Wolf Trap Sues Tiny Non-Profit (in Berryville) Over "The Barns" Name (Rose Hill: store, best)

[South Jersey Styx]

What do you guys think?

Wolf Trap sues tiny non-profit over ‘The Barns’ name - The State of NoVa - The Washington Post

[Caladium]

What a dumb thing to sue over. It's not like Wolftrap is a product on a store shelf that might have to worry about competitors stealing their brand.

[South Jersey Styx]

Originally Posted by Caladium

What a dumb thing to sue over. It's not like Wolftrap is a product on a store shelf that might have to worry about competitors stealing their brand.

Yeah, it's just plain nasty. Like the big guy picking on the little guy.

Now I'm curious about The Barns of Rose Hill and wonder what performances they'll have. I'd gladly attend some in support of their group.

[JD984]

Hah. We're just getting started over here.

Anything or anyone with "Meadowlark" is now officially on notice and better look out, too. Heck, we might even make Meadow Lemon cease and desist from calling himself "Meadowlark."

Personally, I'd let the folks in Berryville use "Barns" in their name, so long as they agree to take over the Riverdance contract next summer. I mean, every friggin' year? Either that, or Berryville agrees to bring Gracie the Mule over to Vienna for a week-long engagement.

[South Jersey Styx]

Originally Posted by JEB77

Hah. We're just getting started over here.

Anything or anyone with "Meadowlark" is now officially on notice and better look out, too. Heck, we might even make Meadow Lemon cease and desist from calling himself "Meadowlark."

Personally, I'd let the folks in Berryville use the "Barns" nomenclature, so long as they did take over the Riverdance contract next summer. I mean, every friggin' year? Either that, or Berryville agrees to bring Gracie the Mule over to Vienna for a week-long engagement.

Heh heh . . . I noticed at the bottom of the article that there's a website and a Facebook page called "Big Bad Wolf Trap Bully" and people are rallying behind the little guy.

It's already getting nasty . . . and Wolf Trap does not look good on these comments . . . .

[saganista]

I've been to Berryville. It's pretty far out there, but not that far. Everyone in Berryville has heard of The Barns at Wolf Trap. Regardless of what the townsfolk might have called their place all these years, none of them should have been naive enough to believe that they could do a dollar's worth of business as The Barns of Rose Hill. This is not at all to diminish the 50 years of work and dedication that went into restoring the place. Everywhere needs more of that. But pretty clearly, nobody gave 50 seconds worth of thought to the business name they would operate under. Now they'll have to go through the hassle of sitting down with the Wolf Trap Foundation and figuring something out. Could have and should have been avoided.

[stpickrell]

Good. Have the Barns at Rose Hill pay $1 a year as a licensing fee. Wolf Trap protects its trademark and avoids a potential PR nightmare, the Barns at Rose Hill won't need to change their name, etc.

I would argue that "The Barns" is such a generic term that trademarking it would be well-nigh impossible.

[CapsChick]

Originally Posted by South Jersey Styx

Now I'm curious about The Barns of Rose Hill and wonder what performances they'll have. I'd gladly attend some in support of their group.

I commented on the WaPo blog post yesterday that this will end up being the best thing that could happen to The Barns of Rose Hill. They could never have bought such publicity.

[saganista]

Originally Posted by stpickrell

Good. Have the Barns at Rose Hill pay $1 a year as a licensing fee. Wolf Trap protects its trademark and avoids a potential PR nightmare, the Barns at Rose Hill won't need to change their name, etc.

That would be an equitable settlement, but perhaps an even closer working arrangement could eventually come out of all this.

Originally Posted by stpickrell

I would argue that "The Barns" is such a generic term that trademarking it would be well-nigh impossible.

Well, except for the fact that it's already been accomplished.

[BellaElla]

As a Berryville resident I have to say that this a very upsetting situation! We feel bullied by Wolf Trap.