Maybe I should'nt have wimped out... Oh well.

I received today (take a deep breath before you try and read the whole title :) "IN THE UNTIED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA ALEXANDRIA DIVISION, PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA, INC., et al., Plaintiffs, v. PORSCH.COM, an Internet domain name, et al., Defendants. NOTICE OF FILING OF DECLARATIONS OF CANCELLATION OF INTERNET DOMAIN NAMES, NOTICE OF DISMISSAL OF CERTAIN INTERNET DOMAIN NAMES, AND ORDER OF DISMISSAL OF CERTAIN INTERNET DOMAIN NAMES".

Whew, in english... boxster.net is 1 of only 33 Domain Names that have dismissed from the original 128 defendants in the Civil Action No. 99-0006-A lawsuit. What are the others doing? No clue.

Still heading toward a new www.986Board.com domain, but it's low on the priority list at present, and I don't want to again bother Randy K. and his new daughter right now. Stay tuned.

Ah, the joys of trying to be a Porsche OWNER-ENTHUSIAST on the Internet these days.

February 28, 1999

What Happened To boxster.net??

It's gone, or will be soon at the blink of an eye, whenever Porsche decides to snatch it from my server's existence. We are temporarily at www.netpath.net to meet the Porsche Lawyer imposed March 1 deadline, and when I have a moment or two, will followup with getting the domain officially changed to www.986Board.com... I pretty much lost track of time in February with many other MORE important issues (ie, making a living), so I apologize for this interim period we will go thru.

February 1, 1999

"You've Got 30 Days!"(It was the magnets :)

Today I received a 60 some page lawsuit package from an attorney in Salt Lake City, UT representing Porsche, explaining the domain Complaint. The pertinent reference to the boxster.net domain was "47. BOXSTER.NET is an unauthorized domain name with a commercial web site that sells counterfeit Porsche boutique items, ...". As I stated before, NO, Porsche or PCNA NEVER responded to my request for authorization of the domain or the site last year when I submitted it in writing to them. So, it must have been those dang refrigerator magnets that one of my dear internet friends so lovingly hand-made as a simple means of supporting the web site, that Porsche has a problem with. Your Declaration Of Cancellation Of Internet Domain Name(s) is in the mail. Peace be with you. ~~!~~

Am I upset? No, not really, as I understand where they are coming from. Could this subject have been addressed last June when I proposed it, and resolved during the last rebuild and move of the site? Yes. My biggest hassle, right now, is rebuilding-relinking the entire site and moving it to another domain address. Something I have sparsely little time for within 30 days, but hopefully will be accomplished, somehow, somewhere.

January 21, 1999

One week later, not a word. The boxster.net domain issue is yet undecided.

Coming Soon?

January 14, 1999

Not an official word from anyone yet, but...

It's amazing what selling a big house today (that is my real job, believe it or not), then taking a long drive between the raindrops in the [an automobile built in Finland with a mid-engine] does for the spirits. A couple of calls, reading the board, and some email messages helped alot too.

It appears now like there will be an upcoming domain change, a move to a blazing fast dedicated server in Randy K's garage I think, and a temporarily failed retirement from the [an automobile built in Finland with a mid-engine] board. I have no interest in keeping the www.[an automobile built in Finland with a mid-engine].net domain, even with [their] blessing or licensing. [They] can have it, no charge. You all can stop the letter writing on this sites behalf. Let it go.

Sell my 3 month old [an automobile built in Finland with a mid-engine]? What was I thinking?!!! Maybe that was one of them over-reaction things. I can't get away from the 25+ year association with [an German automobile company in Stuttgart] but my appreciation and enthusiasm continues to slowly diminish, unfortunately.

January 13, 1999

I have heard thru the grapevine that boxster.net is one of 130 some internet domain names being sued by Porsche for trademark infringement. Apparently this site falls within their category of "infringers range from operators of hardcore pornographic web sites to speculators who attempt to profit from the registration and trafficking of domain names that use the trademark Porsche". See porsches.com for complete news report.

Other than knowing that boxster.net is on the "list", I have no further information nor has anyone contacted me regarding the lawsuit.

I do not know at this point what impact this action will have on the site. I have no intentions of "fighting" for the right to use boxster.net. In hindsight, I should have followed-up more back in June 98 when I wrote a letter to PCNA describing the site and asking for permission and advice from them on the content and domain use - I never heard a word back.

My sole is in this site and I can't imagine not having to spend just about every free moment keeping up with it, however, my initial reactions are that my energy and enthusiasm for Porsche is gone. My feelings are really sad at the moment. I have no fight in me... all my spare energy is in the site that has consumed me for nearly 2 years now. I just feel like pulling the web site plug, selling my 3 month old Boxster and forgetting the 25+ year association and appreciation I have had for Porsche. Thanks for the memories.

In reality, changing the domain, relocating the entire site, modifying, etc is not as easy as you might think it is. It does not happen with the snap of my finger. This appears to be a possible solution, at present, to keep the site going... but whether I have the desire or energy to go pursue it is one of the questions I have not answered yet.

This site and domain url may disappear in the blink of an eye... I will do whatever I can to let you know where it is or if it is.

Thanks,

Chuck Hammersmith
Webmaster