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Porsche Zaps PGO in France

guru39guru39
Anyone have any thoughts on this one?

Paris Court Prohibits PGO To Make Porsche 356 Replicas

246 words
19 February 2004
French News Digest
English
(c) Copyright 2004 AII Data Processing Ltd. All Rights Reserved. News digest produced by AII Data Processing Ltd. For further details of international press reviews: www.aiidatapro.com, e-mail: adp@aiidatapro.com; Tel.:+359 2 987 64 98; Fax: +359 2 986 17 13.

A Paris court of first instance prohibited on February 18, 2004 French car manufacturer PGO Automobiles, in Ales, Languedoc-Roussillion, southern France, to make replicas of Porsche 356.

The sale of cars reproducing the 356 and 356 Speedster models, created by Ferry Porsche in 1948, is an act of forgery and unfair competition, according to the court's ruling.

The interdiction, demanded by Stuttgart-based sports vehicle maker Porsche, is accompanied by a 5,000 euro ($6,360) penalty for the offence.

The court's ruling bans the manufacturing, sale and promotion of cars, reproducing the characteristics of Porsche automobiles, and ordered PGO to remove any information, concerning the 356 replicas from its Internet site. The website presents the 356 model as the car fetish of U.S. movie star from the 1950s James Dean. It also states that the replicas, manufactured at a 10,000 sq m plant with a weekly output of one unit and sold through some 20 car dealers, are technically improved by the use of new materials and in terms of noise reduction.

The court ruled PGO to pay Porsche a 100,000 euro ($127,190) compensation and named an expert to assess overall damages caused to the German company.

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guru39guru39
Anyone have any thoughts on this one?

Paris Court Prohibits PGO To Make Porsche 356 Replicas

246 words
19 February 2004
French News Digest
English
(c) Copyright 2004 AII Data Processing Ltd. All Rights Reserved. News digest produced by AII Data Processing Ltd. For further details of international press reviews: www.aiidatapro.com, e-mail: adp@aiidatapro.com; Tel.:+359 2 987 64 98; Fax: +359 2 986 17 13.

A Paris court of first instance prohibited on February 18, 2004 French car manufacturer PGO Automobiles, in Ales, Languedoc-Roussillion, southern France, to make replicas of Porsche 356.

The sale of cars reproducing the 356 and 356 Speedster models, created by Ferry Porsche in 1948, is an act of forgery and unfair competition, according to the court's ruling.

The interdiction, demanded by Stuttgart-based sports vehicle maker Porsche, is accompanied by a 5,000 euro ($6,360) penalty for the offence.

The court's ruling bans the manufacturing, sale and promotion of cars, reproducing the characteristics of Porsche automobiles, and ordered PGO to remove any information, concerning the 356 replicas from its Internet site. The website presents the 356 model as the car fetish of U.S. movie star from the 1950s James Dean. It also states that the replicas, manufactured at a 10,000 sq m plant with a weekly output of one unit and sold through some 20 car dealers, are technically improved by the use of new materials and in terms of noise reduction.

The court ruled PGO to pay Porsche a 100,000 euro ($127,190) compensation and named an expert to assess overall damages caused to the German company.
W Williams
The beat goes on, like Porsche is still making the cars! Get a life Porsche. German lawyers with nothing else to do. Just like in the US.

This may not bode well for US manufacturers making the cars for export sale in Europe. Ferrari did the same thing a few years ago with some Ferrari replicars.

Like these replicars are stealing sales from them. Geez the cars are almost 50 years old and using the same 50 year old technology. Must mean their current crop of cars are not selling well.

Bruce
guru39guru39
This decision seems a little over the top to me. One wonders what type of defense that PGO may have put forth. It seems to me that most things on the planet are near replicas of something. This type of court decision could create a very slippery slope. What next? Tiffany lamps? Louis XVI furniture? Perfume? Toasters? GM was somewhat successful in going against a small company on the Hummer H2. This PGO thing struck me in the same vein although the H2 is still in production. The term Porsche was not used. Several auto companies before Porsche have used the term Speedster (i.e., Auburn). One might conclude that if the Tub is not based on a VW Beetle or looks a little different, it is OK. Porsche should spend more time worrying the upgrading of the Cayenne and their other super expensive cars than whether some little guy in Smallville is making a look-alike car for a long finished production run. Sigh.
FM Former Member
As the only french registered owner here (OK, half swiss also), and knowing PGO for having a family country home 10km from the 10 000m2 factory, here is my view on the Porche move : PGO has recently (2 years ago)move much bigger (this new big plant) and more as a real car builder (as theyr web site claim)with the "Speedster II" launch. This is based on a new specific tubular frame, and the engine is a Peugeot 206 two liter. So for Porche, PGO was suddenly moving in the "competitor" field and no more into the small replica builder, as they were since years without any reaction from the germans. As they can't prevent them to build this new "Speedster II" they act on the ongoing "cash cow" just to send them a warning message. They were building 50 replicas a year max, but plan to build 10 times more new model. That's my interpretation of this sad story, cause it was the only replica registered in continental europe...until 356california recently came with a TUV approval ! So VS can still sell into europe, let's go the California way...
FM Former Member
Think about it. Remember when we all seen the pictures of the speedster II from PGO we all wanted one right. Well Porsche may be singing the same tune soon. You have to know your competition before you enter the market.
Would Porsche try to remake the lill 356 with such a great design already being built by a small but growing car builder?
I have long wondered why Porsche would allow so may cars to be built and sold all over the world and not ask themselves hey we need to make a high performance retro car HUMMMM what about the Speedster 356!! DuuuAaHH! As the story grows we wait to see what is next.
MRDS see you all at knots this weekend.

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HossHoss
quote: "Think about it. Remember when we all seen the pictures of the speedster II from PGO we all wanted one right." David, not necessarily so. As far as PGO goes, I understand the project is several years old and they haven't produced car one yet. As far as Porsche getting into the retro market, who knows. Personally, I doubt it.
John H.
FM Former Member
Thank you John I have never been quoted before, more over I do believe that car one is in the picture in my last post. However, to correct you, PGO has made over 100 cars over the last 3 years and have orders for hundreds more give them a call you will get the same answer. Now if it is true or not, I do not know. That is the word from PGO.
MRDS.
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