Coachmen Sues Coleman

[chasd60]

Press ReleaseSource: Coachmen Industries, Inc. Coachmen Sues Coleman
Monday November 29, 5:29 pm ET
Seeks to Protect Rights Under Licensing Agreement

ELKHART, Ind., Nov. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Coachmen Industries, Inc. (NYSE: COA (http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=coa&d=t) - News (http://finance.yahoo.com/q/h?s=coa)) today announced the judge presiding over the legal dispute between Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc. and The Coleman Company, Inc. entered an order granting Fleetwood's request for an injunction against Coleman, prohibiting their use of the trademark registration "Coleman" in the recreational vehicle industry. To protect its rights under its existing license agreement with Coleman, Consolidated Leisure Industries, LLC, doing business as the Coachmen RV Group, has filed suit against The Coleman Company, Inc. in federal court in Kansas City, Kansas, to enforce its rights under the License Agreement.

Coachmen Chairman and CEO, Claire Skinner stated, "We have a signed, exclusive license from the owner of the 'Coleman' brands, The Coleman Company, Inc., to use the 'Coleman' brand in the recreational vehicle market for the next 15 years, and thereafter. 'Exclusive' means only we can use the 'Coleman' brands in the recreational vehicle market. We do not intend to relinquish those rights; we will fight for them; and we intend to exercise them."

Until this matter is finally and completely adjudicated, Coachmen will introduce and market the new products under a different name, through an independent body of dealers. The new Camping Trailer and Travel Trailer lines, which were to be launched under the "Coleman" brand, will be on display at the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association National RV Trade Show in Louisville, Kentucky, from November 30 through December 2, 2004.

Coachmen Industries, Inc., now celebrating its 40th anniversary, is one of America's leading manufacturers of recreational vehicles with well-known brand names including COACHMEN

[tlhdoc]

And the saga continues...

[chasd60]

And the saga continues... Don't get Viking involved Tracy........They make the Saga.:)

[Used 2B PopUPTimes]

I'm going to the RVIA show tomorrow to see the new campers, especially the Coachmen campers and then to the Coachmen Banquet tomorrow night where both the company's CEO & President speak. It should be interesting. On Wednesday I go to RVBusiness' party (bash) so I'll hear the scuddlebutt from other sources. I can't wait.

I told Tim5055 that I'd keep in touch with him so look for a post or 2.

[Steve-o-bud]

So, let's get this straight...

Coleman rescinds (or declines to renew) Fleetwood's license to use the Coleman name.

Fleetwood continues to manufacture pop-ups, under their own name. Same pop-ups, features, etc. More or less.

Fleetwood sues Coleman to retain the license to use the Coleman name.

Coachman acquires the license to use the Coleman name.

Coachman designs new line of pop-ups to be sold under the Coleman name.

Coleman's web site has kept us waiting for many months to see the new line of Coachman built pop-ups, which appears to promise space-age, streamlined designs.

On the eve of the debut of the new Coachman/Coleman pop-ups, Fleetwood obtains an injunction blocking the use of the Coleman name by Coachman.

Coachman sues Coleman to retain their rights to the Coleman name, even though it is Fleetwood that obtained the injunction.

Coachman will now resort to launching the new line under it's own brand name.

We now will have two strong competing lines of pop-ups, in addition to the other manufactures.

The brand name "Coleman" becomes more and more a contender for the laughing stalk of the year award.
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All-in-all, sounds like a winner to me. We get more competition, more choice, and hopefully, lower prices. Perhaps I have it all wrong....

[brainpause]

Get out the popcorn.

Sounds like a Sunday night movie. :screwy:

Larry

[tlhdoc]

So, let's get this straight...

Coachman will now resort to launching the new line under it's own brand name.



I am with you except for this line. Coachman is going to have a new "brand" name for the new line of PU trailers, not sell them as Coachman PUs. Just like Coachman sells PUs under the name of Viking now. :)

[4campinfoxes]

Boy, what a mess!!!

Sharon

[CAPEd CODger]

........And the winner is.....(drumroll, please).........THE LAWYERS!!!!!!

[Civil_War_Buff]

So, let's get this straight...

The brand name "Coleman" becomes more and more a contender for the laughing stalk of the year award.
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Just a thought as I read this entire thread. It does give credence to Dave's "What's in a name?" thread. Apparently the Coleman name is VERY desirous throughout the RV industry, otherwise, the 2 wouldn't be fighting for it so hard. I think that MANY people buy the name and the product comes with it!

Unfortunately, it is starting to smell like the end of the line for Coleman branded pop-ups though.

Just my .02.

[jawilson]

We now will have two strong competing lines of pop-ups, in addition to the other manufactures.
Wouldn't it be 3 now? Coachmen, Viking and the yet-to-be-named brand?

[Used 2B PopUPTimes]

It's still unknown as to whos campers will wear the Coleman label. I've spoken with people from both Fleetwood and Coachmen, and it's still a coin toss. The trial date is next week but I'm not sure they're be an answer even then.

I think they're each outstanding companies and I really like my contacts from both of them.



Stay tuned.

[brainpause]

Thanks for the update, Dave! Glad to have an "inside" track.

Larry