GrillinFool
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jul 26, 2009
- Messages
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We're hosting a BBQ competition in October and I sent an email to Weber asking for a donation for the grand prize since it's for charity. Not only did they deny me a grill but I got slapped with a cease and desist. How you like this ****?
Each and every one of those links involves a recipe done on a weber product. Am I missing something here? How is that infringing on anything? How is this violating the bolded above? Is any mention of Weber in electronic media supposed to have a link back to Weber.com?
So I was a huge fan of Weber and now I'm, well, not.
Clicking on the word Weber in the word cloud takes one to this pageDear Mr. Thomas:
Your recent email inquiry has been forwarded to my attention for response. First, I would like to thank you for taking the time to contact us with respect to the history surrounding GrillinFools.com. Clearly, you and your partners have a true passion for grilling and a gift for sharing that passion with others.
However, with respect to your website we have a few concerns. First, your use of our trademarks, namely "Weber" and "Weber Kettle" in your "key words" banner on the left side of your home page is misleading. Clicking on these trademarks takes one to a random recipe that you are promoting, rather than anything "Weber" or "Weber Kettle." Not only is this an unauthorized use of our federally registered trademarks, it is very confusing to any visitor to your site who clicks on these key words to gain information on Weber. Please remove our trademarks from your site, and confirm that you have done so.
Lastly, with respect to your request for a donation, you are correct that we receive "thousands of these." In addition, Weber has established business relationships with third parties, which prevent us from associating with certain organizations and products. Even when we are able to clear any conflicts, a simple grill donation has often turned into false marketing claims, which results in Weber being promoted, without our knowledge, as being a sponsor, associated with or endorsing a particular contest. It is for all of these reasons that we also choose to make our donations and charitable partnerships quietly without any advertising.
We truly appreciate your loyalty to our brand and to our Company. However, as stated above, we need to caution you against how our trademarks are used. Weber is not just the name of our Company, it is a federally registered trademark for a huge variety of goods and services. As such, we regulate and protect its use at all costs.
We thank you for respecting our rights and wish you and your partners the best of luck with your internet and barbecue ventures.
Respectfully,
Nancy Misch
Vice President of Business & Legal Affairs
Weber-Stephen Products Co.
Each and every one of those links involves a recipe done on a weber product. Am I missing something here? How is that infringing on anything? How is this violating the bolded above? Is any mention of Weber in electronic media supposed to have a link back to Weber.com?
So I was a huge fan of Weber and now I'm, well, not.