Joe is good people. Sad to hear. I heard Mazda was cracking down about a year ago.
The interesting thing is I posed this question about logo and name use on MiataForum.com some time ago and it was deleted. I then got the follow message from Gary Fischman of Miata.net fame.
Quote: "I decided to delete your post bringing up the trademark/logo discussion. Not because there was fundamentally anything wrong with it, but because of the problems it will create.
That discussion will invite certain people to begin speculating, and other people to make inunformed, and possibly false statements about what may or may not have transpired.
The fact is, these type of discussions fall outside of the purpose of this forum. But more to the point, I have a policy of never responding to public questions about my business arrangements. A thread like that will force me to either respond, which is something I won't do, or it will fuel further speculation due to my lack of response, which is something I won't tolerate. Just because other people choose to make their private business affairs public does not mean that I will do so.
So while I certainly understand your interest in the subject, it isn't one that I can allow to be hosted on Miata.net.
Thank you for understanding.
So it seems the logo is ok for user by certain individuals and companies. As far as I know, Flyin'Miata is keeping their name as well.