Confusion on the Class B Forum

Too bad the Winnebago band of Native Americans didn't T.M. their name.

RobertRyan wrote:
a... Winnebago is as generic as Kleenex or Xerox. She doesn't know from motorhome, facial towel or copier.

That's where you hit the nail on the head- if a company does not defend the trademark(s) they can be lost.

This is why Harley had to go after grandma's crocheting blankets with the HD logos- if it could be shown that the trademark owner did not claim and enforce trademarks....then the rights are lost forever...and it that case anyone could start selling HD Tshirts...or maybe slap the name on a motorcycle or lawnmower.

There have been many occasions when a licensee of a brand name attempts to use the license for manufacture/ sales outside of the licensed territory- seems this RV case is one of those.

Mike

Sebtown wrote:
My mother calls all RV's a Winnebago including my AI. To her a Winnebago is as generic as Kleenex or Xerox. She doesn't know from motorhome, facial towel or copier. Winnebago should be flattered to be recognized as a market icon.

Very much the case in Australia. A large Motorhome is called a "Winnebago" it is a generic term, more than anything to do with Winnebago and I have heard many Australians use it in that way.
Still many Australian call 5th Wheelers Motorhomes as well, which logically does not make sense.
Anyway Winnebago US , has released a range of garish looking Caravans( Minnie Winnies, painted Pink and Lime Green! With a big W decal) have asked Talvor to slightly redesign their range of Class C Rental Motorhomes, give them Australian names and call them " Winnebagos" Farce is not strong enough of a word to describe the goings on.
Seeing Winnebago is associated with US Motorhomes, if not in the generic sense then a group of Rental Motorhomes with a " Winnebago " Trademark is going to cause a lot of head scratching.

My mother calls all RV's a Winnebago including my AI. To her a Winnebago is as generic as Kleenex or Xerox. She doesn't know from motorhome, facial towel or copier. Winnebago should be flattered to be recognized as a market icon.

stan909 wrote:
It was a nice van but not nice to trade on some other companies name.

That was the point, and that is why they were allowed to use Winnebago after a retrial. Presumably, Winnebago had agreed to let them use the term in Australia, after an agreement,then Winnebago did not register the Trademark here.

It was a nice van but not nice to trade on some other companies name.