Business Sells Harmful Propaganda and Destroyed My Organization
My question involves defamation in the state of: Virginia
I hate to bring it to this, but I feel it order to stop the activity I have no choice.
First, let me say that I am a pastor. I run a ministry called REV-X through my church. REV-X reaches the youth by connecting with them on a common platform. That platform is cars. Years ago, I used to street race, but now I understand the dangers of street racing and actually work to deter it. I had put 2 full years into developing REV-X with my church. Pretty much we setup weekly meets in the 550+ church parking lot. To be clear, I was not willing to compromise when it came to things like street racing or wreckless/dangersous behavior. We would kick people for it. The local law enforcement worked with us and if the caught some one doing either we would deny them entry into REV-X. We also try to educate the youth about the dangers of street racing.
At the beginning of the 2010 season, a person approached me about promoting his web-site. I agreed to do so as long as he allowed me to use he website to get the word out. At the end of 2010. I put together a team to help me guide REV-X. The website administrator and now current partner/owner was on that team. We'll call this person "Mark." Mark posted youtube videos doing burnouts/donuts in public roads and one video of him going 145mph on a public road, so I kicked him off the team. Then Mark and his friends using the website that I helped him build began to slander REV-X.
On to my complaint.
Right when the split started, a young kid who was running an unregistered business called "Rogue Speed" out of his home garage called would promote his business on our facebook page. He did not ask our permission and I asked him to stop. He did not, so I delete his posts, he persisted to repost his advertisements so I blocked the user "Rouge Speed." Rogue Speed then went to Marks meet teamed up with him and began making these stickers and selling them:
http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._6365057_n.jpg
[He advertises the items, with prices, on Facebook.]
It is obvious the sole intention of these stickers was to harm REV-X while making a profit. He used our name without our permission and it's obviously damaging. The slander got bad and eventually people stopped coming to REV-X. So I had to shut it down. Unfortunatley, he is still selling these stickers making a profit and the slander has turned it's attention as me as a pastor and rumors of me vandalizing people's cars (all of which is false).
I don't want to sue them but the damage now goes beyond the stickers, I will not be able to do work in this town doing a ministry like this from now on. I would really like them to repair the damage, but I don't see how the could. Still a lawsuit may deter him and other people from spreading the slander.
Do I have a case?
Re: Business Sells Harmful Propaganda and Destroyed My Organization
Doubt it, he is using his freedom of expression. And why on gods earth did you buy one of his stickers haha.
It just seems like you are pecking at nothing. I wouldnt waste my time on this.
If you are a true pastor and people know your reputation you can let your actions speak for themselves.
Re: Business Sells Harmful Propaganda and Destroyed My Organization
Could he be p__ing on the Rev-X oil additive ? Maybe he didn't make the sticker after all and this was intended for the oil additive.
Re: Business Sells Harmful Propaganda and Destroyed My Organization
Quote:
Quoting
BBGun
Doubt it, he is using his freedom of expression. And why on gods earth did you buy one of his stickers haha.
It just seems like you are pecking at nothing. I wouldnt waste my time on this.
If you are a true pastor and people know your reputation you can let your actions speak for themselves.
That's his facebook page, I didn't buy it. The problem with "actions that speak for itself" is the rumors have spread and the damage is done. I moved here in 2009 after finishing a tour in Afghanistan with the 142nd Military Intelligence Battalion. After living life in a combat zone, I decided to change careers and become a pastor. The people who are slandering me have been around here since high school. So it's my word vs theirs. And they are well known in the area so they are obviously taken theirs.
By "true pastor" I guess I'm not. I am labelled pastor by the church that is sponsoring my education, but I am only in school for it at the moment. Still I did a lot of work for my church including running this ministry and now I can't because of the slander.
Quote:
Quoting
DaveJames
Could he be p__ing on the Rev-X oil additive ? Maybe he didn't make the sticker after all and this was intended for the oil additive.
No it was clear that he made it about me. We both leave in Fredericksburg and I kicked off our facebook page.
Well, I guess this nothing I could do.
Re: Business Sells Harmful Propaganda and Destroyed My Organization
I am looking more towards copyright infringement of your logo.
Others get that treatment too but to use someone elses logo on your website may be illegal.
There is some interesting articles on these decals if you search.
http://ignatz.brinkster.net/cstockcars.html
Sample of many others who get the treatment.
http://www.versiononevinyl.com/index...&cPath=1_15_45
Re: Business Sells Harmful Propaganda and Destroyed My Organization
The REX-X oil additive logo is completely different.
You can't copyright a name.
It's doubtful you have a trademark case here.
The only one who's really harmed here is Bill Watterson.
"X" sucks is protected speech. Your organization is going to have to deal with criticism. It's less than some other major religions endure.
Re: Business Sells Harmful Propaganda and Destroyed My Organization
I believe Dave is pointing to the IP theft of the Calvin image, not the comment about the church/ministry.
Re: Business Sells Harmful Propaganda and Destroyed My Organization
Mr. ReV-X has no claim on the abuse of Bill Watterson's IP.
Re: Business Sells Harmful Propaganda and Destroyed My Organization
First, it sounds like an ego battle rather than protecting a logo or image that generates any serious money. Going to court is very expensive. If you don't have a federal or state trademark registered, you are just wasting your time. If you do, then there are first amendment issues. You are also talking about commercial speech which has even less protection for your positiion.Wish there was something good to tell you but these things are really tuff to deal with legally. For a previous poster, a logo or company name is not protected by copyright, only trademarks. Your biggest mistake was not getting a state trademark which lets you sue in state court which is a lot cheaper than federal court. Alot of trademarks don't even qualify for federal registration.