You might recall the uproar from last spring, when SFSE (owners of a trademark for 'Stitch & Bitch Cafe') started sending out cease and desists to stitch 'n bitchers who had shops on Cafe Press. They went further recently by trying to shut down yahoo groups with the phrase stitch 'n bitch in their name.
As reported most excellently by the girl from auntie (the knit blog world's de facto legal expert), Debbie Stoller is now striking back by suing for cancellation of SFSE’s Stitch & Bitch Cafe trademark registration.
The basis for cancelling, Stoller argues, is the sheer descriptiveness of “stitch and bitch” to describe crafty gatherings. As the services of SFSE for their trademark are essentially a virtual version of such a gathering, the mark is too descriptive to be registered.Go to her site to read more.
I hope SFSE loses their trademark for 'Stitch & Bitch Cafe', but I'm personally not too keen on seeing anyone own the trademark for Stitch 'n Bitch. As the phrase coined by a group of crafters says, Free to Stitch, Free to Bitch.
I'm changing my mind on this a bit based on the girl from auntie's arguments in a comment on her site. It does make sense to me now that Debbie Stoller should be given a trademark for stitch 'n bitch to be used for books, etc.
In other bitchy news, Project Runway's Wendy Pepper is getting a divorce [via]. The article says she'll be "confiding the dissolution of her marriage to Jay McCarroll" in his upcoming show.
Yes, our beloved Jay will be back on television with a Bravo special scheduled for February 22nd (during the Project Runway time slot). He sent out an email yesterday that included this bit of news:
"project jay" is a one hour doumentary special that chronicles my life post-project runway. its like an hour of project runway...but just about me. there are some appearances by your favorite project runway cast members and some very funny and compelling moments. hopefully, most of your unanswered questions will be answered on "project jay".He also mentioned that he is working on his next collection. I can't wait!
As far as lat night's show goes, I was very disappointed to see Emmett go. Yeah, his outfit was frumpy, but it was not as bad as that horror designed by Rasputin. At least it sounds like he is doing well outside of the context of the show.
SFSE just sent a not nice note to the Albany knitting web ring I belong to. Everyone is surprised because our name is the knitwits, nothing to do with stitch or bitch. I guess their goal is to ruin everyones knit groups.
Posted by: megan | January 19, 2006 at 08:33
SFSE had better watch it.. they will be boycotted into exitinction! i hope that debbie stoller wins that lawsuit!
Posted by: gleek | January 19, 2006 at 09:07
Poor Emmett, the judges are so overly critical of some of the more straightforward designs on the show. They will keep Santino on forever, because he is the accident you can't stop watching. I personally find him fascinating. The SnBrs or whatever they are called are crazy. I once posted a sign to invite people to a lunch time stitch and bitch and someone got all bent out of shape because they thought the name was vulgar or naughty or something.
Posted by: Elizabeth | January 19, 2006 at 10:39
Fun with intellectual property! Thanks for pointing to the girl from auntie story...since I work in patent law, I have a vague understanding of trademarks, so this whole drama is interesting to me on many levels.
Poor Emmett...Santino must go!! He seemed a lot more self-concious this episode than he has previously. I can't wait for next week when Jay returns!
Posted by: Melissa | January 19, 2006 at 11:34
I gotta admit, I'm hooked on this show now. Maybe because I keep expecting General Zod (Rasputin) to be sent wailing back into the Phantom Zone. Another great show now: Rollergirls. awesome.
Posted by: newlin | January 19, 2006 at 12:04
Ooops forgot to say, I just tagged you!
Posted by: Elizabeth | January 19, 2006 at 12:09
Ahh! Rollergirls, I've been meaning to watch that one. I completely forgot about it. Must. Go. TiVO. Now.
I think Daniel V is going to win. His designs are always really well done and very classy.
Posted by: jillz | January 19, 2006 at 17:51
Forgot to add that I love The Parent Trap too!
Posted by: jillz | January 19, 2006 at 17:53
I couldn't see why the judges were so against Emmett's design this week. It didn't wow me, but I didn't really think it was that terrible either. The one that won was a lot more revealing than his. I myself kind of liked Chloe's.
Santino is this season's Wendy. He's going to stay so he can reek havoc for awhile. There is no other reason why he should be around still after last week. I think he's talented, he just needs to tone down the embellishments. I think that finally dawned on him this week.
Can't wait to see Jay next week!
Posted by: Christina | January 20, 2006 at 10:50
A new Twin Cities yahoo group has been formed, in case you hadn't heard. It's called TCKnit. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TCKnit/
Posted by: Renee | January 21, 2006 at 09:31