Firstly: Thank you. Thank you for your support with this whole being sued debacle.
Secondly: Please do not be confused. Cosco is different from CosTco.
Cosco Management Inc. is a parent / holding company who draws up shitty lawsuits while Costco is a glorious warehouse big box store where you can purchase years worth of mayonnaise in one 5-gallon pail. They also have killer poutine, but I think that may only be in Canada.
Prior to writing about this whole issue, I was quite flippant about how this would go down. I didn’t give a shit about the domain and whether they took it from me or not. I felt bad because I bought it for someone and she would be the one to lose out, but when she said she didn’t care either, well that made it all a little easier. But, now that I’ve shared the details with the world few people who popped by for the train wreck, ate cookies and left crumbs in my couch internet, I’ve been feeling quite anxious and uncertain about the outcome.
I now feel as though I have the weight of The Internet on my shoulders.
I feel like if I don’t fight this I will have let everyone down.
But, I just don’t know that I can.
I’m worn out, I’m tired, my clients are already being ignored waiting patiently for me to get back to them and I have so much on the go as it is that I just can’t see dragging this out on a matter of principle.
Don’t get me wrong; I want to scream from the rooftops.
I want to call all media outlets who will listen.
I want to stage boycotts and petitions.
I want to pack up everything I own with Cosco Management’s name on it, add a few rancid week-old diapers to the mix and then send it all back to them with my official Response.
But I also have to consider my options and what’s important to me.
The domain? It’s not important.
Failing you, my friends, my support, is.
There have been a handful of people whom have stepped forward with offers of assistance and pro bono work. I would love to take them up on it, but I find myself feeling incredibly guilty for burdening them with my issues. I can’t help it, it’s what I do. Guilt: it’s my way of life.
Stef – who I bought the domain for – is a gem. She is a solid friend, and I love her. She’s had my back from day one and is in this with me every step of the way, providing a couple virtual bitch slaps too.
How can you argue with that?
She’s emailed the Complainant’s lawyer and stated the facts and before taking any other steps, we’re going to wait and see if he responds.
But, seriously, people. That box full of Cosco products and poopy diapers looks better and better every day.
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*ahem* as the wife of an attorney I can tell you there are in fact laws against sending fecal matter in the mail.
I learned this after threatening to mail the CEO of Bank of America a bag of poo.
So, you know, just trying to save you any additional trouble…
HAHAHAHAHA, thanks Casey.
No poop. Noted.
For what it’s worth – you’re not letting ME down no matter how you handle it.
I bet I’d have a lot of people agreeing with me, too.
I love you.
You are NOT letting me down either. If anybody understands the need to pick and chose your battles it’s me. Whatever you decide you have done whats right for you. That’s what matters. You should not have the burden of the internet on your back. However Cosco did a crappy thing and that sucks and blows at the same time. But know our offer to help still stands if you decide to go that route.
Oh Sam…I know full well how insanely busy your life is and you have to put yourself and your family before anything like this. I’ve got your back 100%.
Just chiming in on the chorus… do what you need to do. I’m in the middle of something right now and I have to decided whether or not it’s worth pursuing. The big thing is letting others down…
I met with someone yesterday, she said whatever decisions we make are the right ones at the times… we’re here if you need.
uhg. as a former litigation attorney i *so* feel for you. try not to let them bully you into submission. request mediation asap and get someone on your side!
Not letting me down. Family and priorities first and foremost, always. But, if you do have the time and the inclination, I would still fight it. It will NOT cost you a lot to do it. You do NOT need an attorney to do it (though it is nice that you have some friends who are willing to do this pro bono for you). All you have to do is respond to them via certified mail…and it doesn’t have to be in legalese…it is perfectly okay for the layperson to take on Big Business.
That said, your husband and kids and your living come first. If it is easier to walk away from the domain name…then do it. It’s not that big of a deal…
You do what’s best for YOU.
Sam, you gotta do what is best for YOU, not the Internets.
I’ll support your decision, because I support YOU.
And I’m totally never using Cosco’s products ever again. Unless, they are on sale. Because, I’m cheap and apparently, easily bought.
But …I will always curse them on your behalf. That I can guarantee.
It sucks that you’re going through this.
I’m sorry.
I’m not a lawyer and I don’t really have anything I can do to help you fight. But, I love you, and I think you’re amazing. And that counts, right?
And, no matter what I’ll be in your corner cheering you on.
P.S. i don’t see what’s wrong with sending a few used diapers. But, that’s not legal advice.
I can’t see you letting anyone down if you’re making a well-thought-out, educated decision on how to proceed.
Legal issues can be tough and I have no experience with what you’re going through. You have to do what is best for you and Stef.
For what it’s worth, I support you in what ever you do and wish you the best of luck.
There’s fighting a battle because it deserves to be won, damn the costs, and there’s making a stand and knowing when it’s best to let go.
You do what YOU need to do. Just know that we’ve got your back, either way. You fight, we fight. You step aside, well, we’ll still bitch and complain and make noise, but you know, that’s just the way of the interwebz. Do for you what is best, my friend. Really.
Just throwing my support your way for what it’s worth. However you handle it, it needs to be right for you and your family. I think what Cosco is doing to you is WRONG, but I am a jump up and want to do all the petitioning and marching and whatnot person too…until I look around at all the millions of other things I have on my plate. Whatever you do, the bloggy world clearly supports you!
You’ve gotta do what’s right for you. You brought out the issue and let people know about it and that’s more than could be expected. You were brave for standing up about it but just because you’re not devoting your life to fighting this one fight that doesn’t mean you’re giving up. You already won by just putting the issue out there for others to see.
I’m sorry you are going through this.
Thank you for the clarification, though. I think, when reading about this elsewhere, that I DID confuse the two. Whatever you decide, I doubt any of us will hold it against you.
Um.
I know a good trademark attorney. Did I say “good”? I meant “the best trademark attorney in the world and I don’t want to name drop or anything but she is the trademark attorney for sites you visit every day and companies whose products you are using right now.”
And did I say “know”? I meant “am married to and can get her to help for free”. She won’t be able to represent you (and it looks like, from reading this, that you have actual representation), but she may be able to answer questions you have and set your mind at ease. She can’t represent you because the firm’s malpractice insurance won’t let her do pro bono work that isn’t the firm itself doing pro bono work.
Just because Cosco is big and has lawyers and files a complaint with many pages has no bearing on whether or not they get to win. Someone actually reads the evidence. An accusation is not a verdict.
One thing she mentioned right off the bat is that Cosco might be hoping that you’ll get scared and say “I’ll sell you the website for $XXX”, because that would help THEM prove that you registered it in bad faith in the first place. So please don’t talk to them about selling. I don’t know what stage you are at in this process (and I weirdly have my friend Steve to thank for directing me to the issue in the first place and I don’t know how he found out about it because that’s just two different worlds of mine colliding), but we’d like to help.
She has already agreed to look over things for you if you’d like her to.
Shawn
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