Mutha f***in RANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[euro3]

I was selling a front spoiler on Ebay. After listing it as MtechI I front spoiler, I used alpina, AC schnitzer, and Hartga as keywords hoping to get additional hits. Well, after a day, ebay closes the auction and states that I didn't have Hartgas permission. OK.... auctions cancelled (note to self....never use the word hartga again in my auctions) Fast forward to today. I receive a notice in the mail from Hartgas lawyers stating that I need to pay 3400 euros in damages. I call the lawyer (extortionist) and attempt to explain the situation. He sympathizes with me and says he is willing to lower the fees to 1000 euros, but I would have to send it immediately along with a signed statement admitting fault.

I now know that hartga is a registered trademark. It only costed me 1000 euros to find this out. Thanks to R3V, you guys will get at at the reduced rate of free.

I know I'm pleading ignorance, but the spoiler wasn't sold, I didn't make a dime using their name. I had already learned my lesson the day ebay closed the auction. So I guess from here they can just FUCK OFF as they will not get a cent from me.

BTW I do know how to spell their name but due to trademark restrictions I figure I better play it safe from here. UNFUKKINBALIEVABLE!!!!

disclaimer: This is my first rant, so if its in the wrong section, will one of the moderators please move me to the rant section. Thank You!

[terrybpp]

First of all, this might be a scam. Could be a group that does this with every auction on ebay. To check on this ask them for a formal letter stating their claim.

Secondly, what are they going to do if you don't pay. They are in Europe.

Thirdly, get a lawyer.

[gstuning]

Sombody is yanking your chain

on www.ebay.de

alpina , hartge , acschnizter and mk motororsport and so on are used in the listings all the time, over and over ,

Since that hasn´t stopped and has been going on for a long time I have serious doubt Hartge are suing your,
first of all their local dealer should contact you not the German head office as suing across countries isn´t that simple,

[mikeedler]

the problem is that he is in germany, and the item was on german ebay.
if it was a scam, why would ebay take the item off?

[E30godz]

i think he canceled them


yea ive seen these names used like 150000 times on ebay

[euro3]

more info

The registered letter came from German law office. I'm in Germany and dont have a clue about German law (hell, I dont have a clue about american law) If the letter came from nigeria I wouldn't worry so much. After speaking with Hartgas lawyer, he said that listing anything with the hartga name will be removed and damages will be sought. That was my first time using the name....they have nothing showing that I have profited from their name. They only have the information from my item that was listed and then cancelled.

The worst part is the ebay account is in my wife's name (she is German)so, they aren't concerned with me at all.

Today has been nuthin but headaches :x

[Beej '86 325es]

I don't see how Hartge can sue you if you spelled their name wrong. :)

[KenC]

Well if you spelled it HartgA (really HartgE), I wouldn't worry about it. How do you know you spoke with THEIR attorney? Anybody can send a registered letter.

[RobertK]

^This is true. You did not violate any laws and no company is going to go through the trouble of taking you to court over 1000 euros because after the lawyer get's done the company would get a check for 20 euros.

[KenC]

You should contact Hartge directly and inquire about their policies and such. Also, why would they 'outsource' their legal department to some law office in Germany? Don't they have their own in-house legal department?

[gstuning]

I would check with Hartge to find out if the law firm is indeed a representitive of theirs or that they have heard about them at all.

I´ll send you a threatining letter rigth now saying I´m representing Alpina and that I´m suing you, it´s easy and quick..
and might make me a couple of bux.

I mean if you go to ebay right now and look up hartge and find some other people using their name then don´t worry,

Besides do you see BMW suing people for using "BMW" in their own personal ads??

I´m sure this is a hoax
One thing is to find out if this "law firm" is indeed real.
can you tell us the name of it?
have you searched online for it??

[nando]

hartgA? rofl...

[Digitalwave]

I'm calling hoax. Lawyers don't sue you for $3,500 euros and then just drop it to $1,000 because you called them up. And you spelt Hartge wrong anyways.

[Addissimo]

Re: Mutha fukkin RANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BTW I do know how to spell their name but due to trademark restrictions I figure I better play it safe from here. UNFUKKINBALIEVABLE!!!!

[e9nine]

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