IMPORTANT NOTICE: Last week it came to our attention that a private handcrafted soap company had successfully trademarked the term "soap loaf". This word mark was published for opposition by the USPTO (U.S. Patent and Trademark Office) on February 5, 3013. The owner has been enforcing the mark on various sites, such as, eBay and having handcrafted soapmakers and suppliers that use the term "soap loaf" removed for trademark violation. The term "soap loaf" is a generic term that has been widely used in the handcrafted soap industry for decades and the trademark of this term creates an issue for the HSCG Members selling products using it. Both soapmaker (handcrafter) and supplier members of the HSCG sell products using "soap loaf", either soap or molds so this has far reaching effects. Last night, the HSCG Board of Directors made a decision to file a "Petition to Cancel Registration" with the TTAB (Trademark Trial Appeal Board) on behalf of the membership. While we were in the process of compiling data and preparing our filing with the attorney we received notice that the company had voluntarily canceled the registration of this trademark. It is no longer necessary for the HSCG to take legal action and those of you that were using the term "soap loaf" to sell can now resume doing so without the fear of repercussions.
Posted on: Tue, 01 Oct 2013 19:07:11 +0000
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