cthree: what I've seen is what I think is the issues. Looking back probably best not to even mention any of this publically on your part. Sure, it would circle the wagons of support but might make things worse. Everybodys your brother until the rent is due...

LISTING what I see the possible issues was something I thought would help. AHM knows you have anyway.

I see 2 things w/ the start button. Its a Start button but as the javascript drops an image (albeit hard to read) is Start Engine - same as the car. Most likely its a trademark of the S as seen in ads.

Use of the FONT may be fine but its clearly a likeness of the trademark logo. Honda logo in print is Times-like font. They don't own the letter H but the shape of the H.

 

Lucid is right. The start button closely resembles the start engine button. To deny that is wrong. Moreover, it is not a stance we should take. We should look to cooperate. This site or any other cannot work with AHM in an antagonistic manner.

 

Erik, I think you've done a GREAT JOB building this site with the exception of the December 31, 1969 bug--which wasn't your doing. You've got a lot to be proud of.

Honda has sent you a letter about what they perceive as their property. Don't get too lawyered until you ask them what they'd like, see if you can "partner" with them or see if you can work it out to continue the board without using their property.

That probably means I've got to stop being so lazy and go out and take my own Honda Rubicon pictures and my own Acura NSX pictures. It might mean the site is not quite as "cute" being "Start-Engine" button-less, but still it can be done.

I know you must be losing sleep over this. Don't. Lets just figure out how to make it work. Hire a lawyer when you need professional advice, but try to negotiate it first.

If Honda wants to kill the board because some folks here knock AHM, then we'll have to fight that. Free speech is still in the Consititution. However, if they want to keep AHM owned trademarks off of a site that might from time to time knock AHM, then I can understand that.

The same stuff happened a decade ago with IBM and Apple and SIGS. At one point on Compuserve, IBM pulled out its support of the IBM-SIG even though they had benefitted it from it for years. This will work out.