We’re not just fighting for our name; we’re fighting for small businesses across America. The current trademark system often puts small, American businesses at a disadvantage. Our story is far from unique – every year, 2,000 companies face trademark cancellations, many of which are against small businesses like ours.
The consistently high number of trademark cases underscore the vulnerability of small, American businesses in the trademark system and emphasizes the importance of our fight for a fairer landscape.
We believe in standing up for the little guys and not letting big tech dictate the story. By bringing attention to the bullying tactics and legal loopholes used by many companies, we hope to level the playing field for small businesses that are often at a disadvantage.
Numerous examples of similar battles exist, and have been well-documented in multiple articles, and the examples shown below.
With a high cost to defend, most small businesses simply give into the pressures from trademark bullies who have more resources at their disposal.
We follow the law to protect our business, but big companies often use intimidation tactics to bully smaller businesses into submission. These legal games can quickly run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars – money that could have been donated to children fighting cancer.
THE POSSIBLE COST TO DEFEND
HOW LONG IT CAN TAKE
Foreign companies often receive different treatment in the trademark system. They can exploit the law by trademarking products in their home countries and using these foreign trademarks to obtain trademarks in the US without facing the same initial scrutiny as American businesses. These companies don’t need to demonstrate use in commerce to obtain a registration, enabling them to claim various products and services even if they can’t prove that they’ve actually used the mark with those products and services.
This practice allows foreign companies to squat on trademarks and potentially bully American businesses, further disadvantaging small businesses trying to protect their intellectual property in the United States.
Our fight is about more than just our name; it’s about empowering other small businesses to stand their ground. As our founder Keane says –
“I want to defend our name so that when other small businesses get harassed, they can research this issue and see that it’s possible for the underdog to stand up to these big corporate bullies and defeat them if you’re in the right.”
By standing up against corporate bullying, we hope to inspire and support other small businesses facing similar challenges. Together, we can make a difference for small businesses across America.