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kiliki Member
Joined: 07 Apr 2003 Posts: 2310 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle |
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kiliki
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Wed Nov 06, 2019 2:19 pm
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Kim Brown Member
Joined: 13 Jul 2009 Posts: 6900 | TRs | Pics
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Interesting. It’s like trying to patent the name “Olympics.”
"..living on the east side of the Sierra world be ideal - except for harsher winters and the chance of apocalyptic fires burning the whole area."
Bosterson, NWHiker's marketing expert
"..living on the east side of the Sierra world be ideal - except for harsher winters and the chance of apocalyptic fires burning the whole area."
Bosterson, NWHiker's marketing expert
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kiliki Member
Joined: 07 Apr 2003 Posts: 2310 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle |
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kiliki
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Wed Nov 06, 2019 3:08 pm
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It's pretty puzzling that word that is in the dictionary as a common noun can be trademarked in this way. I mean, they are going after Backcountry Babes, which does avy awareness classes and backcountry ski trips.
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thunderhead Member
Joined: 14 Oct 2015 Posts: 1511 | TRs | Pics
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Guess im done shopping at backcountry.com.
Way to piss off your customers.
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H. Hound Member
Joined: 09 May 2003 Posts: 1205 | TRs | Pics Location: Exit 32 |
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H. Hound
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Wed Nov 06, 2019 6:08 pm
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Yea, got to wonder what they were thinking. Will be scrapping a Back Country goat decal off of my 4x4. Certainly will shop else ware in the future.
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Ski ><((((°>
Joined: 28 May 2005 Posts: 12798 | TRs | Pics Location: tacoma |
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Ski
><((((°>
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Wed Nov 06, 2019 6:44 pm
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"I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach.
I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each."
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kiliki Member
Joined: 07 Apr 2003 Posts: 2310 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle |
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kiliki
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Wed Nov 06, 2019 6:45 pm
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In terms of what they were thinking, I guess when the company is absorbed into a mega conglomerate, everything besides profit can get lost. I like this quote.
“This is a bullsh## private equity move, masters of the universe, trying to control the world,” said Rich Hill, president of Grassroots Outdoor Alliance.
Check out their holdings. Comet and PBR and yoga. Maybe they can try to trademark "sexy hair" instead.
http://www.tsgconsumer.com/portfolio
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Ski ><((((°>
Joined: 28 May 2005 Posts: 12798 | TRs | Pics Location: tacoma |
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Ski
><((((°>
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Wed Nov 06, 2019 7:07 pm
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The young man I just spoke with at the 1-800 number at backcountry.com - the one who led me to the article I cited just above - made it pretty clear that they're feeling the heat.
They've pissed off their customer base in a serious "shoot-yourself-in-the-foot" move and are just now realizing the potential long-term damage they may have done to their brand.
I would expect them to start doing some frenetic backpedaling to mitigate the damage.
"I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach.
I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each."
"I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach.
I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each."
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Malachai Constant Member
Joined: 13 Jan 2002 Posts: 16088 | TRs | Pics Location: Back Again Like A Bad Penny |
It is common for clients who get trademarks to overreach. In reality the trademark is limited to a rather limited description of goods. In this case if they have a federal trademark they can realistically stop others from selling similar goods under the trademark backcountry.com. They cannot however, sue anyone who uses the term “Backcountry”. If they did the use would be improper as backcountry is a generic descriptive term. Usually it is the client making such claims without advice. I had a client who thought he had the sole right to a common word (withheld due to confidentiality) and threatened many who used it, he was successful in some cases but tarnished the reputation of his company.
"You do not laugh when you look at the mountains, or when you look at the sea." Lafcadio Hearn
"You do not laugh when you look at the mountains, or when you look at the sea." Lafcadio Hearn
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Cyclopath Faster than light
Joined: 20 Mar 2012 Posts: 7695 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle |
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Cyclopath
Faster than light
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Wed Nov 06, 2019 9:52 pm
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The backlash will last until the next sale. Oh look, 20% off a full priced item!
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SwitchbackFisher Boot buster
Joined: 24 Feb 2018 Posts: 364 | TRs | Pics Location: Wa |
I've always liked moose jaw more anyway but it does help fortify my opinion.
I may not be the smartest, I may not be the strongest, but I don't want to be. I only want to be the best I can be.
I may not be the smartest, I may not be the strongest, but I don't want to be. I only want to be the best I can be.
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Bosterson Member
Joined: 12 Sep 2019 Posts: 291 | TRs | Pics Location: Portland |
Very disappointing.
Quote: | "Big companies that go after the small guys do that because they know they can bury them in legal costs and find loopholes and whatnot," Phillips said. |
This is really the crux of it. It doesn't matter whether the trademark infringement claim is valid, the bigger company can steamroll the smaller one via the mere threat of tying this kind of thing up in the courts. The deeper pockets win. This is how patent trolls operated, until the EFF started helping lay the smack down on them. It seems likely that most of these Backcountry claims would be rejected, as the word itself is too generic to be completely restricted, and customers are unlikely to "mistake" an offroad map nonprofit for a huge online gear retailer. That said, the fact that the company is going after other product manufacturers rather than other retailers (Backcountrygear.com???) is telling in the direction they/their corporate overlords plan to further grow their business: no starting your own Backcountry Coffee company in case Backcountry.com decides they want to sell their own at some point...
Go! Take a gun! And a dog! Without a leash! Chop down a tree! Start a fire! Piss wherever you want! Build a cairn! A HUGE ONE!
BE A REBEL! YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE!
(-bootpathguy)
Go! Take a gun! And a dog! Without a leash! Chop down a tree! Start a fire! Piss wherever you want! Build a cairn! A HUGE ONE!
BE A REBEL! YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE!
(-bootpathguy)
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Bosterson Member
Joined: 12 Sep 2019 Posts: 291 | TRs | Pics Location: Portland |
SwitchbackFisher wrote: | I've always liked moose jaw more anyway |
Acquired by Walmart in 2017.
I've scored some good deals from Campsaver recently.
There's always REI.
Do local independent gear shops even still exist? Sigh.
Go! Take a gun! And a dog! Without a leash! Chop down a tree! Start a fire! Piss wherever you want! Build a cairn! A HUGE ONE!
BE A REBEL! YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE!
(-bootpathguy)
Go! Take a gun! And a dog! Without a leash! Chop down a tree! Start a fire! Piss wherever you want! Build a cairn! A HUGE ONE!
BE A REBEL! YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE!
(-bootpathguy)
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Cyclopath Faster than light
Joined: 20 Mar 2012 Posts: 7695 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle |
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Cyclopath
Faster than light
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Wed Nov 06, 2019 11:15 pm
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Bosterson wrote: | That said, the fact that the company is going after other product manufacturers rather than other retailers (Backcountrygear.com???) is telling in the direction they/their corporate overlords plan to further grow their business: no starting your own Backcountry Coffee company in case Backcountry.com decides they want to sell their own at some point... |
They have their own store brand, Stoic, so this really isn't that far fetched.
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Bosterson Member
Joined: 12 Sep 2019 Posts: 291 | TRs | Pics Location: Portland |
Cyclopath wrote: | They have their own store brand, Stoic, so this really isn't that far fetched. |
I assumed Stoic was kinda deprecated at this point. They used to make real stuff under that brand (I have a pair of Stoic alpine gloves and a hardshell), but then it turned into a lifestyle brand a couple years ago. Per the SNEWS article, the trademark lawsuit shenanigans ramped up after they rolled out the new Backcountry branded ski line last year. I'm guessing Stoic is headed for the dustbin (or will always just be lifestyle) and "Backcountry" clothes are going to try to compete with real outerwear brands.
Go! Take a gun! And a dog! Without a leash! Chop down a tree! Start a fire! Piss wherever you want! Build a cairn! A HUGE ONE!
BE A REBEL! YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE!
(-bootpathguy)
Go! Take a gun! And a dog! Without a leash! Chop down a tree! Start a fire! Piss wherever you want! Build a cairn! A HUGE ONE!
BE A REBEL! YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE!
(-bootpathguy)
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