Dear Visitor, please read this notice.
We used to be the #1 classifieds site dedicated only to Subaru for sale ads online, created by a Subaru enthusiast who has owned 4 Subarus in my young, short lifetime. We offered a 100% free classified ads site for entusiasts to place ads to buy or sell Subaru vehicles, parts or other Subaru related items and contact the sellers of the ads.
Subaru of America, a large corporation importing and selling Japanese vehicles in the USA, threatened us, "one of the 99%" who was enthusiastically promoting the community of Subaru owners with legal action alledging we were infringing on their trademark and copyright by using the word "subaru" on the site and in the domain name to cause "confusion" and in "bad faith" which is completely bogus.
Rather than contacting us directly to voice any concern over the site, they chose to send a legally worded notice to our web hosting provider, who being afraid of legal action requested we move the site off their server.
There are litereally thousands of web sites using the Subaru name for descriptive purposes, yet we are one that SOA decided to pick on. What about Nasioc of SubaruForester.org or any number of other sites? Perhaps AutoTrader.com for their use of the word. Or the advertisements from Google above that use the word Subaru on their ads and their sites?
This reminds me of the law suit over nissan.com where a large corporation prevailed over an individual using the domain for their own purposes, solely due to deep pockets. Sad that this is what the United States has become - no longer a land of freedom and opportunity, it's a land of deep pocketed bullies with overseas bank accounts.
Subaru seems like they'd support SOPA and PIPA even though major web companies oppose it, so they can bully down other web sites for whatever their selfish reasons are.
If you share our disappointment with these heavy handed bully tactics and would like to let Subaru of America know, please fill out their contact form here.
The letter from SOA is included below for those who want to read it. As for me, I have removed the classified site completely and replaced it with this notice. If you're an SOA representative and still don't like it, then I suggest you sue me because I won't take this notice down.
You may win in court, but you're going to spend a lot of money and get nothing in return, you pricks! I'm broke, just like the rest of the 99% in this country so go ahead and waste your time. Hope you feel good about what you're doing with your life.
As for me, I'm selling my Subaru on Craigslist, so please come buy it so I can buy a Toyota instead. I'm done supporting Subaru.
Dear Internet Service Provider:
I am writing in regards to the site(s): subaruforsale.org
I represent Subaru of America. (SOA) in trademark and other intellectual property matters. SOA is a well-known company with recognizable marks and for many years, SOA has also promoted and provided its products and services through online sites including Subaru.com.
The "Subaru" name and associated marks are well-known and registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, either alone or in combination with other words.
We have recently learned that the above-referenced website is using the Subaru name and marks. This use is clearly designed to cause confusion, deception, and mistake on the part of individuals visiting the site. This use of "Subaru" name and marks in connection with this website violates SOA's rights and constitutes trademark infringement and unfair competition under the Lanham Act. In addition, this site uses a domain name(s) that incorporates SOA's mark(s), uses the same channel of commerce (the Internet) used by SOA, and describes services identical to those covered by SOA's mark(s). Use or registration of the Subaru mark(s) in this domain name(s) with bad faith intent violates the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act, 15 U.S.C. Section 1125. Lastly, SOA respectfully submits that this bad faith registration of the mark in the domain name(s) also violates your acceptable use policy as an Internet Service Provider (ISP).
SOA aggressively protects its trademarks and other intangible assets. To this end, we have informed the registrant of our complaint and have received no cooperation from them. While Subaru considers appropriate legal action against the registrant, I respectfully request that you immediately proceed to take action to enforce your acceptable use policy against this site for violation of SOA's rights and the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act, 15 U.S.C. Section 1125. Please let me know if you need any additional information.
Thank you for your assistance in our ceaseless efforts to protect our well-known name and marks.
Subaru of America