secandleco Posted October 6, 2022 Share Posted October 6, 2022 I am cross-posting this in all candle groups so that you all are aware. My listing on Amazon (New Orleans) has been deactivated because Homesick Candle Company has trademarked ALOT of city names. I will be hiring an atty because we have been using quite a few of those city names long before they became a company. They have also trademarked Zodiac Signs, in addition to some other very common phrases. Here is the USTPO link for the list of names that have been trademarked: https://tmsearch.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=toc&state=4803%3Aqkv74.2.101 Just FYI because I know ALOT of yall have done a Zodiac line or name candles after locations. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TallTayl Posted October 6, 2022 Share Posted October 6, 2022 1 hour ago, secandleco said: I am cross-posting this in all candle groups so that you all are aware. My listing on Amazon (New Orleans) has been deactivated because Homesick Candle Company has trademarked ALOT of city names. I will be hiring an atty because we have been using quite a few of those city names long before they became a company. They have also trademarked Zodiac Signs, in addition to some other very common phrases. Here is the USTPO link for the list of names that have been trademarked: https://tmsearch.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=toc&state=4803%3Aqkv74.2.101 Just FYI because I know ALOT of yall have done a Zodiac line or name candles after locations. A while back someone tried to trademark “soap loaf” and was defeated by the masses who use the phrase. Hopefully your quest to use existing terminology is successful. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizzy Posted October 6, 2022 Share Posted October 6, 2022 1 hour ago, TallTayl said: A while back someone tried to trademark “soap loaf” and was defeated by the masses who use the phrase. Hopefully your quest to use existing terminology is successful. reminds me of Yankmee when they trademarked "Tarts" LOL 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura C Posted October 6, 2022 Share Posted October 6, 2022 I don't understand how they can trademark such common things as a state name or a zodiac sign. Maybe it's in combination with something else as well? 🤔 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizzy Posted October 6, 2022 Share Posted October 6, 2022 48 minutes ago, Laura C said: I don't understand how they can trademark such common things as a state name or a zodiac sign. Maybe it's in combination with something else as well? 🤔 That's what I'm thinking. And it's hilarious how they themselves use trademarked names. LOL 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TallTayl Posted October 7, 2022 Share Posted October 7, 2022 3 hours ago, Laura C said: I don't understand how they can trademark such common things as a state name or a zodiac sign. Maybe it's in combination with something else as well? 🤔 IKr? It’s a combo of the word and the product type. Not cheap to trademark at all. Surprised it was not challenged. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TallTayl Posted October 7, 2022 Share Posted October 7, 2022 6 hours ago, secandleco said: I am cross-posting this in all candle groups so that you all are aware. My listing on Amazon (New Orleans) has been deactivated because Homesick Candle Company has trademarked ALOT of city names. I will be hiring an atty because we have been using quite a few of those city names long before they became a company. They have also trademarked Zodiac Signs, in addition to some other very common phrases. Here is the USTPO link for the list of names that have been trademarked: https://tmsearch.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=toc&state=4803%3Aqkv74.2.101 Just FYI because I know ALOT of yall have done a Zodiac line or name candles after locations. What search terms did you use to discover New Orleans had been trademarked? Just “New Orleans” turns up 1,500 or so results. Adding candle, homesick, home sick, etc. resulted in no results. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TallTayl Posted October 7, 2022 Share Posted October 7, 2022 You know what is sick? They are riding on Warner Bros / JK Rowling intellectual coat tails with the Harry Potter line, I wish karma could catch up with them. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura C Posted October 7, 2022 Share Posted October 7, 2022 Wow, unless they have a licensing agreement with Harry Potter, I don't understand how they can get away with this.🤔 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura C Posted October 8, 2022 Share Posted October 8, 2022 They are using other trademarked names so they must have went out and got permission from those companies, which I don't think is cheap if you can get approved. Time will tell I guess. Their candles and labels look nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NightLight Posted October 11, 2022 Share Posted October 11, 2022 I am surprised they can trademark city names as the cities I am sure have already done so. They could trademark Homesick Atlanta Candle as a phrase. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ernie Posted October 19, 2022 Share Posted October 19, 2022 Need to email George Lucas seeing how they have a bunch of Star Wars candles. I know they didn't get approval on that. Lucas is the King of trademark and would never let them have that. https://secureyourtrademark.com/can-you-trademark/trademark-a-city-name/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pughaus Posted November 2, 2022 Share Posted November 2, 2022 @Ernie they have a license agreement with Lucasfilm as well as the Harry Potter publisher. Homesick is not a small operation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZT Posted January 22, 2023 Share Posted January 22, 2023 As a retailer I was appalled when a rep of mine shared what has been going on with small candle makers and the awful Homesick line. Jumping back to last November I received an email from a random candle maker back east (I'm on the west coast) asking why she was served a cease and desist. I had no idea what she was talking to and why she reach out to me other than my store was listed on the stockist for Homesick. I just brushed it off confused. Fast forward to this past week when a sales rep filled me in and I finally understood the down right shadiness Homesick is doing and the mystery of that email last fall all made sense. While this doesnt offer some sort of answer i do offer from one small biz to another.... You candle makers don't give up. Homesick can't win. The more that comes out about this the more people will turn on the line. I already know several retail shops (like ours) that have dropped the line as well as heard rumblings that certain wholesale groups are thinking about dropping the line entirely from showrooms. Keep pressing forward 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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