API Sues Bullseye Motor Oil for $ millions

[Tom NJ]

Finally Bullseye motor oil bites the dust! Their blatant use of a counterfeit Starburst symbol on their labels violates API's trademark rights, and the API is demanding the destruction of their inventory, notification to each purchaser, corrective advertising, and statutory damages of $1 million per counterfeit mark per type of goods sold.

Kudos to the API, and also to PQIA for exposing this fraudulent product in the first place!

Petroleum Quality Institute of America

Tom NJ

 

[gathermewool]

Alright!

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Nice!

 

[Errtt]

I thought Bullseye was a BBQ sauce... no?

If I saw a bottle of Bullseye within a self of oil, I'd pass... I mean I'd pass right on by it and only consider the major name brands API classified... the good stuff only.

Bullseye - ha.... [censored]!

Good for PQI America

 

[NHGUY]

Sounds like they hit a bullseye!

 

[CarbonSteel]

Where is the "like" button!?

 

[itguy08]

Saw the label and it makes no mention of the API, being certified or anything. Just because they use a starburst symbol, I think it is a stretch.

 

[yonyon]

What stretch? The starburst shape with "FOR GASOLINE ENGINES" in the middle on a bottle of what looks like it's supposed to be motor oil?

This couldn't possibly be intended to look like an API starburst.

 

[mongo161]

Tom that is some Great News! Thanks for the update!

 

[aquariuscsm]

Originally Posted By: Errtt
I thought Bullseye was a BBQ sauce... no?


Mmmm and one of the best too!

 

[fdcg27]

Good for API.
They won't get a dime, and they already know that, but they're putting the blenders of junk oils on notice that they won't be allowed to bootleg a logo trademarked by API.

 

[chubbs1]

Originally Posted By: fdcg27
Good for API.
They won't get a dime, and they already know that, but they're putting the blenders of junk oils on notice that they won't be allowed to bootleg a logo trademarked by API.


well said!

 

[dparm]

The sleazeball that runs that company will probably just close up shop and open something new under a different name.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: itguy08
Just because they use a starburst symbol, I think it is a stretch.

It's clearly an attempt to confuse people into thinking it's certified as a resource conserving oil. Most North American and Japanese manuals over the past many years have told people to look for the Starburst symbol. So, what does this oil do? They put on a Starburst symbol that looks very much like the trademarked API Starburst.

Should I start up a company called Heavenly Printers so I can manufacture and sell my own "genuine" HP cartridges, or co-opt the HP symbol? I'm sure that would go over just as well.

At least some of the companies that do sell garbage oil aren't putting misleading symbols on their bottles.

 

[daves87rs]

Good to hear...

 

[RF Overlord]

Originally Posted By: fdcg27
They won't get a dime, and they already know that, but they're putting the blenders of junk oils on notice that they won't be allowed to bootleg a logo trademarked by API.
The problem is that with no enforcement of financial repercussions, there's no incentive for Bullseye to comply. They'll simply thumb their nose at the API and do nothing.