Last week I mentioned on MoMoMod’s Facebook page that I was contacted by a company asking me to stop using the words “Sunday Best” because they have trademarked the terms “Sunday’s Best”. The email further stated that customers searching for the company’s golf apparel might get confused by my blog posts.
When I first I got the email I was in my classroom (busy with teacher things) and I made the mistake of sending an abrupt email stating that that I didn’t use the words Sunday’s Best; my blog post titles are Sunday Best. The reply to my email was that it didn’t matter; the company just had a similar incident with Nike and they found out that they can basically rule the world when it comes to the age old term Sunday Best. After I got home and realized that my first email was a little short (i.e. rude) I replied with a nicer email stating that I would seek a new title for my blog posts. I definitely didn’t want to appear rude/mean/so not nice.
My internet search revealed that I am most likely okay to title by blog posts “Sunday Best”; I am not using the term Sunday Best to sell golf clothing, nor do I reference golf attire in my blog posts. However, since the company has trademarked the term for “Fashion information; Fashion trend consulting for the fashion industry; Providing fashion information; Providing information about fashion“, and that’s kind of the purpose behind MoMoMod, I decided to play it safe and update my Sunday blog titles.
So, I turned to FB and asked readers to help me find a new name for my blog posts. Honestly? I wish I could ignore the whole thing; when you search Sunday Best BET’s Gospel Singing Competition is listed in the results. If you search “Sunday’s Best” women’s golf attire is nowhere to be found (you have to literally type Sunday’s Best golf for the website to appear!). Now that I think about it I just increased the chances of my blog appearing in Google results by mentioning the sport and words simultaneously. OOPS. At any rate I didn’t/don’t want to be hit with cease and desist letters–or a lawsuit! Here are a few of the comments left on MoMoMod’s Facebook status:
Christa: Maybe, “Sunday Best, suck it, it’s a fee country, golf is lame”? Heh, heh?? 
“7th day Attire” “Seventh’s Finest” “Pretty Sunday Attire” good luck, I hope it goes away soon. 
Sarah: I’m sorry, but I don’t think you should change the title. It’s kind of ridiculous of them to ask you to. Can’t think of a better title than the one you already use.
Jenna: Sunday Best, because Sunday is the Lord’s day, not golf’s day!
Kelly: How about Sunday’s Worship Wear?
Krista: Sundae Best ha
So, dear readers, my Sunday Best blog posts shall now be entitled: Sunday Morning Best. Yahoo. Applause. Are you excited? HA!
Saturday was spent with my friends Natalie and Mieshia. We went to a plant sale to purchase succulents for my wedding and after the plant sale we went to a few thrift stores and we snagged some major deals. I’ve been cautious about my spending (hello, wedding); plus, I’m preparing to move and I am getting ready to CONDENSE my closet in a major way.
We went to a stinky thrift store called RAD and we all laughed about how our significant others would probably have fire exploding from their ears if we had dragged them into the store with us. Natalie is due to have a baby girl in May and she scored some really cute baby clothes for under $3! I found the dress I was wearing for $1.33! I tossed it into the washing machine Saturday evening and let it hang dry overnight. It was clean and dry by Sunday morning.
After RAD we went to Salvation Army and they were have a 50% off sale on all women’s clothing. I initially passed up the shoes I’m wearing in these photos; Mieshia didn’t know I had passed them up and she brought them to me while I was paying for a cardigan that I stole from her. Mieshia convinced me to get the shoes; I paid $3 for them. I found the belt last month while thrifting with another friend (hi, Yvette!).
The dress is VERY much see through, but I wore a stretchy skirt and camisole underneath it
$1.33+$3+$3=$7.33. YAHOO!
Mieshia found several dresses at Sally’s Army that are undoubtedly vintage. Some vintage dresses can be very difficult to pull off, but Mieshia has eclectic style and I know she’ll own these dresses like nobody’s business! Her grand total? $11.
Some have questioned how to wear dresses like these and I can only provide you with information about how I would wear them. Since prints can be overbearing, I like to break up prints with belts and cardigans. I wouldn’t wear the polka dot dress in the spring/summer. I would wear it with a blazer like the dress I wore here in the fall or winter months. Dress number three can be worn in the spring or summer if you wear short sleeves; since I don’t wear short sleeves I’d wear a long cream colored cable knit sweater and tall riding boots.
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Don’t forget to…
- Read Tiffany’s responses to a ton of Mother’s Day questions I asked her.
- Read Misha’s responses to the same Mother’s Day questions!
- Check out Stefanie’s Summer Braid hair tutorial.
- Read my blog post about accepting admonishment.
- Like and share the MoMoMod FB page! We’re almost to 1,000 likes! Giveaways shall be announced once we reach the big 1 zero zero zero!
Unfortunately, the trademark laws are the trademark laws. Avoiding confusion is a key tenet of protecting a mark, and is required. So it makes sense that traceylynngolf.com contacted you. Companies spend millions of dollars creating and protecting marks. If you don’t, you have nothing to sell and you end up losing them to the public– “elevator” (imagine) the value of that) is a lost mark.
Thank you for your professional opinion, Bob!
They do have the trademark name which is an intangible asset to the company. And generally these trademark names/phrases are indefinite, but are also renewed every ten years or so with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. You may want to consider establishing your own trademark phrase. That’s too bad in this situation, because “Sunday Best” seems so fitting toward marketing your business, even moreso than golf clothing. But opinion doesn’t matter. They beat everyone else in an old phrase that’s been around for years.
You got it. All I can do is shrug. Ah, well. Someone else also suggested that I establish my own trademark phrase; I just can’t think of a phrase that I use often enough to warrant a trademark.
What a silly situation! I wonder if they’re going to contact BET next, haha. It’s a lame thing to do, but I come to your Sunday posts for the cute clothes and that hasn’t changed a bit. I literally “oooh”-ed at this outfit. What a pretty dress! Plus those shoes?! What a deal. Looking at them though, doesn’t it seem like I could maybe DIY a pair? I’ve seen people painting their shoes for the cap toe look. Maybe I can do a tri-tone look on a thrifted pair of nude/beige pumps? Must start looking!!
YES! A definite DIY! I think maybe DIY guru A Pair and a Spare might have done something similar? I know capped toe pumps/flats are all the rage right now and this is definitely something someone could do with a pair of old pumps.
LOVE your outfit and LOVE the short sleeve dress print!
Go, RAD! We need to get together and go thrifting in Bako together!
Shopping is most fun, when you can do it with great friends! Glad the shoes worked out for you.
I love you, my friend!
Gorgeous outfit! I love everything about it. The whole “Sunday’s Best” thing is ridiculous, but you are handling it very graciously. I love your Sunday Morning Best posts, even though I worship on Saturdays
Hello, Donna! Thank you. As I mentioned I was ALOT annoyed by the email, but the law is the law! I’m visiting your blog now. Thanks for leaving a link!
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Oh my goodness are you serious??? I haven’t received such email as of yet, hopefully I won’t because I like titling my posts Sunday Best too hahahaha
You look beautiful as always Chandra.
P.S. Have you been loosing weight? You look a lot slimmer!
Love this outfit girl! Esp. that bag!:)
Your cream coloured dress is beautiful, I love it with the red belt. Great combo.
So sorry to hear about the pushy company that caused you to change your Sunday titles. If they forced Nike to change, then no one stands a chance against them, I’d say. Sometimes it’s better to graciously accept defeat as you have done. Your posts will still be just as inspiring and your readers will remain.
Hugs, Cindy
My bestie refered me to ur fb age .. and i must say that i absolutely love this blog so far .. Modesty the way to go!!!!
I’m soo loving this outfit!
Awesome! Thank you! I’m glad you’re enjoying the blog so far.