 |
Specialized Claims Gordon's
Logo Is Too Similar To Its Own |
NASCAR driver Robby Gordon has sued Specialized Bicycle Components, which previously "sent him a cease-and-desist letter" over the logo of his new Speed Energy drink, according to Bob Pockrass of SCENEDAILY.com. Specialized is seeking an injunction from the U.S. District Court in California to "keep Gordon from using the logo he has used periodically since June on his race car in advance of the product launch last week.” Specialized is arguing that Gordon’s logo is "too similar to its logo." Gordon in court documents said that if Specialized wins the injunction and he has to change his labeling and logos before being able to sell the product, he "might not be able to compete in NASCAR next year." Robby Gordon Motorsports this year fielded teams in the Sprint Cup Series with “an occasional start in the Nationwide Series.” Gordon: “Without that sponsorship and the resulting revenue … our NASCAR team would be devastated. We would no longer be in a position to field cars and personnel at race events.” Gordon claims that he is “not in the bicycle business and therefore there cannot be confusion between the two logos.” He added that his Speed Energy logo is “different because it is shaped more like a lightning bolt,” and his is “orange -- which he said is a carryover from his days driving for Cingular -- while Specialized’s primary logo is more red.” But Pockrass wrote Specialized “isn’t buying it, especially because it sponsors a cycling team in partnership with Monster energy drink -- a former sponsor of Gordon” (SCENEDAILY.com, 11/4).
LIMIT TO THE PROMOTION? USA TODAY’s Nate Ryan writes Texas Motor Speedway’s new “No Limits” campaign shows there “might be limits to using edginess to attract new fans while not offending a mostly middle class fan base that tends to be staid.” NASCAR Managing Dir of Corporate Communications Ramsey Poston said NASCAR’s “core product is racing, and we’ve got the best racing in the world so effective marketing campaigns should be built around that. The 'No Limits' campaign strikes at a key demographic audience that is younger and more important to the success of the sport going forward." TMS President Eddie Gossage contends that he has received “only five negative e-mails” about the campaign, and GMR Marketing Exec VP/Sports Marketing Mike Boykin added that a “minor backlash might be worth the tradeoff.” Boykin: “Any significant change, there are a certain percentage that are going to be offended. If you look at the fundamental challenges to the sport -- the 18 to 34 demo, going younger, creating buzz” (USA TODAY, 11/5).
