By Robert Farago
March 20, 2008
"Farago better cover his ears," former TTACer Chris Paukert said, kneeling by one of his colleagues in the floor of the press room. As if. Turns out Porsche has issued a cease and desist order against Paukert's current employer, windingroad.com, after the website referred to the new Solstice hardtop as a "Solstice Targa." Within hours, the automaker sent a legal document ordering them to stop using the word "Targa" for anything other other than a Porsche Targa (named after the Targa Florio). They "suggested" the alternative: "T-top" or "removable glass roof." While we understand Porsche's Kleenex-like desire to protect their model nomenclature, perhaps a quiet word in the website's proverbial ear would have sufficed. We also wonder if Porsche would have been satisfied if Winding Road had used a small "t" instead of a capital "T." I know: let's see what happens. Solstice targa. Anything? Just for fun: Solstice Targa. Frank, put Ms. Brown on standby.
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POWERED
March 20th, 2008 at 11:02 am
Can we send Porsche a cease & desist for calling the “Porsche 911 With Ginormous Sunroof” a Targa?
March 20th, 2008 at 11:09 am
Why would they suggest “T-top” when it’s not?
Fat, litigious and stupid is no way to go through life, son.
March 20th, 2008 at 11:15 am
I wasn’t aware that “targa” was a brand name. I’ve heard it used in reference to any vehicle that has that style removeable panel. If in fact it is a brand name, then Porsche is right to protect it.
It certainly isn’t at “T top” either.
March 20th, 2008 at 11:23 am
Please tell me this was Porsche’s American branch, obviously infected with USA’an Litigation Fever…
March 20th, 2008 at 11:24 am
According to Wikipedia, Porsche does have a trademark on the name “Targa”.
March 20th, 2008 at 11:37 am
Can we send Porsche a cease and desist on styling in general?
March 20th, 2008 at 11:47 am
Doesn’t the Corvette have a Targa?
Corvette Targa… there Porsche, take that for charging me $200 for an oil filter!
March 20th, 2008 at 11:48 am
David E is probably on the phone right now kicking ass at Porsche. I hope so anyway.
What arrogance. oh well, it IS porsche.
March 20th, 2008 at 11:58 am
Remember, if it is a Porsche trademark, then they have a legal requirement to defend it. If they’re seen not defending it, they can wind up losing the trademark.
March 20th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
Porsche also owns the “flying backwards into a ditch” concept.
March 20th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
David E. kicking ass at Porsche? I don’t think so. Porsche has been routinely winning these suits and many others for the last 30 years. Try to use their type font, the Porsche name on floormats, Porsche symbols and crests on merchandise, even the patented 911 “design language” and you’ll be out of business in no time. Their legal department is famous for it.
March 20th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Did Porsche send a cease and desist order to Rudy Giuliani when he repeatedly used the term “nine-eleven” in his presidential bid?
March 20th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
This is not surprising coming from Porsche. I’m surprised they haven’t issued a cease and desist order against every city in the U.S. for having 911 painted on their police cars.
March 20th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
….of course, Porsche themselves stole the concept of the Targa top from the Triumph TR4 which first introduced it in 1961 as the “Surrey Top”. Look it up on Google images, you’ll see what I mean. As a certified Triumph anorak (brit slang) I can tell you that the “Surrey Top” actually referred specifically to the removeable panel itself, and not the whole assembly.
Mind you, at least Porsche had the sense to call it something different. I don’t think that “Porsche Surrey” has such a catchy ring to it?
March 20th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Targa
Targa
Targa
Targa
Targa
Bite Me, Porsche, just go ahead and bite me.
March 20th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
no one buys the Porsche Targa anyway…what do they care
March 20th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Porsche better put
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Targa_top
on their list of people with quite a list of non-Porsche targas…