Corporate Bullying... Vermont Strong!

PagesHouse

PagesHouse

Active member
I try my absolute hardest to keep politics out of my NS posts, but this is an issue that's extremely important to me. I'm not asking anyone to donate (although it would be greatly appreciated and warmly welcomed), but I feel that this might be interesting to at least some of you.
Here is the short story, but go to http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20111124/BUSINESS08/111240307/-Eat-More-Kale-trademark-flap-more-complex-than-simple-slogan for the whole story (Bo is a VERY interesting dude):
Bo is Vermonter who started a very small business of making t-shirts out of his garage with the slogan "eat more kale". He started selling them at farmers markets in Vermont and the demand for these t-shirts has grown wildly, but Bo still hand makes every single t-shirt from home. Somehow, Chik-fil-a caught wind of the business and sent Bo a "cease-and-desist" letter claiming the slogan violates their trademarked slogan "Eat mor chikin". **I'm sorry but I highly doubt anyone will buy an "eat more kale" shirt thinking they were buying a Chik-fil-a product**. This is corporate bullying and absolutely unnecessary. In 2009, Rock Art Brewery in Vermont received a "cease-and-desist" letter from Monster Energy Drinks claiming their Vermonster beer violated their trademark. Vermonters united-citizens and politicians-and overcame this instance of corporate bullying, boycotting Monster products and successfully winning the battle with Hansen Beverages Company. IT CAN BE DONE.

Bo is trying to make a movie to raise awareness on corporate bullying of small businesses nationwide. He is an insanely interesting dude and I think this movie will be absolutely awesome. The project will only be funded if they meet the goal of $75,000 by this Sunday (http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1674889308/a-defiant-dude).

Back Bo! Vermont Strong!
 
I said it once before and I'll say it again: I'm not sure which is more stupid, the lawsuit or the atrocious spelling in the slogan. Last thing America needs is more bastardized English in ad slogans. I'm pulling for the little guy since this lawsuit is entirely irrelevant to Chik-fil-a's product success.
 
I know, right?!?! Plus Bo is effing awesome.
I wish I could embed the movie trailer on the kickstarter website... it wouldnt work for me but if someone can figure that out please do it because its a good little video preview!
 
"""With that, Muller-Moore sticks the spoonful of ink into his mouth, faces the T-shirt Buck-knived to the door, and then in a dramatic close-up, spit-takes the ink — John Belushi, Animal House-style — onto the suspended shirt. In the last frame, a smiling Muller-Moore, black ink dripping down his horseshoe moustache, holds up a freshly minted "Eat More Kale" T-shirt.

"There you go folks!" Muller says."""

Reason enough to not only support him, but also see that chik-fil-a is a bunch of douche bag bullies. thanks for the awareness
 
This is about a billion dollar corporation having so much power in court solely because of it's money. It's not as simple as a judge's decision. It's about thousands upon thousands of dollars in lawyer and court fees and appeals after appeals. The little guys don't have the money to pay for any of this, so 99 times out of 100, it doesn't make it to court.
If you get a dude out of small-town vermont selling t-shirts mixed up with a multi-billion dollar fast food restaurant.... well I think that goes without saying...
 
he should start making t-shirts with the fast food chains slogan to stay in business?
 
That's exactly the thing. The guy doesn't stand a chance at making it into court to fight this. These multi-million dollar corporations can push anyone small out of the way because the small guy stands no chance in hell, even if they do not have a legitimate case. If the small guy fights, they will often be sucked dry by legal fees before they can get a judgement in court.

The problem in this instance is how in the hell does this guy's kale operation damage the brand of Chik-fil-a? I understand the need to protect your brand identity, but there has needs to be a line somewhere. These are two completely non-competing products with NO relation other than both items are edible. Arguing that the Eat More Kale slogan could be construed as a Chik-Fil-A piece or vice versa is insulting the intelligence of consumers.

The public needs to stand up and send the corporation the message that what they are doing is wrong in the bluntest way possible, not buy their product. While I have never visited a Chik-Fil-A before and their product was of little interest to me, I can say for certain now that I have zero interest in giving a single cent of my money to the company now.
 
I'm not sure if you went to the kickstarter link, but their trying (and very close to succeeding) to be funded in making a documentary about the whole situation and corporate bullying in general. Bo is more fortunate than the 30 other "eat more -" cases that have been shut down because he's a star citizen in a grassroots driven state. Everyone here knows and loves him and Vermont has unified and successfully shut down corporate bullying in one other instance in 2009 (Rock Art Brewery and Monster Energy Drink). We live in a unique state where people actually care, so it presents Bo with the amazing opportunity to get the word out there. This specific case has also gained support by not only Vermonters, but politicians nationwide, so unlike 99% of corporate lawsuits, he may actually stand a chance.
 
He is incredibly fortunate. He has a pro bono legal counsel who is willing to help fight should it go there and the public support is there.

That said, the corporation will not back down until it begins to tug at their purse strings and the resistance begins to affect their bottom line in a negative enough of a fashion to make them realize their decision to go after these unrelated businesses was foolish.

That is what happened with Rock Art. The public outrage caused boycotts by consumers as well as distributors against Hansen and it made them wise up and realize that their fight was pointless. The agreement was made that they would leave Rock Art alone so long as Rock Art never made energy drinks, a very fair and reasonable proposal.

Until the dimwits at Chik-Fil-A realize that their fight is damaging their brand FAR more than Eat More Kale t-shirts, they will continue to push forward with the base-less lawsuits.

I too suspect that he wins as a result of his circumstances. That said, there will be thousands of other small business owners lives who will be ruined by some billion dollar corporate bully pushing a pointless, irrelevant trademark suit through.
 
Bo is less than $500 away from his goal with 2 days left! So awesome.... looks like we're getting a documentary made, people!
 
I see these stickers around all the time in Plattsburgh, always wondered why they were there. Sick. Glad he's standing up for himself.
 
I find it insane that companies would waste time and effort over shit like that... Imagine all the money they spend just fucking with people.

That said, I'd never ever even walk into a chick-fil-a to shit in their toilet based on how much they lobby for christian conservative values and vigorously send out these cease and desist suits. They are a private company and can do what they want and put their money where they want, but when they start fucking with people over stupid crap, and fire people based on their religious beliefs, then all I can say is mother FUCK that.

Go Bo, and Go Vermont. Go everyone who wants to fight this corporate bullying bullshit.
 
Couldn't agree with you anymore. I have been there a few times in the past and have never really been a fan of it in the first place and after giving this a read I will make it a priority to never go there again.

I mean ultimately its over two words plus they arent even a competitor let alone the same market as Chik Fi Le or however the fuck you spell it.
 
Figured I'd bump this since Worth Skis made an "Eat More Kale" edition topsheet available on their new models and all profits go to Bo's legal fund.

http://worthskis.com/2012/07/kale-a-worthy-cause/

They look pretty cool too! Go Bo!

hG8KO.jpg


 
I'm unclear. What are they raising money for? To pay his legal fees? I thought someone was handling this pro bono?
 
The money is going towards creating a documentary on corporate bullying..... I'm pretty sure none of it is going towards legal fees as there are many lawyers throughout the country who have offered to help him pro bono.
 
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