No more “Nato” straps?
I can’t believe that this is possible but some one was actually able to claim the rights for the branding „Nato“!
Whisky
Tango
Foxtrott
Due to this no other company seems to be allowed to use that term for their watch straps anymore. CNSstraps went offline again even though they stopped using the term at least half a year ago! And even CWC does not name their straps that way anymore. And those are actually issued by the MOD!
In my humble opinion, some things really don’t add up here:
- why are companies I had the best experience with, forced to take their website down?
- why has a proud supplier of His Majesty’s Armed Forces recently renamed those straps that actually get issued by the MOD?
- why can a company claim a brand name it has absolutely nothing to do with while their website does not seem to be more than an empty promise? Even if I would want to buy something there doesn’t seem to be a single item available on that page. Nothing!
- why does the real NATO/OTAN let this happen?
- to me this looks like that certain company is trying to get money solely out of that brand name and not any product. If necessary by law suits. This may be according to law. But for me that doesn’t make it right
Everybody is entitled to his/her own opinion.
I for myself will certainly stick to those suppliers I know and wholeheartedly trust. No matter what their new straps may be called like.
What does the Watchfam think?
Ps. Image of a Phoenix Strap by CWC/Silvermans
There's another post on here that explains the situation, but basically, someone filed a copywrite on the term NATO strap, and a bunch of lawyers are getting rich.
Aren't NATO public domain by this point in time? I guess it's up to the US PTO to figure that out, but I doubt they will. Likely toss it to the courts...so, yeah, 100% on the lawyers getting rich.
In Jan I was told by eBay to remove 2 listings I had containing the term NATO in the description, how I was singled out from the 1000's of others, who knows!
The copyright claim was by 'International Watchman, Inc'
No way this trademark would hold up in a dispute.
Omega still sells their offerings as nato straps, so the company probably does not have the balls to go after a brand of that size that will not hesitate to go to court.
Support the other brands .
There is an ongoing case between them and Barton over it. I find it funny how they refer to themselves as 'a well known supplier of watchbands'. I have never heard of them before.
https://casetext.com/case/intl-watchman-inc-v-barton-watchbands-holdco-llc
Support the other brands .
WILCO
There is an ongoing case between them and Barton over it. I find it funny how they refer to themselves as 'a well known supplier of watchbands'. I have never heard of them before.
https://casetext.com/case/intl-watchman-inc-v-barton-watchbands-holdco-llc
Same here. Never heard of them before. And I doubt that they actually sell any goods at all.
Will stick to my trusty suppliers CWC and CNS for sure