Jessica Watson runs into more controversy

Major Catastrophe said:
Poor girl. Days after the news that Jessica will not be able to claim any records, as she apparently did not sail far enough into the Northern hemisphere to to clock up enough miles to claim the record for the youngest person to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around the world, she is now having a finger wagged at her for naming her boat Ella's Pink Lady.
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Doesn't seem to bad. Just that she is using the heart with 'Pink Lady' written in it and it's the same as the global brand that holds the trademark. her management company were warned in October not to negetively impact the brand, and by the sounds of things that hasn't happened so everyone is happy.

Storm in a teacup i'd say but the company is fair to raise it.
 
Major Catastrophe said:
Poor girl. Days after the news that Jessica will not be able to claim any records, as she apparently did not sail far enough into the Northern hemisphere to to clock up enough miles to claim the record for the youngest person to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around the world, she is now having a finger wagged at her for naming her boat Ella's Pink Lady.
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This 'non-record' will in fact be unique in sailing history - whereas the record, if it had been deemed to have been achieved, would no doubt be fleeting. I hope Jessica can see it that way as well.

As for the apples guys - they just want a slice of the pie. Maybe Jessica's next boat will be a shiny new Ocean 60 with a big apple on the sail.

If she is the person I think she is then she will sail through this nonsense with the same aplomb she has shown throughout her Southern Ocean adventure.

- W
 
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webcraft said:
As for the apples guys - they just want a slice of the pie.
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To be fair to them, it's nothing to do with the boat name. It's the fact that she's (or her team) chosen to use their logo to display it.

If there was any flack regarding this, it would be an own goal by her team on this issue.
 
Fire99 said:
To be fair to them, it's nothing to do with the boat name. It's the fact that she's (or her team) chosen to use their logo to display it.

If there was any flack regarding this, it would be an own goal by her team on this issue.
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There's not going to be any flack, the apples people just want to bask in a little of the reflected glory. They seem quite happy now. If she had failed spectacularly they would just have kept quiet about the whole thing.

It won't be long after she gets back before the poor lass wishes she was back at sea.

- W
 
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webcraft said:
It won't be long after she gets back before the poor lass wishes she was back at sea.

- W
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Yeah I know but to be honest, her team (or herself) aren't making her life any easier by dabbling with trademark licensing. It's no secret how the rules work.
 
webcraft said:
There's not going to be any flack, the apples people just want to bask in a little of the reflected glory. They seem quite happy now. If she had failed spectacularly they would just have kept quiet about the whole thing.

It won't be long after she gets back before the poor lass wishes she was back at sea.

- W
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That was a quick update. Very definitely the apple company using this for publicity for their brand. Wag the finger and then after that has hit the newspapers, offer the olive branch and climb aboard HER bandwagon.

Genius.
 
Major Catastrophe said:
That was a quick update. Very definitely the apple company using this for publicity for their brand. Wag the finger and then after that has hit the newspapers, offer the olive branch and climb aboard HER bandwagon.

Genius.
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Yes they may be making the most of the situation.

However, It's their trademark!!! If her camp didn't want any of this to happen. Don't use the trademark. No-one would of mentioned a word if she had named her boat 'Pink Lady' but without the trademark.

The company cannot be criticised for any part of this.
 
Fire99 said:
The company cannot be criticised for any part of this.
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Oh yes they can. And who cares anyway - trademark legislaton is just another rich feeding ground for corporate lawyers.

I am assuming that trademark law is an interest or speciality of yours, but if you want to discuss it I feel you would be better taking it to the Lounge. This thread is about Jessica Watson.


- W
 
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webcraft said:
I am assuming that trademark law is an interest or speciality of yours, but if you want to discuss it I feel you would be better taking it to the Lounge. This thread is about Jessica Watson.
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Not entirely. As the originator of the thread I can say I posted it with the intention of raising both the issues mentioned in the two newspaper articles I referenced. The second one refers to the the controversy of the trade mark so therefore, according to my rules, it is permissible to discuss the trade mark issue on Jessica, even if that means that a side discussion of trade mark law ensues.

But Webby, if you feel you the need to continue moderating my thread, that is up to you. :(
 
Major Catastrophe said:
Not entirely. As the originator of the thread I can say I posted it with the intention of raising both the issues mentioned in the two newspaper articles I referenced. The second one refers to the the controversy of the trade mark so therefore, according to my rules, it is permissible to discuss the trade mark issue on Jessica, even if that means that a side discussion of trade mark law ensues.

But Webby, if you feel you the need to continue moderating my thread, that is up to you. :(
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Its a fair cop Major, I apologise for being bang out of order. You may wish to print and frame this post :D

And I have to agree it seems odd that no-one noticed the enormous similarity between the Pink Lady logo and the one used on Ella's Pink Lady. The fact remains that no-one is likely to confuse a yacht with an apple and this is just an opportunistic stunt by the Apple people, who will just be the first of many wanting to climb on Jessica's bandwagon. As I said, maybe she will get an Open 60 out of them for her next voyage.

- W
 
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webcraft said:
Its a fair cop Major, I apologise for being bang out of order. You may wish to print and frame this post
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What do you reckon, a plain oak frame or shall go for yew?

Then there is the question of size. I am thinking of a 22 sheet poster, but........;)

webcraft said:
As I said, maybe she will get an Open 60 out of them for her next voyage.
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Then some good will come out of it and both sides have a win win situation. Jessica and all those that follow her need all the help they can get. But, I fear for where 'the youngest' attempts are going. After all, a foetus will have a difficult time navigating and handling a big yacht.
 
Major Catastrophe said:
After all, a foetus will have a difficult time navigating and handling a big yacht.
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There are blokes in Wiltshire flying Predator drones over Afghanistan ... applying that technology to yachting should be a doddle. Ground teams can already do all the passage planning, pilotage, meteorology and sail choice decisions ... adding helm and sheeting to that is just a detail.

The biggest challenge will be an automatic nappy changer.
 
Ubergeekian said:
There are blokes in Wiltshire flying Predator drones over Afghanistan ... applying that technology to yachting should be a doddle. Ground teams can already do all the passage planning, pilotage, meteorology and sail choice decisions ... adding helm and sheeting to that is just a detail.

The biggest challenge will be an automatic nappy changer.
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To quote my good friend Skipper Stu -

"Yawn yawn . . . "

- W
 
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Some bizarre ol comments..

I'm no fan of corporate leeching on someone elses glory. However, my point, which was bleedin simple, was the fact that all this is no new mysterious practice.

If you choose to stick a logo on the side of your boat, plane, backside, or whatever, that is owned by a big ol corporate company, expect them to take notice.

The Jessica's crew would of known this when It was made aware to them last year.

Young Miss Watson has done a stirling job on her voyage but on this issue alone it is what it is. Opinion and morals etc etc have no part in it. It's just a matter of fact. Company logo on boat = Interest from company..
 
Fire99 said:
Some bizarre ol comments..

I'm no fan of corporate leeching on someone elses glory. However, my point, which was bleedin simple, was the fact that all this is no new mysterious practice.

If you choose to stick a logo on the side of your boat, plane, backside, or whatever, that is owned by a big ol corporate company, expect them to take notice.

The Jessica's crew would of known this when It was made aware to them last year.

Young Miss Watson has done a stirling job on her voyage but on this issue alone it is what it is. Opinion and morals etc etc have no part in it. It's just a matter of fact. Company logo on boat = Interest from company..
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It's not the company logo, it is similar, and PL apples are being opportunistic. And Jessica is the skipper, not the name of the boat. Are you paying any attention or do you just want to make boring obvious points about trademark legislation?

- W
 
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I have often bought Pink lady apples on open display in our local supermarket without noticing any logo. Being honest, i considered it a name rather like granny smiths rather than a brand. Must look more closely next time and move along the aisle...
 
SAWDOC said:
I have often bought Pink lady apples on open display in our local supermarket without noticing any logo. Being honest, i considered it a name rather like granny smiths rather than a brand. Must look more closely next time and move along the aisle...
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I used to avoid them on ecological grounds - I assumed they been shipped round the world. Perhaps Miss Watson should arrange retroactive sponsorship to counter this ... "Pink Ladies ... they haven't gone quite as far as you might have thought"
 
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