Tabberone's Hall of Shame

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Timberland
Hall Of Shame Member

Timberland is another one of those companies who is taking liberties with trademark law. Timberland is shutting down auctions for Timgirl boots made by another comapny. Yet, there is no evidence that Timberland is going after the company that makes Timgirl, just the auctions. Shame on you Timberland and your attorneys, Fross Zelnick, particulary Evan Gouritz, for whom we have no respect.
Look at the logos above. Is it just us or do you see NO stinking similarity between the two? Wake up Evan. You can't be a jerkass lawyer all your life. We think ethics is a joke to people like you.
Contrary to what Shelley says in one or two emails. she did grant us permission to present these.

Contact email from a seller, July 13, 2004.
Another seller Shelley, shut down by Timberland, August 21, 2004.
More details from seller Shelley.
And more details from seller Shelley.
And seller is fighting back with a lengthy email to Fross Zelnick and eBay and the president of Timberland.

Timberland was added to Tabberone's Hall of Shame and the word is being spread.
A comments about Tabberone's Hall of Shame and Timberland being notified of their membership.
Another seller Joanne, also shut down by Timberland, makes a few comments.

Timberland's lawyers finally respond, on August 23, with an email that is intimidating and loaded with lies.

First lie is they claim the exclusive rights to the term TIMS and TIMBS. Perhaps they could then expalin why the trademark office has no record of these terms being registered as trademarks with the US Government?

The second lie is their claim that Shelley is liable under the Lanham Act for infringement. They would never get a conviction of her under the Lanham Act. Nor could they get legal fees, etc, as she is not a willfull infringer.

The third lie is her using the name TIMGIRL is illegal and infringing.

Timberland seems to enjoy beating up on innocent sellers. If Timberland had a real legal issue with TIMGIRLS, there would have been a federal lawsuit by this time and/or a settlement concerning the name but there isn't.
Michele Hanson at Timberland will call her legal dogs off if the sellers will jump through her "hoop of intimidation".
Scared but fighting back, Shelley pushes on. See who is the "Officious Prick" working for Fross Zelnick (and we think she's being nice).
TimGirl's Lawyer believes Timberland would lose the court fight but that Timberland would ruin her and her business in the attempt. Is this true, Timberland?. What a positive corporate image to project. The American way. If you can't win lawfully, then destroy your opponent's life? Your "Officious Prick", a.k.a., "Dickless Wonder", certainly gives us this impression. So, what do you say, Michele Hanson?

And, Timberland's own web site admits they don't the rights to the name Timgirl, TIMS, or TIMBS.
Fross Zelnick also represents Lego, New York Life, Superman, Pepsi, Keds, Christian Dior, and lots more, seems to have slept through Trademark Law 101.
Our new motto, thanks to an eBay seller, So many VeRO Members (and their law firms), so few with integrity.

Rebuttals
In an effort to provide a balanced view, we make the following offer to anyone who feels they have been wrongly accused on this web site.
If you, or your company, have been referenced on these pages, and you would like the chance to post a rebuttal, we will post your rebuttal (provided it is in good taste) so others can read it. The rebuttal must be submitted in a format that can easily be converted into HTML. We reserve the right to alter the rebuttal to make it more readable. However, we will not alter the content (unless there is offensive material to be removed). We also reserve the right to comment on any rebuttal received. Emails protesting the content of this web site may be treated as rebuttals by us at our discretion.
We made this offer a very long time ago and as of September 2008, only AnimieHot.com, in our Hall Of Shame, and Charlotte Perman (Sevenarts in our Hall Of Shame) have chosen to submit a formal rebuttal.