vinj** · January 31st, 2006 05:00 PM

Originally Posted by niky

Hmmm... if I copyright "X", how much money do you think I'll get?

Not unless i beat you to it.

**mrpink** · January 31st, 2006 05:16 PM

err .. i don't think anyone will confuse a bmw and nissan .. kahit anong letra pa yan ..

**niky** · January 31st, 2006 05:17 PM

sige... pero mauna na ako sa "tsikot". :evillaugh:

**theveed** · January 31st, 2006 05:30 PM

mrpink: that's not really the point... when you say "M" sa automotive world, only BMW's M Sport division comes to mind for most enthusiasts, if another CAR MANUFACTURER starts to advertise their products with the same name, it's called DILUTION sa name ng isang established product.

Meaning, if that Nissan sells well, whenever consumers mention "M" di nalang BMW M Sport ang papasok sa isip, which BMW has spent 30 years developing and protecting.

Yun yung sinasampa nila.

**niky** · January 31st, 2006 05:46 PM

But Infiniti has had the "M" for quite some time now. Even if, as BMW complains, the commercials are misleading, I think just the fact that Infiniti is advertising "M" cars should be good for BMW... because it gets people thinking about BMW.

Ang hirap kasi ng mga Germans, puro alphanumeric ang names... and it's catching. There are only so many letters and numbers. Peugeot had this problem with their 1007 (107), as they were stepping on someone's toes (take a wild guess...)

**mrpink** · January 31st, 2006 06:16 PM

theveed: don't get me wrong, i totally understand why bmw is suing .. i'm just saying when it comes down to the actual cars .. i just don't think people will confuse bmw and nissan cars ..

**vinj** · January 31st, 2006 07:00 PM

Hmmm... then BMW should also sue Mazda 3 owners as a lot of people also shortcut it as "M3" :D

**theveed** · January 31st, 2006 07:06 PM

hehe, the name game...

Sarap maging lawyer sa US/Canada, lahat kaso...

**aceshark** · January 31st, 2006 09:24 PM

IMO, wala siguro mangyari sa kaso na yan. parang benz nung dinemanda nila mitsu because of the pizza pie rear lamps. ganyan talaga sa mundo ng marketing and strategy.

**theveed** · January 31st, 2006 09:43 PM

aceshark: Nagbayad mo Mitsu nun hehe, talo sila sa kaso.

**niky** · February 1st, 2006 03:40 PM

How about Nissan vs. Mitsu, about the waterfall grille of the Sentra that Mitsu supposedly copied? That was hilarious.

**Alpha_One** · February 1st, 2006 03:51 PM

Originally Posted by niky

But Infiniti has had the "M" for quite some time now. Even if, as BMW complains, the commercials are misleading, I think just the fact that Infiniti is advertising "M" cars should be good for BMW... because it gets people thinking about BMW.

Ang hirap kasi ng mga Germans, puro alphanumeric ang names... and it's catching. There are only so many letters and numbers. Peugeot had this problem with their 1007 (107), as they were stepping on someone's toes (take a wild guess...)

Unimaginative nga para sakin karamihan ng Eurocars. They're all letters and numbers. Americans have always named their cars. The Japanese/Koreans can think up names, although some come out stupid (at least may pagtatawanan tayo diba)!

1007 - "One Thousand and Seven" ("bawal" yung "One Double Oh Seven" diba?)

**kimpOy** · February 1st, 2006 03:54 PM

kasuhan na rin nila ng kIA for its kidney grill look alike

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