Porsche 944 Garage website gone?

Dave Thompson · 04-17-2002, 10:01 AM

Does anyone know what has become of the Porsche 944 Garage site?

Anyone out there happen to have access to the service manual files that they had on the site?

I am facing a couple of major repair operations and went to get the instruction files and found (to my dismay!) the site had moved. And then I couldn't get their forwarding address to come up.

If anyone knows of any other similar site links or URL's where I can get detailed repair instructions, please post it back.

Thanks,

Dave Thompson

mweinst · 04-17-2002, 06:14 PM

Clark's site is under construction and will return 'soon'. Porsche finally found him and requested he make certain modifications to the site or he would be sued. He is making the changes now, but we have no idea of when exactly the site will go live. We are all missing it.

For now, there are lots of repair procedures here:

http://members.rennlist.org/dan10101/archives.htm

Moneyguy1 · 04-18-2002, 09:05 AM

It doesn't fail to amaze me how litigation happy the Porsche company is....Like their cars, hate their arrogant attitude....

Bob S.

scottmandue · 04-18-2002, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Moneyguy1
It doesn't fail to amaze me how litigation happy the Porsche company is....Like their cars, hate their arrogant attitude....

Bob S.

What a bunch of stinkers! I guess they were getting too much free advertising at that site!

I bought my Porsche after doing allot of research at that site... Hope to see it back soon.

Almost makes me want to trade in my 944 for a Corvette (almost)

DennisR_944 · 04-19-2002, 05:27 AM

Is this new information? I knew that Clark was changing the site as a pre-emptive measure because Porsche-AG had contacted others concerning copyright violations, but nobody had hassled Clark yet. Or...is this another case of a broken finger becoming an amputated arm after the story goes through a few people?

I have some of the Garage articles archived. Which one do you need?
Or would that be a copyright violation?

Moneyguy1 · 04-19-2002, 12:14 PM

Gosh, Russ...

Be careul....The Porsche Police are everywhere!!!!!!

Bob S.

Dave Thompson · 04-19-2002, 12:34 PM

Ain't that the truth!?

I have a suspicion they got to the Porsche Classified Digest, too.

Maybe we should all de-badge our cars in protest. If Porsche is that anal about their name usage they will just continue to irritate Porsche owners and enthusiasts to the point of frustration.

Anyone know anything about the Porsche Classified Digest site?

Dave Thompson

Goku · Goku's Garage

I believe they have every right to do what they do and they should. Having their name in the title is like saying that it's official. It falls within the law and I think is perfectly fine. If I put a ton of work into something...I wouldn't want people using my name without permission.

Dave Thompson · 04-19-2002, 01:38 PM

Goku? Gee, I think I've heard that name somewhere, haven't I? Let's see, Oh yeah, now I remember. It's the copyrighted intellectual property of some Anime artist somewhere in Japan, who spent a lot of time developing a character and would surely want their property protected... hmmm...

So much for integrity. Porsche ought to acknowledge that there can be generic applications of their company name which do not really harm their proprietary interests, so long as the intentions are not directly commercial. After all, a solid aftermarket industry is only healthy for the market share of the OEM company.

But, I digress. My purpose is not to get political, or worse, philosophical, here. I just miss the useful presence of some of the clever purveyors of knowledge and resources I have come to depend on for help with my P*****E!
Dave Thompson

Moneyguy1 · 04-19-2002, 07:41 PM

Funny how "XEROX" is synonomous with electrostatic copiers; Kodak used to be the same for cameras. I believe that any organization has a right to protect its name from being used for improper reasons, but there is such a thing as "public domain". I do believe that the P word falls loosely into that category.

In the early eighties, Texas Instruments was a big player in the then new personal computer business. However, they refused to make their operating system available to outsiders to develop software. IBM took the opposite tack, actively wooing programmers. Has anyone seen a TI computer lately? Which system won out?

Why doesn't VW sue everyone? How come Chevy hasn't had folks hauled into court? Can you imagine how P*****e would react if the Beach Boys tried to write a song using their oh so hallowed name? Heck, the list goes on. If a website is designed to aid the owner of P-cars and is not an embarassement to the company, why not let them use the name? Frankly, I like the idea of de-badging my car or putting the badge on upside down!!! (just kidding, too much like work)

Anyway, I think it is petty of them to react the way they do to everyone, even those with only good will toward the marque.

Cheers

Bob S.

Goku · Goku's Garage

I'm just saying they have the right is all. And if the owner of the anime wanted me to change my handle, so be it. I wouldn't have a problem. I'm just saying it is well within their business rights...they aren't just being arrogant pricks. And from what I've heard..they didn't get warned, but just did it just in case.

P.S. My Uncle's name is Dave Thompson, and dangit he's a lawyer....i'll make him sue!!! hehehe

I be Goku

Dave Thompson · 04-19-2002, 08:41 PM

Does anyone out there know how to get an email to Clark? Is there anything any of us can do to help him get the Garage back up online? Maybe we should have a contest to come up with a good pseudonymous name for a new 944 site for his articles and savvy.

Clark, if you are reading any of this stuff, you should know that I and many others like me thank you for providing a great service to all us 944 lovers. It's the people, after all, like you and Wayne and Tom who give the "value added" to the P-Car community.

Let me know if I can help somehow.

Dave Thompson

And thanks to Pelican, of course, for providing this forum for all of us.

Goku · Goku's Garage

I remember a thread about this ealier and I think they had something like that on Renlist or something. I think the site was great and very informative also....would love to see it back up!

DennisR_944 · 04-22-2002, 01:10 AM

Clark is a regular at Rennlist and at the alt.autos.porsche USENET groups, and yes he is asking for ideas for a name. etc. Porsche AG is *not* dragging people into court by the carloads (pardon the pun) for copyright infringement but rather contacting some of the more blatant examples and giving them options to keep things out of court, to my knowledge. What's so bad about that? They even made John D. an offer when Rennlist was PorscheList but he chose to not go along. C'mon guys, don't you think that some of us are jumping to conclusions and seeing things that aren't necessarily there?