Failing Enterprise Fan Merchandise
2005-05-31
I keep hearing from community members who'd like to
buy fan merchandise related to our site. It's perfectly
understandable you'd want cool t-shirts (or
thong underwear) with our logo parody to show you're in-the-know
when it comes to open discussion about the ongoing problems at
Enterprise Rent-A-Car.
Of course Failing Enterprise is only an informational
web site, is purely protected speech, and never participates in any
trade or commerce, and I make that clear every time I get one of
these requests. So of course I won't be offering anything like
this.
Lately, some of these fans have been coming back to
me with requests to create and distribute their own
Failing Enterprise fan merchandise. Specifically, the idea
could be as simple as copying the
Failing Enterprise logo parody (at the top of every page), and
going to a specialist web site and within a few minutes setting up
shop to make and distribute a wide variety of items. More
complicated plans could involve creating and distributing the items
yourselves.
I have no objection if someone wants to do this;
after all, more speech is better than less speech, and the more
people who hear about Failing Enterprise the faster we can convince
Enterprise Rent-A-Car to change their unethical practices and rejoin
the mainstream American business community. I'd like to go
back to being a regular customer as soon as possible, and if this
helps move them to correct their ways, then I'm all for it.
If you wish to do this, there are a few things to
bear in mind:
1. If you choose to create and distribute
Failing Enterprise fan merchandise, you're totally on your own as an
independent business. I've never accepted even the first penny
of revenue and I'm not about to start now. I never accept
commissions, licensing fees, credits, royalties or anything of the
sort. You and I will not enter into any sort of contractual
agreement. You don't have to register, ask permission, or
coordinate with me if you're going to do this. You don't even
need to inform me. You're totally on your own.
2. I will not "endorse", "sponsor", or
"approve" anything. You may not claim that your merchandise is
"official" or "approved" by Failing Enterprise.
3. The maximum that I'm willing to do in terms
of my involvement is this: I'm not currently planning to
enforce my copyright on the Failing Enterprise name and logo parody
if someone were to create and distribute fan merchandise. I
also won't object to discussion board posts about these products if
I see them, mostly because I don't moderate or approve messages on
the discussion board anyway.
4. For about three seconds I considered
requesting that whatever you do be at least supportive of Failing Enterprise and our goals, but then I came to my senses.
Say whatever you want, and if you're unhappy with Failing Enterprise,
feel free to make t-shirts that say "Failing Enterprise Sucks" or
whatever. More debate is better than less debate, and unlike
Enterprise Rent-A-Car, I welcome criticism as fuel for improvement.
Thanks,
Admin
More on Enterprise car rental at the Failing Enterprise home page. |
