London IP law firm Carpmaels & Ransford maintains dignified silence after TV adventurer Bear Grylls lifts legal threat against start-up knife company ‘Bear Blades’
A social media furore has erupted after a small company called ‘Bear Blades’ tweeted its disappointment about being asked to rebrand because of the similarity of its name with that of the top adventurer Bear Grylls.
@BearGrylls, you may not even be aware that your company is currently forcing our small British business to re-brand, can you help us?
— Bear Blades (@BearBladesUK) August 8, 2014
In a letter sent to the Dorset-based start-up by London IP firm Carpmaels & Ransford on behalf of Bear Grylls Ventures, concern is expressed about an application lodged by Bear Blades to register its logo: “Bear Blades. Steel. Strength. Utility”. The logo, says the Holborn-based firm, is “very similar” to its client’s “Bear” mark and covers “identical and similar goods, namely knives and sheaths for knives”.
The letter continues:
“We act on behalf of Bear Grylls Ventures LLP, which is the merchandising company associated with the world renowned adventurer, writer and television presenter Bear Grylls.
“Our client is very concerned about your application to register the Bear Blades Steel. Strength. Utility, and logo mark, the dominant and distinctive element of which is the word ‘bear’.
“Our client also objects to the use of this mark, which would create a likelihood of confusion among consumers, who would be likely to assume that ‘Bear Blades’ products derive from our client.”
As a storm of outrage began to swirl about the missive, a #DoTheRightThing hashtag was spawned to help persuade Bear Grylls (and the rest of the team at Bear Grylls Ventures) to back off.
I support @BearBladesUK !!!
#BearPose #DoTheRightThing pic.twitter.com/6GSHukdn9I
— Amy Latter (@AmieElle) August 9, 2014
Confronted with these powerful images, and an intervention by 1 Gray’s Inn Square barrister Barbara Hewson, Grylls pledged to act.
@BearGrylls @BearBladesUK @DelbertShoopman – I don't see why Bear Blades should rebrand. Surely all they need do is say no connection w. BG?
— Barbara Hewson (@BarbaraHewson) August 9, 2014
Having expressed his ignorance at the actions of Carpmaels & Ransford…
@rachelbenton68 yes. I feel awful about it and didn't know this had been done.
— Bear Grylls (@BearGrylls) August 9, 2014
…Grylls then delighted Twitter by lifting the legal threat.
@BearBladesUK you guys are good to go! Apologies again. Good luck and let us know if we can ever help you in your endeavours. BG
— Bear Grylls (@BearGrylls) August 9, 2014
And everyone was very happy indeed.
@BearGrylls @BearBladesUK great to hear that this dynamic young company are being given the chance they deserve #bear blades
— So Sarah (@PinkpinkSarah) August 9, 2014
Apart from, presumably, the poor old lawyers — who were, after all, just responding to instructions from Bear Grylls Ventures. But sadly we may never know their true feelings on the matter, as, perhaps wisely, the Carpmaels & Ransford Twitter account has stayed out of it, and when contacted by Legal Cheek this morning no one at the firm was available to comment.