Say No to Sew Fast/Sew Easy : CafePress.com
In May, 2005, Sew Fast/Sew Easy Inc., a New York based sewing shop, began sending out notices to various non-profit “Stitch ‘n Bitch” knitting organizations around the country, alerting the crafters to the fact that this company trademarked “Stitch & Bitch Cafe” years ago, and that these knitters could not use those words.
We disagree. We believe we are not infringing on any trademarks. We’re not even making any money off the phrase. But, being just a group of crafters scattered all over the US, it’s hard to band together and fight this injustice.
Those of us who aren’t terribly inclined to use “stitch and bitch” in our knitting groups may think, oh, get over it. But if they get cleared to use their trademark in this way, I’m rather sure I’ll get dragged to the post for using “knitster.” I already can’t make T-shirts for my knitting site, and I’d hate to think that my non-profit weblog over at www.knitster.org is causing anyone any problems.
But truth is, stitch and bitch groups across the nation have been part of what fueled the craft’s elevation back into the fabric (pun sort of intended) of “cool” society. It’s not a craft for daft grannies anymore, though you can bet being less than ten years from potential daft granniness myself, I will wear the label with punkish pride when it comes to pass.
Look at all the creative things that have come to pass as a result of Debbie Stoller’s books. To me, it’s a movement. Maybe it wasn’t a movement when Sew Fast/Sew Easy started using it, but guess what. It’s a movement now. We will not be pwned.
I know, there are other social justice movements that are probably infinitely more important, but I’m a creative person, and playing bully with your trademark smacks of corporate greed.
Posted in Knitting by: Helen
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