Autumn Harp wins battle with Unilever over Un-Petroleum Jelly.BRISTOL, Vt.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 14, 1996--Match the two companies by the numbers and there's no comparison. Unilever, owners and makers of Vaseline, is a $55 billion giant with more than 6,200 employees worldwide. Autumn Harp harp, stringed musical instrument of ancient origin, the strings of which are plucked with the fingers. Harps were found in paintings from the 13th cent. B.C. at Thebes. In different forms it was played by peoples of nearly all lands throughout the ages. , which employs 65 in this sleepy sleepy characterized by sleep. sleepy foal disease see shigellosis. sleepy staggers see hepatic encephalopathy. Vermont village, makes Un-Petroleum brand skin and lip care products and recently passed the $8 million sales mark. No matter what the arena, it would be a tough battle for the small Vermont company. However, when lawyers for the two companies tangled, Unilever lost its battle to stop the tiny competitor from registering its trademark. Autumn Harp owner Kevin Harper Kevin Patrick Harper (born January 15 1976, in Oldham, Greater Manchester) is a Scottish football player. He is currently playing for Dunfermline Athletic. Harper began his career with non-league Hutchison Vale as a youth. wants other American entrepreneurs to know they can take on the giants -- and win. The battleground was the Canadian trademark office, where Unilever opposed Autumn Harp's Un-Petroleum trademark, claiming it is "descriptive or deceptively de·cep·tive·ly adv. In a deceptive or deceiving manner; so as to deceive. Usage Note: When deceptively is used to modify an adjective, the meaning is often unclear. mis-descriptive" and should not be registered. "We are thrilled," said Harper of the Trademark Opposition Board's rejection of Unilever's claims. "This was a threat to the heart and soul of our company. Our Un-Petroleum name is what sets us apart in our industry. "I hope our experience gives courage to other entrepreneurs," Harper added. "Small entrepreneurs are the front line innovators innovators people who will try new things. early innovators important figures in the farming or client community because they are the leaders in the introduction of new techniques and management systems. in this country. We need to protect our ideas and defend them. Our experience shows you can do that." The trademark case had strong implications for Autumn Harp's ability to market its products globally. "We successfully registered Un-Petroleum Jelly jelly /jel·ly/ (jel´e) a soft substance that is coherent, tremulous, and more or less translucent; generally, a colloidal semisolid mass. six years ago in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. and England, and have been investing heavily in developing and marketing this brand for years," said Harper. "It was shocking at this point to have all that threatened by Unilever." Harper said his company was warned about the potential costs of fighting the multi-national corporation. "That's the hard part," he said. "If we had lost this battle, the cost of continuing to fight for our name all over the world could have buried us. Now we can move on and keep investing in good products and good jobs for people. "In the past few years, our petroleum-free products have been growing quickly in the mainstream marketplace," said Harper. "We think that's where the business competition ought to happen -- on the store shelf," he said. "We don't want to fight. Let the customers choose." CONTACT: Peg Devlyn 802/864-6710 |
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