Sturgis Suing Little Sturgis of Kentucky

[Mafesto]

By Associated Press

Story Created: Mar 21, 2008 at 3:17 PM CDT

Story Updated: Mar 21, 2008 at 3:17 PM CDT


The Sturgis Chamber of Commerce is suing a Kentucky event that calls itself Little Sturgis Rally and Races. The complaint in federal court claims a trademark infringement and says the Chamber is acting to protect the investment its made to sponsor, market and promote the Sturgis motorcycle rally in South Dakota.

The president of the Kentucky event said it attracts about 20,000 people a year and raises money for charity. He said he doesn't think it benefits from any perceived affiliation with the South Dakota rally, which last year drew more than a half million people.

 

[Nate]

if its for charity, who gives a damn, unless its for the wrong charity.

 

[Mafesto]

Yeah,
Some may call me "Peckerhead"
But I don't get mad if someone else wants to go by the name "Little Peckerhead"
Especially if it's for charity.

 

[sldgy]

You can call me "Big Peckerhead" and I'll take your money and make sure it goes to a worthy cause.

 

[Nate]

You can call me "Big Peckerhead" and I'll take your money and make sure it goes to a worthy cause.

Drugs are bad mmmkay, as well as class 3 firearms


mmmmkay?

 

[Sturgis Sledder]

It is the Chamber of Commerce NOT the city, this is from the city's own web-site:

CITY OF STURGIS, SD RESPONDS TO CHAMBER LEGAL ACTION
On: 2008-03-21 17:50:46
The City of Sturgis, SD and the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Department would like to offer this clarification regarding the March 20, 2008 news release issued by the Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce in connection with a lawsuit filed in the United States District Court against the organizers of the Little Sturgis Rally and Races in Sturgis, Kentucky.
The Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce filed this lawsuit without the knowledge or consent of the City of Sturgis, SD. The City of Sturgis, SD is not a party to this legal proceeding.


The local chamber of commerce subscribes to the "good ol' boy" network, they have been suing local businesses for years, they even brought a suit up wanting to charge people to use the word Sturgis in the name of their company i.e. Sturgis Harley Davidson. They are the mionority but also some of the most stuborn and loud locals there is. What other city in the world can say that they have a Chamber of Commerce that sues local businesses?

 

[Mafesto]

You can call me "Big Peckerhead" and I'll take your money and make sure it goes to a worthy cause.

Hey Hippie!
You're a Big Peckerhead!

 

[Wade]

The get together is in Sturgis, Kentucky.

http://www.littlesturgisrally.net/

Says they gave $2,000,000 to charity, doesn't say what charity. Something about scholarships.

Doesn't matter, I'm guessing they'll loose the suit, and have to change the name. But, I doubt Sturgis SD can block an older city from using their name in events. Rename to "Motorcycle Rally of Sturgis Kentucky". I doubt there's a thing they can do about it. Prior use of the word Sturgis.

 

[snow_knight]

ohhh good ol'sturgis people and their fu ggn greed.. Its been killing the rally for the last 10 years.. and looks like it will be doing the same again.. before long sturgis rally will just be a memory

 

[Nate]

ohhh good ol'sturgis people and their fu ggn greed.. Its been killing the rally for the last 10 years.. and looks like it will be doing the same again.. before long sturgis rally will just be a memory

Thats about what it needs to be, a memory. Ive seen the worst set of tits in my life at sturgis, them damn things haunted my dreams

Sturgis is cool for chicks, but 200 ugly chicks will strip naked drunkness before 2 hot ones decide to do so. Everytime I go over there I end up at dakota arms building a new gun its Blasphemy!

 

[Fosgate]

Chamber of commerce a minority among local businesses?! Can't say for certain out there but back here the Chamber of Commerce IS the local business community from the 1 man show to the corporations. Granted I didn't care rubbing elbows with some of them but the exposure one gets as ne new fledgling business is good what you pay for your membership. And the officials are elected among it's members. If I'm a business owner out there If I can't name my business Sturgis _____, Then neither should anyone else. It's keeping the field level when you got business paying royalties to put sturgis on their product in an effort of selling their product. Strugis Bud Light, Sturgis Jack Daniels, T shirts etc. If I gotta pay a roalty to have "Sturgis" on my product then so should everone else. It's not greedy it's just fair to the people who pay the royalties.

 

[Wade]

I don't believe it's greed to trademark something, but how do you trademark the name of several older cities scattered around the country, and then tell them they can't use their name? Prior use.

 

[woodies]

ttt