Business Ethics Fail

Oh, where do we begin with this saga of corporate irony and trademark treachery? It’s like watching a soap opera, but instead of love triangles and secret twins, we have “Stand Up And Ride” and a CEO with the moral compass of a pirate.

Firstly, let’s address the elephant in the room—using “Stand Up And Ride” in marketing by our beloved major manufacturer. It’s like watching the cool kid at school decide your nickname is now the hottest trend, but instead of asking, they just start printing it on their jackets. And when you confront them, they shrug and say, “What’s the big deal?” The big deal, dear CEO, is that it’s the equivalent of saying, “I liked your sandbox, so I took it. You can play elsewhere, right?”

Then there’s the delightful email you sent, draped in diplomacy, expecting perhaps a sliver of decency. But alas, the response was akin to a magician revealing his trick: underwhelming and slightly insulting. “It’s just a phrase,” he says, as if you were discussing the weather and not something you’ve poured your heart and soul into since 2010. It’s like telling someone who baked a cake from scratch that flour, sugar, and eggs are available to everyone—true, but missing the point entirely.

The hour-long phone call must have felt like an eternity in a parallel universe where logic and ethics are inverted. The CEO’s acknowledgment of your prior use of the phrase, followed by a steadfast refusal to cease and desist, is the cherry on top of this audacious sundae. It’s not so much the refusal that stings, but the casual way in which your years of hard work and creativity were dismissed. If only jaw drops could be measured on the Richter scale, we’d have a new record.

As for what to do next, it’s like deciding whether to chase the bus you just missed or wait for the next one. It’s tempting to embark on a crusade for justice, armed with righteousness and indignation. Yet, the question of time and money looms large, casting a shadow over the path of legal battles and public awareness campaigns. It’s the age-old dilemma of David versus Goliath, if David had to consider billable hours and the cost of slingshots.

In the meantime, bringing awareness to the issue is like lighting a candle in the dark—modest but meaningful. It’s a testament to the power of standing up (and riding) for what you believe in, even when faced with a Goliath who thinks your sling is just a cute accessory. So, here’s to the little guys, the creators, and the believers in fair play. May your ride be smooth, and your trademarks respected. And to the corporate pirates out there—may you find a compass, or at least a decent synonym
So let’s get right to it…yup, I’m pissed. Why? Well, because of a business ethics fail with a big back story. A major manufacturer of Stand Up bikes started using “Stand Up And Ride” in their marketing efforts to promote their new stand up bike. But that’s not what pissed me off. What really burned my bacon was that they did it knowingly. OK, nothing new here, a bigger company wants what they want, so they take it knowing that the little guy either can’t or won’t do anything about it. I think in schools they call it bullying. But in the business world, they call it strategery.

I have a long history with this company including the CEO who I’ve known since 2010. I wrote him an email to see WTF:

Dear CEO,

I’ve attached two images to this email for your review. I don’t know if you’ve seen the Google Ad words spot that’s running, but I assume you’ve seen the (His Company’s Name) home page recently. I wanted to bring this to your attention if you weren’t aware of it, or get your stance on it if you were. You and I had a conversation about purchasing Stand Up And Ride and you weren’t interested, but now it appears that it’s being used in association with (His Company’s Name) . I just wanted to get your take on it.

He called me on the phone and I was shocked by his response. He told me that it was just a phrase and they could use it. What The Firetruck?!?! Are you serious? He acknowledged that I’d been using it since 2010 and that it was on my bags, shirts, and a whole bunch of other stuff that I produced. After our hour long conversation my jaw was on the floor.

What I took away from the conversation was that they aren’t sorry, and they’re not going to stop using it. Wow!!! Did I say Wow?! Un-fricking-believable. I should have recorded the conversation because I’m still not sure I even believe it. I would have liked to play it back to ensure myself I hadn’t drifted off to la la land or something.

So what am I going to do about it? Great question. The better one is how much time and money do I want to commit to it. I’m still thinking about that one, but for now, I’m trying to bring some awareness to what’s going on. Stand Up And Ride has been great but this little bump in the road has put a bitter taste in my mouth and makes my want to puke. Thanks for nothing you dicks #standupandride #businessethicsfail