SXSW Doesn’t Love The Free Noms! Sends Cease & Desist Email
Yep. You read that right. Looks like SXSW is cracking down on SXSW-related blogs that have “SXSW” in their title. As a huge fan of the festival and supporter for many years, I was completely surprised that they sent me a very serious cease and desist email full of legal jargon. Basically…they don’t like us.
Coming from a conference that is supposed to be on the leading forefront of innovation in the worlds of music, film and interactive, I was surprised at how much they dislike the unofficial guides, blogs and Twitters that make up a huge network of the SXSW fan community. You would think they would understand that part of branding comes from your supporters and you have to let go a little to let them define it. You would think they would want to nurture the communities online that promote and talk them up to thousands and thousands of people.
Maybe it’s the unofficial parties I promote that haven’t been donned with the symbol of approval from SXSW? We all know there’s sponsor dollars in those parties and maybe in a sense we are a competition for SXSW. But there’s only so much that you can control and what they can control is going after all of us who do this out of sheer joy and passion. I’m only the messenger here. I don’t get paid to do anything. I haven’t made one dollar or have been given anything in exchange. I have eaten a lot of food and met hundreds of people who have thanked me for the source of information I provide. I do it because I love sharing information and connecting with people who love what I love. Not because I am trying to solicit sponsorship dollars or whatever they think myself and the rest of the unofficial SXSW online community does.
With that said, SXSW Free Noms has now been changed to South By Free Noms. Let the noms continue!
See you at SXSW 2012!
P.S: Here’s the original impersonal email I received. Thoughts?
Dear Sir/Madam:
It has recently come to our attention that SXSW Free Noms is using the term “SXSW” as a marketing, promotional, sales and sponsorship solicitation tool. See the following website:
http://sxswfreenoms.tumblr.com/post/445967761/free-vitamin-water-pop-chips-at-skip-intro-party
Please consider this to be notice that you are in violation of state and federal trademark and unfair competition law due to your unlawful use of our famous trademarks.
SXSW, Inc owns and has federally registered the marks SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST and SXSW. As a trademark owner, we have an obligation to protect the goodwill and reputation associated with our marks by preventing their unauthorized use. We strongly believe that anyone who sees your promotions or content will assume that we are endorsing your company, or that we have somehow sponsored or approved your activities.
Therefore, we must demand that you cease using our registered marks immediately. Please respond by Friday, Dec. 16 by 5pm CST or we will be forced to assume you are not willing to comply with our request and will proceed to engage our attorneys in this matter.
