I received the following and Dan asked that I get it out to everyone on the list. I will also forward it to the Brickboard, Swedishbricks, and Turbobricks. Please feel free to send it on to internet sites not on these lists whom you think might have received one of the leagal letters instead of the internet letter version.

I would like to thank Dan and Volvo Cars of North America for listening to us and responding with the explanation, and for the offer to try to work with us on defining the ways that we can display/'advertise' out personal interest in Volvos.I think Volvo's offer to work with us on Volvo related pages will help all of us in the long run.

Steve Seekins

==========================
Hi Steve and Volvo owners,

First, Steve thanks for all the email about our letter regarding Volvo
logo usage. We did some digging and would offer the following as to
what happened.

The letter we sent was one crafted by our legal department to be a
strong position to any commercial operation using Volvo’s logo. The
words, context and structure are designed to accommodate future legal
actions, by Volvo, should it become necessary. The letter clearly
defines what actions must be taken, when, and by whom. The tone is
intended to be rather strong.

We need to protect our logo to the fullest extent. This means whenever
we find someone using it, we must respond. If we don’t then we can lose
it and then “Volvo” becomes public domain. If that happens anyone can
use our logo for whatever purpose suits them. Lots of Volvo employees
around the world have worked very hard to create a “Volvo” brand. It’s
something we live, breath and practice every day. We can’t afford not
protect our brand and image.

All that being said, we truly understand the loyalty of our Volvo
family. We see that loyalty demonstrated each year at our open house
and the annual club gatherings. The pleasure is ours that we get to
meet many of our extended family. I just wish I could remember all
their names when we meet (must be getting too old). We understand the
strength of our family members to either support Volvo or flame us.

Well finally saying that, here is the proper letter that 99.99% of the
time is sent to web masters:
======================================================
Hello _(web master)_______,

In cruising the web, we came across your site which has the Volvo
corporate logotype prominently displayed. It is obvious that you are an
avid Volvo supporter and have the best interest of our brand at heart.
At the same time, if we do not aggressively defend that Volvo logotype,
we will lose control of it. This will ultimately cause the erosion and
dilute of the brand that we both respect.

For this reason, we would like to ask if you wouldn’t mind changing from
using the Volvo logo to just using the word “Volvo” in regular
typeface. This will allow people to know of your interest in dealing
with the topic of Volvo, yet allow them to understand they are not
dealing with the Corporate entity of Volvo. We would also ask if you
wouldn’t mind indicating on the bottom of your home page “Not Legally
Affiliated with AB Volvo, Sweden.”

Your Internet home page is a journalistic avenue though which you
communicate a unique insight into Volvo based on your experiences. In
effect, much like the traditional world of print, radio and TV, you
communicate to an audience, albeit electronically. Our Corporate
Communications group would like to extend to you an opportunity to be
treated as a journalist. Under construction is a methodology to provide
“Internet Press Credentials” granting an individual access to press
releases, product information, and new model releases. If you want to
be part of our journalist database, please drop a note to Dan Johnston:
johnstond@volvo.com.

We trust you can understand our need to protect our brand and that you
will take the appropriate steps to help us. We would like to wish you
every success with your internet efforts.

Sincerely,

Volvo Cars of North America
Legal Department
======================================================
After reading all the email, wow quite interesting points-of-view, our
legal guys feel that maybe we need to have two levels of logo use, one
for commercial use, and one for private use (profit/non-profit). David
will try to determine the implications of allowing something like a
non-profit use. We’ll come back on this point, maybe later this week or
next.

I noticed a few remarks about our legal guys. While I take the remarks
personally, I also realize most of our owners have never met them. They
are perhaps the best group of legal people you’d every want to do
business with. Yes they work hard, no they don’t goof off and yes they
try to be as liberal as possible in our legal dealings outside Volvo
Cars of North America world. They aren’t the corporate ‘suits’ one
often envisions of corporate lawyers. David and Mike are charged with
protecting Volvo’s logo, which basically means all that we stand for to
the public. Over the years, they have been extremely consistent, and
fair, with how to use our logo. Next open house (no date for 1998 yet),
please look them up: David Wertheim and Mike Thomas, good guys.

The logo is all that we stand for to the world, it embodies all that we
do. From are core values of safety, quality, and concern for the
environment, to the way we engineer safety into our cars, to our
business manners, and the way we treat our Volvo owners/family. We
sincerely hope this helps to explain what happened and offers some
insight into how we work here at Volvo.

Kind regards,
Daniel Johnston
Product Information Manager
Volvo Cars of North America

Volvo Club of America