Club Obi Wan

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2009 11:58 am**

I got an email from China. It was basically telling me I need to register my trademark in China, as there have been several applications for the name, and they found out I had it trademarked for the US. So, it appears they are gonna start making ABs, and shipping them here!

And of course, there is nothing I can do, that I am aware of. Except to trust the source and pay the bucks to get it trademarked for China. But, I can't trust the source. It is not cheap to do it for here, so I would imagine, even more expensive for China, and then, they would not honor it.

So, in the future, beware of ABs, in a retail store. They ain't ours! A public service announcement from the highly exhausted hatter.

Fedora

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2009 12:01 pm**

Wow!

Does it say hats or just ABs?

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2009 12:03 pm**

OUCH! Thanks for the heads up, Steve. Sad to hear they're trying to ride your coattails.

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2009 12:05 pm**

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2009 12:31 pm**

I dunno, sounds fishy to me. At our business, we got some random emails from China saying that people were trying to register similar domain names in China....what good that would do them I'm not sure as we're just a local florist....

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2009 12:38 pm**

Although it is possible that someone is trying to register AB in China, isn't it more likely that this is a phishing email trying to get you to sign up/pay for a fake Chinese trademark?

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2009 12:43 pm**

This sounds fishy to me as well. I know that a company cannot import products that violate a US trademark. So, a Chinese company could make "AdventureBilt" products, and sell them in China, and get away with it, because your US trademark isn't recognized there, but they would not be able to import them to the US because they would violate your US trademark, Steve. They could be seized and confiscated by US customs. So I wouldn't worry too much about that, unless the thought of Chinese buying some cheap "AdventureBilt" stuff bothers you. You will likely have to do a little legwork to insure that customs helps you, though. Here's some documentation that might help you with that, Steve. http://www.sutherland.com/files/Publica ... 20July.pdf

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2009 12:53 pm**

Kt Templar wrote:Although it is possible that someone is trying to register AB in China, isn't it more likely that this is a phishing email trying to get you to sign up/pay for a fake Chinese trademark?

Very true! Lots of mail provider have been targets of phishing in the last days.

On the other hand, you might think about getting information of the so called "Madrid System". It helps registering your trademark in several countries, like an international trademark.
Not, that someone from China orders an AB and you get sued there, because they have their own AB trademark.

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2009 1:04 pm**

Steve, just slap an American flag on the sweat band and Made in the U.S.A. We don't see that enough in America anymore. You can start with my AB.

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2009 1:09 pm**

Sorry to say that, my american mates, but USA is going to pass the title of world title to China - chineses are unstoppable

(no racism or politics involved in this post! just irony)

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2009 1:26 pm**

Restless Dreamer wrote:Sorry to say that, my american mates, but USA is going to pass the title of world title to China - chineses are unstoppable

(no racism or politics involved in this post! just irony)

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2009 1:35 pm**

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2009 2:15 pm**

Ugh.

Of course, Bruce was technically American, didja know? He was born in San Francisco, CA.

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2009 2:34 pm**

Everyone was AB fighting! (HOO HAH!)
They were fast as lightning!

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2009 2:44 pm**

Whether you registered the trademark in China or not they will copy it if there's a market for it. There are whole provinces of China where the main industries are producing knock-off goods. Personally, I think this is such a small market they wouldn't bother.

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2009 4:15 pm**

binkmeisterRick wrote:Everyone was AB fighting! (HOO HAH!)
They were fast as lightning!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGQrqBqZ_-Y

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2009 5:15 pm**

Steve, this is almost definitely a scam. I am an attorney, and at a local bar association event that I attended recently, one of my colleagues shared a story about a being contacted by a "potential client" from China that wished to engage his services. The "client" submitted a very real looking retainer check for an astronomical amount of money.

Turns out, the check was a fake. The scam is to submit the phoney check, then ask for a refund. The victim's refund check clears before the phoney check is discovered to be a fake.

Thankfully, my colleague had the sense to look before he leapt. I know of others that weren't so fortunate.

P.S. My wife called me to say that my hat arrived today. Can't wait to get home and see it again. Thank you.

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2009 6:27 pm**

Contact the US Trade Commission, they can fill you in on international trade mark law. I thought all trade marks were internationally recognized, but perhaps not.

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2009 6:51 pm**

Gezzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Posted: **Thu Oct 08, 2009 2:49 am**

Counterfit cigarettes are a HUGE problem from China - and imagine how much money the big international brands have behind them... If they're going to fake it there's very little you can do about it.

Posted: **Thu Oct 08, 2009 12:05 pm**

Steve,

Just call up Short Round (if he's still alive) and get hm to check up on it.

Posted: **Thu Oct 08, 2009 12:18 pm**

Look at the upside, Steve. If this isn't a scam, and guys re trying to make AB knock offs, that means you have joined the likes of Rolex, Prada, Rayban, and other hugley popular companies. You are big enough to have counterfeit replicas made of your hats. That is prestigious thing.

Dave

Posted: **Thu Oct 08, 2009 12:49 pm**

Thanks for the advice guys. Probably a scam to get my money.

Personally, I think this is such a small market they wouldn't bother.

Yes, that is true, but the Indy fedora market, like the Official Hat from Lucas is not a small market, in so far as hats are concerned. In fact, it is the largest hat market today, for a particular hat. Where I sold thousands, they sell millions. A big difference there that is for sure. Fedora

Posted: **Thu Oct 08, 2009 6:37 pm**

Fedora wrote:Thanks for the advice guys. Probably a scam to get my money.

Personally, I think this is such a small market they wouldn't bother.

Yes, that is true, but the Indy fedora market, like the Official Hat from Lucas is not a small market, in so far as hats are concerned. In fact, it is the largest hat market today, for a particular hat. Where I sold thousands, they sell millions. A big difference there that is for sure. Fedora

I would look into it but don't trust the ones making the offer.

Posted: **Sun Oct 11, 2009 4:32 am**

Maybe you should hold off on that 120 ft. yacht purchase, for now, Fedora?!

I know a U.S. patent doesn't cover Euro and China. Don't know about copyright though. You and Bill Gates.

Posted: **Sun Oct 11, 2009 10:07 am**

Maybe you should hold off on that 120 ft. yacht purchase, for now, Fedora?! I

Hey, to let you know how SMART I am, I invested most of my profits in mutual funds, and you know what happened??? I got lucky with Indy 4 and then got unlucky with the stock market. Still have not recouped my losses. The rate of return was supposed to be higher than putting the money in cds. I should have went the cd route. Live and learn, or live and get burned.

So, I mesed up in two big ways. I sold my hats too cheaply for too long, and then I invested in a market that tanked. I ain't batting very well here.

Fedora

Posted: **Sun Oct 11, 2009 1:07 pm**

You arent the only one in this "boat"!!

Posted: **Sun Oct 11, 2009 1:28 pm**

Ohio Jones wrote:You arent the only one in this "boat"!!

(Moderator edit: Do not work around the word filer) , I had to quit bailing and start treading water!

Posted: **Fri Nov 13, 2009 5:57 pm**

Yup we got the same kind of email here in Canada as well... Someone from China is trying to register our domain name yara yara... It's a scam. There's no doubt about it.

Posted: **Fri Nov 13, 2009 9:48 pm**

binkmeisterRick wrote:Everyone was AB fighting! (HOO HAH!)
They were fast as lightning!

Oohhhh, stop it right now. My sides are hurting!!!

I'll tell Dejah, I will!!!

Posted: **Fri Nov 13, 2009 10:24 pm**

阿冒险内置 kung fu fedoras??????

Posted: **Fri Jan 08, 2010 1:35 pm**

Just came across this post so might not be all that current anymore. But this doesn't sound right. I would imagine a Chinese company could probably register the AB name in China and make hats there under that label, but I can't imagine they could ever legally sell them in the U.S. in view of your U.S. trademark.

It's for the same reason why the U.S. beverage known as Budweiser is sold in some European countries as "Busch" -- because Budweiser is trademarked by the Czech brewery.

Curiously, Anheuser-Busch has familiar initials and its parent company is known as AB InBev!

On a related note, I hear cheap Chinese beer is flooding the Costa Rican market and making it difficult for the local breweries there, but that's another story.

Posted: **Wed Jan 13, 2010 9:22 am**

Garzo wrote:Just came across this post so might not be all that current anymore. But this doesn't sound right. I would imagine a Chinese company could probably register the AB name in China and make hats there under that label, but I can't imagine they could ever legally sell them in the U.S. in view of your U.S. trademark.

It's for the same reason why the U.S. beverage known as Budweiser is sold in some European countries as "Busch" -- because Budweiser is trademarked by the Czech brewery.

Curiously, Anheuser-Busch has familiar initials and its parent company is known as AB InBev!

On a related note, I hear cheap Chinese beer is flooding the Costa Rican market and making it difficult for the local breweries there, but that's another story.

The Czech Budweiser (a much, much better beer) predates the American rice beer and also goes by the name of Budvar in Europe. Story that used to pass around central Germany was the elder Anheuser son got the family vineyard and the younger son went to America with some cash to try and make a living there...not good wine country, so he invested in the brewing industry, adopting a lager style and name of a beer from Europe. Not sure of the accuracy of this back story, but as the American company had the American trademark, there were import problems for years. You can occasionally find it now under it's American name: Czechvar.

Lots of counterfeit stuff over here in Afghanistan...watches, DVDs, ipods, etc. Doing some research on fake Rolexes, I was surprised to find multiple websites that sell these fake items ($114) and will deliver them to any address in the US. That just seems wrong...

Bernie

Posted: **Wed Jan 13, 2010 10:30 am**

I love German beer, but Czech beer is in its own league: Budweiser, Pilsner Urquell and my personal favorite, Staropramen
Yes, fake Rolexes are no laughing matter.
A friend in Germany was sent a fake Rolex from the U.S. and it was apprehended by German Customs, who identified it as a fake (had it been real, my friend would have had to pay a fortune in customs tax). Suffice to say, the customs office said it would send the fake Rolex to get destroyed and told my friend that he would be billed for its destruction. Since he never received the bill for the watch's destruction, he suspects one of customs officers kept the watch (at least that's what he'd like to think).

Posted: **Wed Jan 13, 2010 10:50 am**

You never know - when it comes to the government I wouldn't dismiss that bill just yet - it still may come. They don't like to miss out on money opportunities.

Posted: **Wed Jan 13, 2010 11:43 am**

Way off topic to ABs being made in China, but since things have gone in this direction...as a clarification, Anheuser-Busch was founded in St. Louis, Missouri, USA by the Busch family. Upon creating their American beer recipe they wanted a name that would bring to mind the German beer making tradition as a marketing tool. They chose Budweiser as a combination of an "American" sounding prefix: Bud, and a "German" sounding suffix: Weiser thereby bridging the gap for their American market to buy their beer. Anheuser-Busch/Budweiser products are sold all over the world and are brewed semi-locally so that, unlike McDonald's where a Big Mac pretty much tastes the same where ever in the world you are, the same named A-B/Bud product may taste differently depending on the country in which it was brewed. That's the history told on the brewery tour in St. Louis. InBev recently purchased a controlling share of Anheuser-Busch much to the consternation of the St. Louis area. Anheuser-Busch has invested heavily in the St. Louis area and is a major employer and the fear was InBev would close the brewery and administrative operations in St. Louis as well as stop investing in the community.

Regards,

Indiana Jeff

Posted: **Wed Jan 13, 2010 6:40 pm**

Indiana Jeff wrote:Way off topic to ABs being made in China, but since things have gone in this direction...as a clarification, Anheuser-Busch was founded in St. Louis, Missouri, USA by the Busch family. Upon creating their American beer recipe they wanted a name that would bring to mind the German beer making tradition as a marketing tool. They chose Budweiser as a combination of an "American" sounding prefix: Bud, and a "German" sounding suffix: Weiser thereby bridging the gap for their American market to buy their beer. Anheuser-Busch/Budweiser products are sold all over the world and are brewed semi-locally so that, unlike McDonald's where a Big Mac pretty much tastes the same where ever in the world you are, the same named A-B/Bud product may taste differently depending on the country in which it was brewed. That's the history told on the brewery tour in St. Louis. InBev recently purchased a controlling share of Anheuser-Busch much to the consternation of the St. Louis area. Anheuser-Busch has invested heavily in the St. Louis area and is a major employer and the fear was InBev would close the brewery and administrative operations in St. Louis as well as stop investing in the community.

Regards,

Indiana Jeff

One more off topic and I'll stop... When I lived in Germany and would hit the McDonald's in that country, the ketchup was a much different formulation than the American ketchup...I would save up the Burger King ketchup from onbase if I was planning to have a Big mac--the Big Mac's tasted the same. One could get a beer at the McDonald's in Germany. While there are no McDonald's here in Kabul, all of the Coke products (canned here in Kabul) and all of the Pepsi products (canned in Dabai) use real sugar and taste much better than the US high fructose corn syrup that one gets in the US these days (harkens back to the soda from the 70's and early 80s).

Bernie

Posted: **Wed Jan 13, 2010 8:20 pm**

Indiana Jeff wrote:They chose Budweiser as a combination of an "American" sounding prefix: Bud, and a "German" sounding suffix: Weiser thereby bridging the gap for their American market to buy their beer.

I feel like I'm walking on egg shells continuing this off-off topic, but just gotta point out here that Budweis is a city in Bohemia in the Czech Republic that has been brewing beer for nearly a thousand years and its known as Budweiser, sort of like how sausages from Vienna became known as wieners (Vienna being Wien in German).

Anheuser-Busch nicked the name because it was associated with good quality beer.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budweis

Club Obi Wan

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