[QUOTE=graystonefarm;2764991]
With all of the legalities aside, what it comes down to is honor and integrity. Many breeders (mare owners and stallion owners alike) still refuse to do business with the Old NA/ISR because they “stole” the Oldenburg brand.
Lets put it this way. Let’s say that the American QH had a brand and you bred American QHs. Imagine that your brick driveway displayed that symbol and that symbol was on the side of your home and displayed on the outside and inside walls of your stable and on your horses’ stalls. How would you feel if the Germans “stole” the American Quarterhorse name and brand claimed it as their own? You will only feel their true “pain” and frustration if go to Gemany and meet them in person and see that it is a part of their heritage.
The only reason the ISR won the lawsuit is because they patented the name and brand here first. Don’t let Cartier cloud the issues. Some say it’s just business, however, for those that KNOW the true facts, what is all boils down to is ethics and how far are you willing go for the all mighty dollar.[/QUOTE]
Your comparison falls well short of credibility for many reasons. The American Quarter Horse is a breed and not subject to the approval of inspectors. But using your flawed analogy, the AQHA did not go to Germany, sign a licensing agreement with Germans to breed America Quarter Horses in Germany… allow them to do so for a decade, involving 3-5 generations and then try to evade abiding by the agreement they signed and the consequences of the decisions made in their name.
You can’t take a brand off of a horse. American breeders who paid for the right to the O and Crown brand on their Oldenburg horses have as much right to that brand as any German breeder because the GOV gave us that right. The GOV came here to the USA and encouraged us to breed O and Crown branded Oldenburg horses, investing lots of money in these bloodlines, stallions, mares foals, breeding programs. i.e., in these businesses, so we could essentially produce more income for the GOV. American breeders paid for the right to use the O and Crown brand. I have no sympathy what-so-ever for the GOV not making as much off of American Breeders as they originally intended. The GOV has put very very little into breeding in this country. The GOV seems to simply want to take from us. By all accounts, the GOV operates in the USA out of someone’s Condo bedroom in Florida and has a “staff” of one, who is almost impossible to get a hold of. Not saying that a bedroom operation is a bad thing, but the GOV can do better. American breeders deserve better.
Before I go to Germany and see all their pain and tears, I can simply look around here is the USA and see what all these shenanigans have done to our market place. The tears I cry are for American Oldenburg breeders who have had to put up with this baloney for the past ten years.
Graystone’s example doesn’t fly because no one stole anything. The GOV came here to this country of their own free will and said “You American Oldenburg breeders can breed Oldenburg horses here in the USA under our guidance and we will allow you to use the O and Crown brand. And, of course, we will charge you for this.” American breeders acted honorably, the Old NA acted honorably… it was the GOV that did not. And nothing Old NA has done in the USA has anything what-so-ever to do with whether some German breeder has the O and Crown emblazoned on her driveway, her forehead or anywhere else she might like to stick it.
Screw everyone else because it’s the “American” way? :no: