Pursuits of the Shabby Chic Lawyers
NOTE: Below is an original post from my blog (not a storefront, but an information blog). The blog is now closed so I have moved the post here. PLEASE REBLOG!!!
BOYCOTT THE BRAND SHABBY CHIC IF YOU AGREE!!!
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This is the last post for the Shabby Chic Home Blog. I will be moving to DIY Chic Home.
The decision to move the blog was not entirely my own. Though “shabby chic” is popular term used by nearly everyone to define a distressed, vintage, cottage decor style, I received a letter from Ms. Rachel Ashwell’s attorney claiming otherwise. The letter requested me to cease and desist my fan blog because they felt I was diluting their brand name. In fact, they are demanding that I never use the term on the internet again. The letter states very clearly :
…you should be aware that SHABBY CHIC is a protected trademark, not an acceptable description for a design style that describes “country cottage”, “cottage”, or “French country” style decorating. ~Dennis Prahl, attorney for Rachel Ashwell
Clearly my fan blog posed no threat to the financial earnings of Shabby Chic Inc. This is just one sad example of corporate greed, power, and ego. This type of bullying is, in my opinion, an invasion of the rights of individuals to think, create, and share ideas. It has certainly influenced my views of Ms. Ashwell and her company.
We as individuals and as a community have a choice. In this situation I have chosen to abandon the term “shabby chic” altogether. Please be aware that anytime you use this term you risk two things: 1) being pursued with legal action and 2) supporting a company that engages in such greedy actions.
On my new blog I will be using terms such as vintage chic, romantic chic, and farmhouse chic. I urge you to do the same. Remember:
If you feel the same way, please retweet and share with facebook or other social sites. When we say nothing, corporate greed continues to grow.
