Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

This Regal Rabbit PiN KeePeR is the perfect addition to any sewing notions collection. This warm-grey fellow is perched atop a hand-dyed cabbage pin cushion, and he stands at 6 1/4" from his feet to the top of his head. Both the rabbit and his cabbage are fulled/felted wool, giving a softer appearance.

The rabbit, fully thread jointed, has a completely embroidered face and claws. He is wearing a hand-crocheted lime green sash with notions, which matches his lime green collar and primitive stitching on the cabbage. The cabbage, measured at approximately 5 1/4" across, is placed in a hand-crocheted cotton thread basket.

Available here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Thread-Bears-ar … 1082810297?

I like your work, too--I especially love your pandas!!

Thanks, everyone!  We appreciate your kind comments!!

This antique-style Rose Teddy has features like a pointed snout and longer arms.  She is crocheted from mixed threads, then brushed for a softer finish.  Her face and claws are embroidered, and she stands at 4 1/2" tall.

She is available here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Thread-Bears-ar … d=ViewItem

Berta,
You can clearly see that in this 2009 paperwork, all of the "genericness" has been removed--because we own Thread Bears®.  As for the disclaimers--we already clarified what 'no exclusive rights' means above.

Berta, since you did not post the date of your document...

Everyone should know that this was posted on 2/14/2007.  If you would like to verify, here is the link: http://tsdr.uspto.gov/documentviewer?ca … 0214133711

Everyone should also know that on 6/19/2008, the Court ruled in our favor--that it is not generic.  If you would like to verify, here is the link: http://ttabvue.uspto.gov/ttabvue/v?pno= … CAN&eno=25

As stated above, your lawyer had told you--also on 6/19/2008-- that your cancellation attempt was denied, since the Board did not find the phrase to be generic.  Here is the letter to you (which was taken from your evidence at the Trademark Office):

Edited to add: This evidence is obtained from the US Patent and Trademark Office.  It is public record.

Bobbie, you continue to misinform others…

You can’t interpret the law.  It says what it says.  Any other trademark with “thread bears“ in it will not make our registered trademark free for others to use.

It would not make sense that anybody could use a phrase only after it is a trademark.

So, you‘re implying that “Beyond Basic Bears” could not be used by anyone until it is a registered trademark...  That makes no sense.  This is backwards--when a phrase becomes a registered trademark, it is protected by the law.

The disclaimer is not an agreement that our trademark is generic.  “Thread bears” is not the generic term for the type of bears we make.  The generic term for these items is crocheted bears.  Bobbie and Berta, in your evidence at the Trademark Office, your previous lawyer stated, in a letter to you, that despite all of your evidence against “Thread Bears,”  you lost because it was deemed non-generic.

Jenny,
Nobody can own rights to the phrase "teddy bear," since that phrase can be found in the dictionary together.  Everyone can use "teddy bear." 

Sue

Again, to set the record straight…
Yes, we do still own Thread Bears®.  If anyone would like to confirm registration at the US Patent and Trademark Office, here is a link to our Trademark Title: http://assignments.uspto.gov/assignment … o=75245684

We advise against anyone using the phrase “thread bear(s)” or “threadbear(s),” in any font or format.  We are required, by law, to police anyone infringing on our marks.

As for disclaimers…
As Trademark Law states, disclaimers on any application would not invalidate any trademark.  Our registration for “Thread Teds by Thread Bears,” in no way, makes our Thread Bears trademark invalid or generic.  To verify this rule: http://www.bitlaw.com/source/15usc/1056.html

The only people who could use “thread bears” in any way would be people who make completely different items from ours—items that do not fall under our category of goods.  For instance, there could be a Thread Bears Landscaping.  But, if a company offers any type of crocheted/sewn/felted/knitted/soft-sculpted bears or animals, and uses the phrase “thread bears,” in any way, is infringing.
Yes, Berta Hesen-Minten can carry on in business as “ThReAdTeDs,” but she will no longer be able to associate our mark, “Thread Bears,” with her business.

If anyone would like more information on Trademark Law, we advise you to look at the USPTO website directly, or to seek out legal counsil.  If you would like the Layman’s breakdown on our trademark, you may find this on our blog.

I love how colorful he is! Very cute!

What a cute little guy; I just love the little crown!

Thank you so much--it feels like Easter is right around the corner!

This “RaRe-HaRe" is the newest offering from Thread Bears®.  Both this fuzzy little bunny and his hand-dyed, speckled eggs are made from spun wool, then fulled/felted.  This fulling/felting process is uncommon for collectibles, but we love the fleece-like feel it gives to our little creatures.  Standing at 5" tall, he has "stitched seams" and details to give him a family-heirloom feel. 

See him here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Thread-Bears-ar … 4170d1ae7e

Thanks, everyone, for your kind words!!

This circus-style bear is truly one of a kind.  He is hand-dyed and gently aged.  He is adorned with a pom pom hat and unique collar, which was also aged for added detail.  He is a little larger than our typical creations, standing at 6 3/4" tall--which allows him to be viewed from across the room!  A great addition to any primitive-style decor.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Thread-Bears-Vi … 1058573011?

This fuzzy little BLaCK BeaR is wide-eyed and watching for things that go bump in the night!

He is entirely crocheted from spun wool, and then shrunken by the process of "fulling," which is not to be confused with needle-felting or wet-felting. The fulling process has made his overall appearance more solid and fur-like than traditional crochet. This process also softens the wool. He was hand-dyed in a dark charcoal gray and given lighter colored paws and muzzle. This black Bear has a vintage style look with his crochet eyes and his embroider face. Each body part was individually made and stuffed!

Get him here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/ARTiST-ViNTaGE- … 416afa5812

Berta,
Did we miss something?  Are you upset?  Why are you are acting like you are defending your products?  We made no claims to being the first or only to use this technique.  Do you think I am trying to steal?  What is it that you want?   We simply listed on here to advertise one of my newest bears, which is what we understood this section is for.   

Sue

Berta,
Yes, we have seen some of your products that you made using wet felting and needle-felting techniques.  We don't want to get too technical on the subject here since, as we understand, the Marketplace section is mainly for advertising available products. 

Your techniques do differ from ours quite a bit.  We don't crochet the bear and needle-felt characteristics onto it, such as the muzzle and paw pads. And we don't wet and layer unspun wool to make a fabric-like sheet to cut shapes out of and sew together.  This entire bear was crocheted with the wool--and using water, soap, and friction, this entire item shrunk and became solidified and has an almost fabric or fur-like appearance--which is what we've been working towards in this felting/fulling process. As we can see, this is the same process that Diana had used.

Thank you, ladies! Glad you like this little guy!

Love the color and the adorable coat!

This not-so-average-bear is uniquely shaded, aging him quite handsomely for an "old toy charm."  Since he has been felted, he is fluffier, softer, and more durable, giving him an overall more solidified appearance.  After felting some larger items last year, we have been perfecting our technique for felted crocheted miniatures--including this BLue PaNDa who stands at only 4 3/4" tall.  He is wearing a cotton crochet cream and blue striped collar that has a red ribbon tied in the front, which also buttons in the back so it can be removed.

Get this one-of-a-kind guy here:  http://www.ebay.com/itm/ARTiST-prim-fel … 6rk%3D1%26

Thank you! He does have quite the big smile. 

This raggedy rabbit has characteristics that resemble a classic Annie doll, yet this miniature-sized prim stands at 2 3/4" tall (excluding his ears).  His charming striped socks, suspenders and bow make him look like quite the dapper fellow!

Get him here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/ARTiST-primitiv … 416a10aa2d

Thank you Conni!

Libby, an American panda who stands at 2 1/8" tall, is now available! She is gently aged with an embroidered face, and she proudly wears a collar of red, white, and blue.  Only four days left!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dl … 61#vi-desc