So I received this certified letter in the mail yesterday...

[AliOop]

My typical advice to clients in these situations is not to respond to a generic letter. Nope, not even a “go jump in a lake” response. Never fan the flames in a potential legal dispute! As the saying goes, discretion is the better part of valor.

Now, if the letter is specific and detailed as to the alleged violations, I immediately help connect them with qualified patent-trademark counsel. This is a specialty area of law and requires help from someone who knows it well.

Fixing a violation can be easy (not always) and can save many thousands of dollars in legal fees and damages.

Unfortunately, fighting a false claim is not easy; it is expensive and can take a long time. A good patent-trademark lawyer will help you evaluate whether to spend the money fighting, or rebranding. Sometimes the latter will be the better way to go, especially if you get a waiver of all claims and atty fees from the other side.

 

[TheGecko]

Unfortunately, fighting a false claim is not easy; it is expensive and can take a long time.

That's the way it is with anything...even if you win, you lose. It's why companies 'settle out of court' because it's cheaper just to pay someone $10,000 on a false claim, than it is to rack up $25,000 in legal fees. Ex-fiance's father used to brag about how much he made with 'slip and falls' and since it's a Personal Injury payout, no income tax. But there is thing called 'karma' and it bit him big time when he really did 'slip and fall' in a store and injured his back...in a store that he had already sued. Needless to say, he didn't get any money and it ended his 'career'.

 

[ewhitake]

I know…responding to a years old post. But I wondered what happened to the “cease and desist” and is Dr. Squach still allegedly not making their own product?

 

[akseattle]

@ewhitake , this is the first time I've seen this thread. I looked at the original post, the packaging by @wetshavingproducts didn't look similar at all to me. Out of curiousity, I googled them. If they are the same Dr. Squatch soap I found all over the internet, they had/have a pattern of hassling other soaping companies. They have been making alot of non friends along the way. A woman who bought their men's shampoo in 2021 initiated a class action lawsuit against them in federal court in Illinois. In April of 2024 (this year) the court said it can proceed. Apparently, they say their soap is "natural" but it has some synthetic ingredients. Also, it has oat protein, jojoba oil, and honey i smaller amounts than expected.

So, I am also curious to know how that situation is resolved. If this is the same company, their current packaging has been changed dramatically (far less generic looking than before.)

I will make it a point not to never buy a Dr. Squatch product.

 

[akseattle]

Apparently, they say their soap is "natural" but it has some synthetic ingredients. Also, it has oat protein, jojoba oil, and honey i smaller amounts than expected.

I meant "allegedly"!

 

[MomInWA]

Since this thread is resurrected, I have a thought. Remember Squatch, the Seattle SuperSonics mascot? Yeah, so….hmmmmmm. Seems to me there are some fingers pointing back.

 

[ewhitake]

I think this whole thing about Dr. squash not making their own product is incredibly funny. I got into Soapmaking because of my son who uses that product and the price point is ridiculous! Once I started to look at the soap it’s very basic but it’s the scent that he really likes. which is hard to replicate. As soon as I figure out some sense that he likes we are no longer buying that product.

 

[MomInWA]

Who's the stealer now???

 

[akseattle]

Who's the stealer now???

View attachment 78198

@MomInWA , yeah, they are both wearing green and have brown hair.
Definitely worthy of a --- what was it? Oh yeah "trade dress" suit.
Let me go get my pen!!!

 

[paradisi]

The private equity that owns them appear to be looking at selling it for about $ two billion? crazy number, who knows. So they may not care about infringement now.

I hope things turned out well for the OP.

 

[MomInWA]

The private equity that owns them appear to be looking at selling it for about $ two billion? crazy number, who knows. So they may not care about infringement now.

I hope things turned out well for the OP

@paradisi That is Squatch, used to be the Seattle SuperSonics mascot. That’s my point! Nobody ever called Sasquatch “Squatch” until the Seattle SuperSonics did. So Dr. Squatch 100% ripped off the Sonics. We all used to love Squatch! He was a very popular mascot!

 

[paradisi]

@paradisi That is Squatch, used to be the Seattle SuperSonics mascot. That’s my point! Nobody ever called Sasquatch “Squatch” until the Seattle SuperSonics did. So Dr. Squatch 100% ripped off the Sonics. We all used to love Squatch! He was a very popular mascot!

Indeed! I remember. Just thinking that the equity firm may think it can do whatever it wants as it can pay more lawyers.

 

[MomInWA]

Indeed! I remember. Just thinking that the equity firm may think it can do whatever it wants as it can pay more lawyers.

@paradisi Oh, okay, I follow you now! Yeah, they have a LOT of nerve!
PS. Yes, I'm still upset about the Sonics.

 

[ewhitake]

@paradisi Oh, okay, I follow you now! Yeah, they have a LOT of nerve!
PS. Yes, I'm still upset about the Sonics.

I grew up in Seattle. Moved away after high school. Didn't the Sonics move to another city? How rude!!!

 

[MomInWA]

I grew up in Seattle. Moved away after high school. Didn't the Sonics move to another city? How rude!!!

@ewhitake Absolutely vile, especially considering how many gazillionaires we begged to help us keep our team here! I'm not usually a grudge-holding sort, but I do hold a grudge for the likes of Paul Allen, Bill Gates, et al. We loved our Seattle SuperSonics. The mid-90s seasons were spectacular!

 

[Misschief]

@ewhitake Absolutely vile, especially considering how many gazillionaires we begged to help us keep our team here! I'm not usually a grudge-holding sort, but I do hold a grudge for the likes of Paul Allen, Bill Gates, et al. We loved our Seattle SuperSonics. The mid-90s seasons were spectacular!

They had a lot of north-of-the-border supporters, too

 

[ewhitake]

They had a lot of north-of-the-border supporters, too

So did they ever get a team again? And could they call them the supersonics?

 

[MomInWA]

So did they ever get a team again? And could they call them the supersonics?

@Misschief they went to Oklahoma City and are now called the Oklahoma City Thunder. Seattle retained rights to the name and colors in case we ever get a basketball team again.

 

[akseattle]

@MomInWA
The mid 90's were great for the Sounders in Seattle. But, to be honest, Seattleites can be fair weather fans. They are all behind when the team is good, and abandon if we lose few games (or seasons... ). By 2002, the Sounders could hardly give away tickets. So, while I do blame the owners, etc. a little, I have to also blame the fans for not sticking by their team during hard times. That said, I think the Supersonics' departure created a vacuum that benefited the Seattle Sounders. All those Microsoft and Amazon high earners that just wanted something to do bought Sounder season tickets and helped get the Sounders off the ground with HUGE fan attendence Being a soccer fan, I hope we don't lose support when we get an NBA team back

 

[ewhitake]

@MomInWA
The mid 90's were great for the Sounders in Seattle. But, to be honest, Seattleites can be fair weather fans. They are all behind when the team is good, and abandon if we lose few games (or seasons... ). By 2002, the Sounders could hardly give away tickets. So, while I do blame the owners, etc. a little, I have to also blame the fans for not sticking by their team during hard times. That said, I think the Supersonics' departure created a vacuum that benefited the Seattle Sounders. All those Microsoft and Amazon high earners that just wanted something to do bought Sounder season tickets and helped get the Sounders off the ground with HUGE fan attendence Being a soccer fan, I hope we don't lose support when we get an NBA team back

I was a child in SEA in the 60’s. It was all about the Super Sonic’s. Sad how things ended.