Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

A product name like "Bitless Bridle" can be trademarked, not patented.  A trademark provides protection from different companies attempting to sell similar (or different products) using the same product name, which is a good thing because it reduces consumer confusion.  It is a marketing protection mechanism rather than a design protection like patents.

 

If Dr Cook hasn't trademarked the name "Bitless Bridle" then he cannot even claim ownership of that.  I'd be surprised if that were the case, however.

 

MIke

-----Original Message-----
From: ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Alice Yovich
Sent: Friday, January 30, 2004 3:18 PM
To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: [RC] Patent law- if it isn't your idea

I have had one of his bitless bridles and I ended up reselling it b/c it was not working for my horse.  I have wondered though if he can stop others from selling theirs b/c every catalog has one and they are a little different. I'm thinking that the idea can't be patented, but the name can be. Of course, i'm not an attorney and don't KNOW. I'm just thinking about the guy who sells a bridle who says he's not affiliated with Dr. Cook and Dr. Cook's website had the same disclaimer about the other guy. Something about Spirit horse.

At 08:43 AM 1/30/04 -0800, you wrote:

I can tell you from experience (as a patent holder, not an attorney), that legal challenges to patents are very expensive for both parties.  It is likely that if Dr Cook is insecure at all about the validity of his patent, he would refrain from taking you to court...he could end up paying all court costs.

Alice Yovich,
NATRC Reg. 4, Texas
www.equi-threads.com