[Mrfnews] MSF vs Oregon

[mrf-news at mrf.org]

Motorcycle Safety Foundation vs. Oregon


MRF E-MAIL NEWS

Motorcycle Riders Foundation

236 Massachusetts Ave. NE

Suite 510

Washington, DC 20002-4980

202-546-0983 (voice)

202-546-0986 (fax)

http://www.mrf.org (website)


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jay Jackson, MRF Director of Motorcycle Safety

jay at mrf.org

January 4, 2007

Motorcycle Safety Foundation vs. Oregon


On December 15, 2006 the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) announced that
they had filed a lawsuit against Oregon State University (OSU) and Steve
Garets, Director of the Team Oregon Motorcycle Safety Program (TOMS) of
OSU. The MSF is claiming copyright infringement and violation of their
rights under the Lanham Act.


This action was not completely unexpected as the Motorcycle Riders
Foundation (MRF) has paid close attention to this issue for several years.
The very afternoon of the announcement MRF Director of Motorcycle Safety,
Jay Jackson, spoke with Steve Garets of Team Oregon as well as MSF
President Tim Buche. Communication from the MRF was quickly established
not only with Team Oregon and the MSF, but BikePAC Oregon, the National
Association of State Motorcycle Safety Administrators (SMSA), several
state program coordinators and numerous motorcycle safety instructors as
well.


Most of the motorcycling community, especially those close to rider
education, recognize that this situation carries potentially severe
ramifications. At the least, it is a distraction that draws resources and
focus from the primary function of rider education professionals, which is
to provide life-saving training. At the worst, it is a divisive issue that
may compromise the credibility, consistency, integrity and ultimately the
future of rider education.


Ron Shepard, Coordinator of the Idaho STAR program, suspects the MSF’s
intent is not necessarily to win the lawsuit, but rather to seek an
injunction that would halt all current activity. In doing so, states that
are required to offer training may be forced to use an MSF product if
their current program is suspended.


Ken Kiphart, SMSA Chairman, surmises that this may be more of a case for
the courts and feels it is likely that the SMSA will not be actively
involved at this time. In as much as the SMSA’s purpose is to support
state programs, it remains possible that this position may change.


Steve Garets stands by the TOMS curriculum and encourages other programs
to continue to evaluate the effectiveness of their rider training efforts
at treating skills and strategies necessary for safe street riding.


A number of different opinions have been shared with the MRF from
instructors, state program coordinators and others. It appears that the
MRF has friends, and constituents, on both sides of the argument.


The MRF exists to support the state motorcyclists’ rights organizations
(SMRO). As with any issue of interest to motorcyclists, the MRF will
continue to monitor and evaluate this situation and will attempt to
provide all resources appropriate when, and if, specifically requested by
an SMRO in need of assistance.


© All information contained in this release is copyrighted. Reproduction
permitted with attribution. The Motorcycle Rider Foundation, incorporated
in 1987, is a membership-based, national motorcyclists’ rights
organization headquartered in Washington, DC. The first motorcyclists’
rights organization to establish a full-time presence in Washington, DC,
the Motorcycle Riders Foundation is the only Washington voice devoted
exclusively to the street rider. The MRF established MRFPAC in the early
1990s to advocate the election of candidates who would champion the cause
of rider safety a