Chrysler Claims Exclusivity On Detroit Imports
Chrysler brought suit against Detroit company Moda. According to Chrysler’s complaint in U.S. District Court of Eastern Michigan, Moda engages in “blatant misrepresentation of Chrysler’s IMPORTED FROM DETROIT™ tagline, introduced by Chrysler to tremendous public acclaim during Super Bowl XLV.” Chrysler sues the company for “trademark infringement, false designation of origin, false descriptions, unfair competition, false and deceptive trade practices and unjust enrichment.”
Chrysler alleges that Moda “began selling t-shirts boldly featuring Chrysler’s exact IMPORTED FROM DETROIT™ mark, depicted in a flashy eye-catching manner.” Despite Chrysler’s complaints, Moda did not cease and desist. Instead, they “began marketing new products, including tote bags and additional t-shirts with a new IMPORTED FROM DETROIT™ design:”
Chrysler wants the court to stop the injustice, and order Moda to pay up to three times the ill gotten gains to Chrysler.
Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.
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I think if you buy the car, Chrysler should give you a shirt, free of charge. This would be good advertising and good business for them. Isn't that the whole idea of their having a line of apparel? Or, are they that hard up for a couple of bucks?
To think they pay to put that slogan on billboards. I'd find a way to work with the T-shirt people 'cause that car is so bad it got a reviewer fired. The internet is not going to like this.