Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/01/20
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Tom, I couldn't put my own sentiment into words as well as you did below. Regardless of emotional aspects, trademarks are just trademarks, and names are names, belonging to the legal owners. I can sort of understand Marc's objection to how the name is now far removed from its history, though. Using the same logic, however, RingFoto was no more a rightful user of the Voigtlander name, or Leica AG (which I understand does not own the rights to the scripted Leica logo) is of the Leica name. Vive la difference! > Marc, in my mind Voigtlander is indeed selling stuff today. Cosina bought the > name from RingFoto/Germany and just as BMW owns Rolls Royce, VW owns Bentley > and , gasp! , Herme's owns 1/3 of Leica Camera AG, nobody really thinks that > the Bentley is a Beetle in disquise or the Rolls Royce is a BMW in sheep's > clothing or that Leica is just another name for overpriced scarves - > Voigtlander is alive and well, only operated under a new management and from > a different country. I would agree with you if the products were substandard, > but I think that the Voigtlander of old would be very proud of some of the > stuff Cosina produces under their name. > The truth might set you free, but international marketing makes the world a > rather interesting place. > Tom A >