Boycott Specialized Bikes

[fat bob]

They're trying to bully Epic Designs to change company name... what a bunch of crap. I wrote to them via their website and let them know that I would not purchase any of their products and will encourage anyone that will listen to not purchase their products until they drop it.

So drop the big "S" a line and let them know what you think of their tactics

http://specialized.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/specialized.cfg/php/enduser/ask.php?p_sid=Strc8xQj&p_accessibility=0&p_redirect=&p_lva=153

[Jilleo]

I sent Specialized a letter about Epic Designs recently. It would be great of a lot of people in the bikepacking community took the time to drop Specialized a line and told them how they feel about big corporations bullying small independent companies that pose no threat to their sales. Small grassroots letter-writing campaigns have worked in the past. Companies hate bad publicity. Be sure to emphasize that you have lots of sway on other cyclists - i.e. if you're a sponsored racer, etc. I told them I was a newspaper columnist. Can't hurt. Might help.

[protoceratops]

Yeah, I sent a letter just now.  Grrrrrr...

[bmike-vt]

Sending a letter.
This recently happened in our fair state.
A large multinational energy drink company sent similar letters and threats to a local craft brewer.
The issue was consumers potentially confusing 'Monster' with the 'Vermonster'. One is a sugary mess served up in a can, the other a hand crafted beer served up in a bottle... bottom line was not to mess with Vermont beer. After some Facebook groups and national news media picked it up - along with many boycotts from VT based beverage distributors and stores - the company and the brewery came to terms.


What a waste to see this stuff going on. Bullying, plan and simple. Doesn't 'S' have more to do with their legal teams?
Had a bit more respect for them than this...


Eric - good luck. I doubt they have a legal leg to stand on - but from what I understand trademark wrangling is a war of attrition... hopefully negative press and pressure from the cycling community can turn this around. Good thing they don't make a bike called the 'Eric' - or you'd be forced to change your name. Wouldn't want to confuse a human with a 2 wheeled machine now... just like it would be hard to confuse a saddle bag with a.... oh.

[AZTtripper]

Sent a letter told them they can't own such a simple word that is a common term used in biking and that they should donate all profit from the epic model to IMBA as they (IMBA) had used the term "epic" before they (Specialized) did.

[donmeredith74]

Very disappointing... sent a letter as well. I'm not surprised. When I had a quality problem with a frame a few years back I was basically told to pound sand. They put my LBS in a VERY awkward situation.

[DiDaDunlop]

Letter send.

What's the source of the original message that specialized is suing Eric?

[bmike-vt]

He posted it to his blog. My guess is that they aren't suing yet - but have threatened to with some lawyerly paperwork - probably sending along a cease and desist about the name.

[jeremy11]

Done.  I also happen to be manager of a Specialized rental dealership as part of my job.  So I can't boycott them professionally, but my personal bikes are both from Vassago! 

[Goatrak]

I was incredulous, and let Specialized know as much. That just sucks, but it looks like Eric is making the best of it with a company renaming contest. I guess it would be best to look at what other words Specialized thinks it owns before submitting a name.

[DiDaDunlop]

I just found Erics blog.

It just plain sucks. There are loads of companies that have epic in the name. Specialized has definetly fallen down a lot of steps on my opinion ladder.

Hopefully Eric can find a good replacement name or maybe Specialized will back out of this behaviour.

[Eric]

Hi Everyone,
No worries.. yes it sucks..

Specialized has been courteous, patient and quite reasonable in their handling of the matter. They could have just sent me a cease and desist but that is not the case.

I appreciate the support, but the fact is that any big company needs to protect their trademark rights or they loose all they've invested in it.

So thanks,  A name change is just that, a name. The gear will still be Epic...

I'm not happy about it but gotta move on.  

[12wheels]

Could you post a link to the blog?  

For what it's worth:  I worked for a small communications equipment company 25 years ago who had a similar confrontation with one of the national phone companies.   They threatened us but changed their tone after receiving a letter from our attorney and eventually paid us to rename the firm.  

[Singlespeedpunk]

Well I have emailed SBC so we'll see what the UK branch say

Also posted on Singletrack World forum: EDIT just been removed by the moderator as they viewed it as "free advertising" although I am not sure who for!

All the best Eric.

Alex

[Chunt]

You could change the company name to Epic But Not That Crappy Epic Bicycle Designs 

[AZTtripper]

You could change the company name to Epic But Not That Crappy Epic Bicycle Designs  

Classic I agree that they own the rights to the crappy sus design but I just can't see how they can own such a generic word. I would think that any company that makes a specialized piece of equipment can use that word as well. Specialized drilling Co, or specialized ass licking co or some such thing.

On a lighter note this popped up a couple of weeks ago at a climbers fourm http://www.mountainproject.com/v/climbing_gear_discussion/tnf_sues_teen_over_the_south_butt/106629258

Oh and I vote for Specialized bikepacking designs  after all bikepacking gear is about as specialized as it gets.


 

[Jilleo]

I think the insulting part of this matter is the fact that Specialized trademarked the word "epic." The word has been part of the common vernacular since "extreme" fell out of fashion, probably around the time Mountain Dew latched onto it in the late 90s. I don't know the legal background of trademark laws, but I don't really see a difference between trademarking "epic" versus trademarking "cool" or "awesome" or "super sweet." Expect the Specialized was able to do it, perhaps because the denizens who launched the term "epic" into the mainstream were too busy hucking off cliffs and downing Red Bull to sue first.

I'm not calling into question Specialized quality or business practices. I just think it's annoying they "own" a common word.

[donmeredith74]

I just got this response from Specialized. Corporate drones. I'm sure they won't care but no more purchases from me. That's the second 'we're too big to care' response I've gotten from them on two separate topics. At least Eric is being a good guy about the topic.

Dear Don,

Thank you very much for your feedback. Specialized possesses no hard feelings nor are we trying to harm Epic Designs in Alaska. However, we strive to protect our assets. One asset we consider valuable is our trademark on the Epic branding. We hope you understand our position. Thank you again for contacting us.

[paxton coyote]

 While they're at copyrighting the word "Epic" perhaps they should copyright the capital letter "S" for SUCKS!

[AZTtripper]

I still think they owe IMBA seeing as there are IMBA Epic rides all over the country.

I got the same generic response, I replied with a suggestion that they work on coming up with more unique names for their products. No offense to Eric for using a generic term but if you want to copyright  something it should at least be original.