"Frugalista" Debate: One Blogger Stakes Claim

Reader Comments
Back to blog

в итоге: превосходно... а82ч

adjuct of AL 4:18PM February 24, 2010

и всё эе: мне понравилось! а82ч

adjuct of AL 4:01PM February 24, 2010

It's a word. Did she invent the word? I think not. Has her lawyer ever heard of the first amendment? If not, tell him and her lame site to bring it.

Lauren of CA 6:33PM January 12, 2010

Give me a break. There are hungry people, unemployed people, uninsured people, and this woman wants sole rights to a word. Good grief.

Lily of TX 1:24PM November 03, 2009

If Natalie McNeal's TV show and other ideas are as boring as her blog, don't worry, the lawyer letters will go away and the word will be available again for all of us who were frugalistas before it was fashionable to call ourselves as we are and seek out each others' good ideas.

Peggy of PA 2:48PM November 01, 2009

In times like these she should be ashamed. She's expecting to cash in on a word (and a spirit) we should all be embracing. Alas, Karma has its own way of payback.

Zen of OH 5:12PM October 12, 2009

Hi! I am the Artist Formerly Known as Jackson Frugalista (TOH to Eldon of Utah).
I caved and changed the name — my “buy cool stuff cheap” blog is now http://frugalmississippi.blogspot.com. I am looking forward to posting info about garage sales in Pelahatchie, MS, and such without the threat of a lawsuit.
THAT SAID — I am not willing to let the issue die. So I created a second new blog, “Really Dumb Trademarks.” Its address is http://reallydumbtrademark.blogspot.com.
I CAN’T believe I am the only person this has happened to — other people have had their online freedom of speech cut off because of some ridiculous trademark filing. I’d like us all to have a place to go and vent.
I also want to post resources for site visitors who wish to fight the fight.
Ideally, this new blog will catch the attention of some organization that works to protect individuals’ rights online. If I can get someone like that interested, I’d like to see all the people who offered ME money to help in a fight against Trademark Girl in Miami direct those funds to a larger effort to make trademarks work fairly for everyone.
Those of you who have spoken out on the plain craziness of this trademark, I hope you’ll stay interested in the topic. Maybe we can continue to make some noise, get some things changed, and then I CAN CHANGE MY NAME BACK. And laugh maniacally towards the general direction of Miami.

JacksonFrugalGal of MS 7:28PM October 04, 2009

I thought that the days of trademarking yourself died when the artist formerly known as Prince went out of style

Eldon Gomez of UT 8:47PM September 29, 2009

So if you look in the PTO Database, a lot of common names are trademarks when associated with products. For example, Fashionista is a trademark of several companies. Example Trademark # 76386045 for Fashionista Hair Care. Check out ALL the Fashionista Trademarks that are registered for Hair, Make-up, Videos and Blogs. You better believe all of these registrant companies have routinely sent C&D letters to protect their marks.
So I have to ask, why single out a private individual for using the established US Trademark Process? Seems like US News is being a bit of a bully here and joining a bunch of bloggers with an axe to grind.
An article like this would be more interesting if the article looked at the current state of US trademark law and why the PTO establishes trademarks for words that are in the dictionary. Instead, this singles out one individual and one words. Poor Ms. McNeal isl eft battling to protect her legally granted mark and taking an incredible amount of abuse in the process, meanwhile Jackson Frugalista springs from obscurity for a blog about garage sales. Go figure.
Can we get back to important stuff like UNEMPLOYMENT, RECESSION and national health care. This it the Money section right? Not the Trademark gripe Soapbox? Interview Suzy Orman or someone and offer advice on how to help people be FRUGAL! GEESH.

SOOTHSAYER of IL 5:32PM September 24, 2009

I got the same text on my blog, which you can see under the section "Cease and Desist -- unlike "FrugalistaFiles," I DO approve comments that are contrary to my position and let people see them.
While I am wary of starting a tit-for-tat with the trademark defender, I feel compelled to say my blog was not a "copycat." I had never even heard of the "Frugalista Files" until I got the cease and desist letter. I had heard the word in a number of places and decided to use it -- because it's a WORD.
And while no one disputes that the USTPO granted the mark, the issue seems to be whether they should have. No one paid attention to the comment period because no one who uses the word would ever have thought it would be trademarked.

JacksonFrugalista of MS 10:31AM September 24, 2009