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GM sues Ohio company for rare 'Vette replicas

Detroit News -- he 1963 Corvette Grand Sport roadster is the rarest and arguably most important Corvette model ever made. Only five were built, and they sell for millions at auction.
But an Ohio company is being sued by General Motors for churning out replica versions that sell for less than $90,000.
The lawsuit was filed this month in U.S. District Court against Mongoose Motorsports LLC of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, which specializes in building replica 1984-88 GTP models and the legendary Grand Sport.

GM is suing for trademark infringement, claiming the iconic brand has been irreparably harmed by the ersatz sports cars, which the automaker says copy the Corvette's design -- curve for curve.
GM wants a judge to bar the company from making and selling models using the Corvette design.

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Submitted Mar 22, 2010 By: fordmexico

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olcowboy14 Champion Author Spokane Posts:4,685 Points:743,950 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 7:02:50 AM Ignore olcowboy14 Report Abuse Good luck on that one GM. I really don't think that after 40+ years they have much claim to fame.
abuck Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:3,302 Points:592,120 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 6:59:38 AM Ignore abuck Report Abuse guess we'll see how it shakes out...there are a lot of replica car makers out there, and it seems that if they don't use the company name or logo, they are usually left alone...
Don1222 Champion Author Michigan Posts:6,228 Points:766,080 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 6:59:36 AM Ignore Don1222 Report Abuse That is why we have patents.
weenerdog Champion Author Detroit Posts:4,938 Points:943,020 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 6:58:56 AM Ignore weenerdog Report Abuse as long as they don't sell them as originals
Paw5X Champion Author Gary Posts:5,724 Points:1,544,620 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 6:58:51 AM Ignore Paw5X Report Abuse Is there a patent on it?
EVBuddy Champion Author Nevada Posts:11,724 Points:2,063,160 Joined:Sep 2004	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 6:57:11 AM Ignore EVBuddy Report Abuse Somebody steal the plans?
TeachR06 Champion Author Raleigh Posts:3,535 Points:1,012,760 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 6:56:48 AM Ignore TeachR06 Report Abuse but there have been replicas and kids around for a long time.
dhawk24 Champion Author Maine Posts:3,073 Points:676,355 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 6:56:22 AM Ignore dhawk24 Report Abuse Go GM!!
RichardoB Champion Author Fayetteville Posts:2,983 Points:1,069,135 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 6:53:09 AM Ignore RichardoB Report Abuse One has to read the whole article to really understand what's going on. Apparently this company failed to get licensing rights from GM. Now they are going to pay for it.
AvantiMick Champion Author Indiana Posts:8,031 Points:1,604,395 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 6:51:48 AM Ignore AvantiMick Report Abuse OMG! Obama wants to get his fingers in the $$$..........again!
Metro Man Champion Author Flint Posts:1,991 Points:1,048,725 Joined:Sep 2003	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 6:51:26 AM Ignore Metro Man Report Abuse Gotta make money some way, so sue.
mark1962 Champion Author Albany Posts:1,531 Points:332,645 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 6:50:05 AM Ignore mark1962 Report Abuse Business at it's finest!
plbell627 Champion Author Dayton Posts:1,013 Points:300,820 Joined:Mar 2007	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 6:49:02 AM Ignore plbell627 Report Abuse Why wouldyou pick the most rare Corvette ever made to do a replica. Doesn't sound very smart to me.
tc316 Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:4,100 Points:786,930 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 6:47:47 AM Ignore tc316 Report Abuse Not to smart
daequitz All-Star Author New Jersey Posts:922 Points:410,620 Joined:Jan 2007	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 6:39:11 AM Ignore daequitz Report Abuse Is this like selling counterfeit Gucci handbags? Illegal.
fordfan1 Champion Author Indiana Posts:4,199 Points:917,140 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 6:38:41 AM Ignore fordfan1 Report Abuse I see that GM is taking a page out of the book from their owners. You can have what is not your's just use law suits and thuggery to get it!
GearGuy Veteran Author Detroit Posts:436 Points:1,006,450 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 6:36:00 AM Ignore GearGuy Report Abuse You can't steal what isn't yours, unless you are China.
rogerparry Champion Author Florida Posts:4,624 Points:941,505 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 6:33:32 AM Ignore rogerparry Report Abuse If I were GM I would do the same thing.
cathevan Champion Author Manitoba Posts:2,133 Points:524,025 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 6:33:10 AM Ignore cathevan Report Abuse hmmm, too much time on their (gm) hands?
Ringmaster2008 Champion Author Ontario Posts:2,952 Points:503,635 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 6:32:48 AM Ignore Ringmaster2008 Report Abuse Isn't imitation the sincerest form of flattery?
Tundralimited2009 Champion Author Dallas Posts:2,587 Points:520,450 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 6:31:14 AM Ignore Tundralimited2009 Report Abuse Govt Motors does have the trademark.....
theawesome1 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:3,661 Points:810,140 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 6:30:40 AM Ignore theawesome1 Report Abuse Hope Mongoose wins. The ormal person can tell a replica from the real thing but they are cool to see in the Akron area.
didi5356 Champion Author Columbus Posts:9,203 Points:200,620 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 6:28:25 AM Ignore didi5356 Report Abuse I totally agree, government motors at work, but you can't just copy anything that you want to copy.
skippypa Champion Author Hawaii Posts:3,529 Points:766,090 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 6:27:11 AM Ignore skippypa Report Abuse GM is just jealous.
gabbygusIN Champion Author Indiana Posts:2,380 Points:598,075 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 6:25:11 AM Ignore gabbygusIN Report Abuse Government Motors at work!
largobob Champion Author Tampa Posts:12,904 Points:2,406,035 Joined:Dec 2003	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 6:22:36 AM Ignore largobob Report Abuse GM is right. You can't just copy their cars.
lindact Champion Author New Haven Posts:4,024 Points:789,815 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 6:22:19 AM Ignore lindact Report Abuse Good one, jeskibuff !!
Fitwit Champion Author Stockton Posts:2,083 Points:454,670 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 6:21:43 AM Ignore Fitwit Report Abuse What is a shareholder to do.
dar 1 Champion Author Michigan Posts:1,095 Points:212,825 Joined:Jan 2005	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 6:20:14 AM Ignore dar 1 Report Abuse Put a small company out of business and for WHAT?
jeskibuff Champion Author Tampa Posts:2,607 Points:475,555 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 6:19:35 AM Ignore jeskibuff Report Abuse Petrock said: "Is this Government Motors trying to recover some of our money" It's the American way. If you can't produce and sell a quality product, you can try to parasite off of a company (or person) who CAN!
DWME Champion Author Indiana Posts:1,113 Points:215,775 Joined:Aug 2009	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 6:18:13 AM Ignore DWME Report Abuse Not too smart.
Bonanza Champion Author Boston Posts:6,253 Points:1,578,590 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 6:16:57 AM Ignore Bonanza Report Abuse They should have licensed it from GM like other companies have done with their replicas.
jeskibuff Champion Author Tampa Posts:2,607 Points:475,555 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 6:16:29 AM Ignore jeskibuff Report Abuse wegman said: "I'm still confused why ANYONE would want a Corvette!" I've NEVER seen anyone even having fun in a Corvette. Here you have what is SUPPOSED to be a hot sports car, but EVERY driver I see drives their plastic pigs as if they were 90 years old, can't see beyond the front fenders and has a pile of raw eggs sitting on the passenger seat.
LeeFree Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:4,405 Points:1,296,600 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 6:16:08 AM Ignore LeeFree Report Abuse I'd have to side with GM on this one. Knock-offs, whether they're perfume, hand-bags, or cars are cashing in on the original brand and bringing down it's value.
Ratso Champion Author Ohio Posts:11,051 Points:1,721,495 Joined:Sep 2003	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 6:15:31 AM Ignore Ratso Report Abuse What a laugh !
naw62 Champion Author Maine Posts:4,565 Points:1,249,770 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 6:15:06 AM Ignore naw62 Report Abuse Boy are they detting free advertising
Petrock Champion Author Lexington Posts:4,428 Points:1,605,455 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 6:14:40 AM Ignore Petrock Report Abuse Is this Government Motors trying to recover some of our money, of just a small turf war? I suspect the latter.
Marson Champion Author Scranton Posts:4,394 Points:1,147,745 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 6:10:56 AM Ignore Marson Report Abuse Best advertizing Mongoose could get!
RocketGeek Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:5,622 Points:1,137,985 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 6:06:50 AM Ignore RocketGeek Report Abuse I certainly will never own an authentic version, and neither will the person who can afford $90K. There is no threat to GM.
ironbox_sara Champion Author Albany Posts:4,721 Points:1,297,925 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 6:06:13 AM Ignore ironbox_sara Report Abuse They should be happy.
subnuke Champion Author Atlanta Posts:2,798 Points:565,850 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 6:05:56 AM Ignore subnuke Report Abuse This is stupid.
nb52 Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:2,887 Points:581,965 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 6:05:08 AM Ignore nb52 Report Abuse Ya, right GM, you can't turn a profit, so go after some small company which is.
twobroke61 Champion Author Michigan Posts:3,458 Points:624,035 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 6:04:54 AM Ignore twobroke61 Report Abuse more money being wasted on stupid things forget about it and move on
cheapertvs Champion Author Richmond Posts:5,200 Points:1,768,220 Joined:Jan 2004	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 6:01:10 AM Ignore cheapertvs Report Abuse I believe there is a 20 year limitation on that copy rule. GM can go pound sand. The last car with a trademark was the Edsel.
Redink Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:2,448 Points:468,170 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 5:58:40 AM Ignore Redink Report Abuse Let the attorneys work it out. GM will wind up getting a % of each sale.
stpetebp Champion Author Tampa Posts:2,942 Points:845,865 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 5:57:36 AM Ignore stpetebp Report Abuse Nothing better to do with our money.
katmandue Champion Author Detroit Posts:3,165 Points:1,174,680 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 5:56:26 AM Ignore katmandue Report Abuse Is or has the vette ever been trade marked? Has any auto for that matter?
OriginalBudman Champion Author Barrie Posts:6,015 Points:1,276,260 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 5:55:47 AM Ignore OriginalBudman Report Abuse Replicas are good ideas, especially since this is a very desirable model. So what if it devalues the five original cars.
jimshell Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:1,838 Points:466,205 Joined:Sep 2004	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 5:54:34 AM Ignore jimshell Report Abuse Trademark infringement, interesting.
neptune2008 Champion Author Michigan Posts:3,635 Points:716,230 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 5:52:36 AM Ignore neptune2008 Report Abuse tired of reading about automobiles and their failures
afghaned Champion Author Hamilton Posts:4,390 Points:313,750 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 5:46:44 AM Ignore afghaned Report Abuse Will this make the price of oil or gas go down or up????
Hunter724 Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:3,220 Points:672,170 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 5:41:35 AM Ignore Hunter724 Report Abuse Waste of $$$$$$