CONTEST EXAMPLE AND RULES:

This person which we are going to use as the example for the contest... we don't understand why this person had such an interest in attacking us.  With us acquiring our trademarks, it doesn't affect her in any way.  She has no basis for being involved in our business.

We only want the discrepancies that are evident in these postings.

You may click on each picture to enlarge.
 

POST 1 

 

POST 2

 

 



POST 3

 

 

 

The highlighted sections show these discrepancies:

• Post 1-Bobbie is appalled by the use of a "well-known name to hype one's own goods," and that it's wrong for someone to say "Like Mimzy,"  then she justifies people using "thread bears" in post 2.

• Post 2-Bobbie says that she is not placing herself in the middle of our business, that she is not in any way hindering our business. However, her words show otherwise in Posts 2 and 3.

• Post 2-Bobbie tells us that she does not assume the role of speaking for us. However, she tells everyone to contact her off list for any and all information in Post 3. 

 RULES APPLY HERE!

 

Requirements to win:

The contest will run for 6 weeks.

Each week we will post a section of the contest. 

The person who gives the MOST correct answers that week will win for that week.  The person who has the most weekly winnings throughout the 6 weeks will win the prize!!!!

Each section will include two posts made by the same person, unedited and unchanged.

You are required to email us your answers of the discrepancies in each section.  Each section has a specified due date.

We will announce the winner at the end of the due date for each week. If you so choose to remain anonymous, please let us know in your submissions!
Answers must be submitted via email ONLY to threadbears[at]frontier.com.
We do still welcome comments, but any answers given in the comments section will not be counted.

 

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Click here to return to the main contest: http://threadbears.blogspot.com/2013/06/contest-you-have-been-cordially-invited.html

The Zinger!

It's official, we are having a contest!! No purchase necessary, and you're not even required to follow our blog! All you have to do is participate. So, why would we be giving away an amazing, handmade collectible for a prize??

Well... we just want you to know the truth. That's all. Throughout the years, many people have been allowed to give their opinions on our business.  And, as soon as we have posted our side of the story with links to credible resources, our information has been removed.  It is because many people (Berta's friends) have not wanted the truth out there.  So, we are using this contest as a lighthearted way to encourage people to seek the truth.

We haven't given up on the contest, for those of you that have been waiting.  We've been waiting for Bobbie Ripperger to clear up her mess.  She has mislead and lied to many people throughout the years. She knows that we still own Thread Bears®, and she knows that our disclaimer had nothing to do with that separate registration, just with the one we were applying for. Since we have put her on the spot to tell what she knows, Boisterous Bobbie has turned mute...at least, publically.

 

We know she is still involved, still lying.  It's communications such as this that show that people follow Bobbie's misunderstandings, and it shows that they don't stand up for what's right.

 

An artist who was notified of Trademark Infringement:

Our response...

 

 

 

So, in this contest, we will be putting out a new section every week, for a series of weeks.  Each week, a portion of the contest will be revealed that you will need to respond to. Nothing is made up or changed.  It will be words from the person's own mouth--or fingers, rather. We are using their own words to show what they've done. We will give all of the contest information in the upcoming posts, so check back!

 

P.S. Berta, have you checked with your lawyer to see if you can infringe on our mark? Still waiting to see that letter...

We "felt" the need to post!

Felting? Fulling? Who really cares what it is called?
Tuh-mey-toh, tuh-mah-toh. 
Whatever you wanna call it, we are pleased with the results! 

 
The technique widely known as "felting," is a process of basically making wool thicker, softer, fluffier, more durable, and more solidified. Since last summer, we have experimented with MANY ways to full our products. Unlike needle felting or wet felting, fulled crocheted/knitted bears aren't a commonly offered product. So, since we are always trying to create new characteristics and ideas for our creatures, we decided to full/felt some of our furry friends.

 
Now, from our experience, there is no exact science that makes each product turn out a certain way. Take into consideration that many variables contribute to different outcomes. Felting/fulling has these basic variables: moisture, temperature, and agitation. Though it may seem simple enough, a certain brand of soap or slightly-off water temperature will give you different results, and many types of wool felt up differently.

 
Of course, we couldn't just felt/full up a bear and offer it for sale. We have also mastered techniques for dyeing our own wool to give an even more unique look. It's this attention to detail that sets our products apart from the rest. Another great detail of these fulled items is that they are still considered miniature-sized, but don't lose any of the detailing or characteristics. Below is just a few of our fulled bears. Keep an eye out for when these items and more are available!

 

Up, Up, Updates

Up is the direction we are going, and boy have we been busy.  We finally launched our new website design today, and have included a couple new surprises to attract a variety of customers! We have been gathering wool and keeping our fingers busy with felted/fulled items and home decor--we've gone beyond just making bears and animals! We have a new artist, and even more artists joining in the near future!

Go ahead, take a peek... we know you wanna. :)
www.primiteds.com

Bear Reproduction

No, the subject of this post is not how adorable, fuzzy little cubs are made :)

We have had a couple of bear artists approach us with concerns of "copycats."  These artists have said that they can tell when certain bear artists are copying our latest designs--that when we change a certain feature or detail, so does the other bear artist.  It can be argued that the other artists' changes are made all in coincidence.  However, it is no longer coincidence after it reoccurs.  To address this fact--we can't remove every person that makes a product similar to ours, and that is precisely why we try to stay a step ahead.  We are continuously changing our products, offering new ways of adding detail and dimension.  The copycats are just going to have to try to keep up!  We are going to keep them on their toes!  The mere fact is that collectors and other bear artists will catch on.  They can see when the coincidences turn into recurrences.  It is an exciting challenge to develop new techniques--we encourage all artists to do so!

What's in a name?

          We began offering crocheted, miniature, fully-jointed animals to collectors over two decades ago.  We decided that Thread Bears® was a name that suited our business.  It was not a term that any artist used at that time to primarily refer to the products that they made.  The common terms bear and doll artists used to describe their products are: crocheted, miniature, bear, animal, doll, made of thread, made of yarn, etc.
          Our federally owned trademark, Thread Bears® (Reg. No. 2146208) has been the subject of many discussions through the years. We acquired the much-earned trademark after a long trial process and attempts of trademark cancellation by competitors.  Artists began using Thread Bears® to describe their products, even if the product they made wasn't a bear!  What they didn't realize is that in doing this, they ultimately hurt the chances of some prospects finding their product.  If the artist had titled the item as a "bear", and the possible customer was searching for "dolls," they would have never seen the item.
          The primary goal for the trademark abusers was to ultimately have our trademark deemed as a generic term.  However, since it was not a term that was primarily used to describe these products, it was decided by the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board that our federally registered trademark was NOT generic, and that any person (who made items similar to ours) was in violation of Trademark Law.  The decision of the Board can be found here:
http://ttabvue.uspto.gov/ttabvue/v?pno=92046025&pty=CAN&eno=25
          The only people/businesses who can use the term Thread Bears, other than us, is persons who DO NOT make soft sculpted, jointed, crocheted, knitted, felted, sewn bears, dolls, or animals of textiles--such as yarn, thread, fabric, etc.  
          Any person using our trademark to describe their items similar to ours will be held accountable, since that would be considered as offering counterfeit items--if it is not a Thread Bear®, do not call it one.  Any website featuring our trademark in connection to an item that was not made by us will be removed.  If the person in violation does not make the necessary adjustments, further action will be taken.  This further action could also consist of a financial obligation on part of the violator.
          We do not take these measures to hinder any of our competitors.  We do this to protect what we earned--what we have created and fought to keep.