Since Bowers is leaving Bower's and Merena, Will he take his name with him? Will it just be Merena

wingedliberty · February 10, 2003 9:21AM

? Or is there a contract saying that CU owns the name? Just curious?

Brian.

FatMan · February 10, 2003 9:27AM

CU owns the name. And I doubt that Bowers will be able to use his name in any future business name.

wingedliberty · February 10, 2003 9:29AM

WOW, not being able to use your name. That sucks!

Brian.

nwcs · February 10, 2003 9:30AM

I'm sure they own it, but from my perspective they'd be better off consolidating all these various auction places into one subcompany. Would be more efficient.

wingedliberty · February 10, 2003 9:32AM

I agree, but still, Can you imagine not being able to use your own name on your own business?
The price of being famous , I guess.

Brian.

Nap · February 10, 2003 9:36AM

Raymond Merena is no longer with the company either, to my knowledge. He left/retired several years ago.

Gilbert · February 10, 2003 9:37AM

Don't they own the name "Bowers and Merena?" Ray has been long gone, and the last time someone lost rights to their name was the artist formerly known as Prince.

I Names have been a big deal in numismatics for quite some time now. can't imagine QDB didn't have the foresight to protect his own name.

wingedliberty · February 10, 2003 9:38AM

Good point Gilbert:
Would someone as smart as Bowers protect his name from a trademark?

Brian.

nwcs · February 10, 2003 9:38AM

Brian, it wouldn't be fun that's for sure. However, if he had left gracefully from the company I bet they would have allowed him to use it in another way. But from the emails that people have reposted, it doesn't look like he left gracefully.

wingedliberty · February 10, 2003 9:40AM

I have not always agreed with Bowers, but he has always been the ultimate gentleman in responding
to my emails graciously. He has class, even though I don't always agree with him.

Brian.

Mark · February 10, 2003 9:51AM

Maybe the company will be known as "and Merena"?? And maybe QDB will follow in the footsteps of the artist formally known as Prince by creating his own symbol so he can be "the numismatist formally known as Q. David Bowers."

But, unfortunately for QDB, I bet he has "lost" his name to CU and B&M. I would be surprised if use of his name had not been negotiated over to CU when QDB sold B&M to CU. After all, from QDB's standpoint, what was the worry? At that time, he was going to be part of something that he could help build into a massive enterprise...sigh.....

Mark

abuell · February 10, 2003 12:18PM

I believe that he will bypass any problems with CU by changing his name to Henry Chapman.

tradedollarnut · February 10, 2003 12:58PM

Q's Coins - it's got a nice ring to it!

Barry · February 10, 2003 8:06PM

Even if he can't use Bowers, QDB Galleries gives instant recognition, doesn't it?

fcloud · February 10, 2003 8:14PM

Does anyone remember it wasn't it "Bowers and Rudys" (not sure of spelling on Rudys) years and years ago?

DQB will be fine even if he makes up some name, as being one of the leaders in the industry, people will still go to him no matter what he does. Losing his name for the title of a business, does not change the fact that people know who he is and may or will recognize his name from being an author.

dorkkarl · February 10, 2003 8:15PM

it was "ruddy & bowers galleries". ruddy passed away years ago.

K S

DoubleDime · February 10, 2003 9:16PM

If QDB can't use his name, maybe we'll see the return of the Empire Coin company.

DeepCoin · February 10, 2003 10:04PM

When you create a company that has your name and then you sell it, generally you lose the access to the name. An example of this would be Famous Amos cookies. I know the gentleman that started that company, took it public with his name and lost out in a corporate political situation. If this sounds familiar, it should as it is not all that rare.

Changes at the top of corporations are routine, but never simple. QDB is another in the succession of businessmen who have gone through this process. It has nothing to do about QDB, it is all about the money. It always is in business. This is just the price of going public with your company (and being compensated for that). It will be interesting to watch unfold, but I am sure QDB will land on his feet.

dorkkarl · February 11, 2003 1:14AM

hey double dime, maybe the resurgence of "jakes"? is kurt r krueger still around???

K S

jom · February 11, 2003 1:17AM

Karl: I don't think James Ruddy passed away. If he has it was only recently as Bowers himself has spoken about visiting him somewhere in California in recent years. By recent I mean, say, 5 years or so...

jom

coinrookie · February 11, 2003 1:54AM

I would think it would have to do with the corporate charter. You do not know exactly how everything was set up. They may have to pay him some type of compensation if they want to still use his name. Maybe not. I am sure Michael or Adrian could way in, but I doubt they could give a definitive answer without being privy to all the inside info.

Julian · February 11, 2003 5:15AM

It was Bowers and Ruddy galleries. Jim Ruddy is alive and well, living in s. Calif and a very successful dealer and expert in autographs.

Since Bowers is leaving Bower's and Merena, Will he take his name with him? Will it just be Merena

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