Support MiniCooperOnline and the MINI Community

To: MINI USA

MINI OWNERS AND/OR ENTHUSIASTS IN NORTH AMERICA PETITION FOR THE RIGHT OF MINICOOPERONLINE.COM TO EITHER RETAIN THE USE OF THE NAME "MINICOOPERONLINE.COM," OR BE PERMITTED TO USE A NAME WHICH INCLUDES "MINI" IN THE DOMAIN NAME OF THE SITE. ADDITIONALLY, NORTH AMERICAN CLUBS FOCUSED ON THE MINI ARE TO HAVE THE RIGHT TO USE "MINI" AND/OR "COOPER" IN THEIR WEBSITE AND/OR IN THEIR CLUB NAMES REGARDLESS IF THEY INCLUDE HYPERLINKS TO COMMERCIAL SITES WHICH OFFER MINI-RELATED PRODUCTS AND/OR SERVICES.

We, the petitioners, are all MINI owners and/or enthusiasts in North America. It has been brought to the attention of the MINI community at large that BMW North America/ MINI USA has demanded that MINICOOPERONLINE.COM cease and desist the use of "MINI" in its domain name. We are petitioning BMW North America and MINI USA to enable the use of "MINI" and/or "COOPER" or "Cooper" in MINICOOPERONLINE.COM or a domain name that includes "MINI" in the name, and in the various North American club names.

MINI has attracted an incredibly passionate group of owners and enthusiasts, many of whom have learned about MINI from MINICOOPERONLINE.COM. Mark Ferguson, the founder and owner of MINICOOPERONLINE.COM, through his hard work and diligence, has helped to create and support the MINI community since March, 2002. We owners and/or enthusiasts have been so inspired by MINICOOPERONLINE.COM, that we have spontaneously organized, in a grassroots fashion, our own MINI car clubs all across North America.

We ask that BMW North America/MINI USA halt this threatening situation and, instead, commend Mr. Ferguson for all that he has done to support and promote the MINI philosophy, and not only allow, but endorse his excellent website, MINICOOPERONLINE.COM. Anything other than this is just not in the "motoring spirit" that MINI USA has, up until now, exemplified.


NOTE: For the sake of reference, much discussion can be found at http://www.minicooperonline.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=phpBB_14&file=index&action=viewtopic&topic=14098&start=300