It will never happen in a million years, not with the corporate attitude of
VOA and VAG. The word "Volks" has been sewn up as a US Registered Trademark
by Volkswagen for at least 3 decades, based on a court decision against an
independent VW repair shop back in the early/mid 70s (I've got a copy of it
buried in DEEP storage [hey, I full time in my Westy] provided by VW's legal
beagles when they went after me in 1986). What was weird is that while I
could use "The Old Volks Home" as a Product Line, I couldn't use it as a
business name, even though it had been in constant use since 1976. So I kept
using my business name of Sherwood Auto "featuring Old Volks Home Products"
since then without any hassles, but you never know.
 I guess because I don't sell parts on the website and that I just have info
stuff & links, they leave me alone, but again, you never know. I already
have a couple of fall back domains to switch my stuff should it happen.
 I don't have the link handy, but the US Trademark site, with looking a what
Volkswagen has sewn up as "intellectual property" makes for very interesting
reading.
 I figure only a class-action lawsuit by enthusiasts dedicated to the cause
*may* perk their eyebrows a bit, but is there a snowball's chance in H E
Double-Toothpick we could prevail. Better have some very DEEP pockets and
wallets.
--
Jim Thompson
84 Westfalia 2.1 "Ole Putt"
73 K Ghia Coupe "Denise"
72 411 Station Wagon "Pug"
oldvolkshome@gmail.com
http://www.oldvolkshome.com
**********************************
On 10/20/05, Mike Collum <collum@verizon.net> wrote:
>
> Timothy,
>
> You're absolutely right ... however ... I'll bet that Volkswagen would
> go after any of them, too, if they sold parts for Volkswagens.
>
> I personally think that VW should offer businesses that have Volks in
> their names, and DO sell VW related parts and accessories, some sort of
> form, mutually signed, that would legally allow use of the name and
> still protect VW's interests.
>
> Mike
> Houlton, Maine
>
>
> Timothy Lee Harrison wrote:
> > On Friday 21 Oct 2005 00:23, Jeffrey Schwaia wrote:
> >
> >
> >>IIRC, Peter told me that they've been in negotiations with VW for over 6
> >>years. I don't think there was any more room at the end of the rope.
> >
> >
> > Personally, I think I'd have stuck to my guns. There are plenty of
> German
> > words beginning with "Volks":
> >
> > Volkshaus... a name for a local municipal hall
> > Volksrat... a local government organisation
> > Volksfest... a local/public fete
> > Volksmusik... traditional music (e.g. Bavaria, Austrian Tyrol)
> > Volksschule... primary=elementary school
> > Volkseigentum... commonly owned property, i.e. municipal property
> > Volksabstimmung a referendum
> > Volksbegehren a petition by the people (to government)
> > �sterreichische Volkspartei... Austrian "Peoples Party", i.e.
> conservative
> > party
> >
> > I'm sure there are plenty more - these come to mind without consulting a
> > dictionary!!! VW AG can't possibly claim all these words are *their*
> > intellectual property.
>