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Re: International Watchman-litigious watch/ strap dealer

Man if my memory serves me right he was a pretty good seller of straps and custom watches. This was maybe 3 years ago?
 

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Re: International Watchman-litigious watch/ strap dealer

His primary business is wholesale. His website is not easy to make onesy-twosey purchases on for a reason (I've spoken to him on the phone a few months ago.) 100% of his product that you see on eBay has been purchased by someone else and is being re-sold on a retail basis.

I don't like the idea of the NATO copyright suit, but it doesn't rile me up, either. Does anyone know when the copyright itself was filed (relative to the broad appearance and use of the term by vendors and hobbyists?) That would affect my opinion, I bet.
 

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Re: International Watchman-litigious watch/ strap dealer

Copyright lawsuits to get money to cover his "other" legal troubles? What an awesome human being!
 

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Re: International Watchman-litigious watch/ strap dealer

FYI, found this thread when I was searching for strap info and mentioned it over at f71, where a few lawyerly folk have contributed to the discussion:
https://www.watchuseek.com/f71/term-nato-under-threat-938934.html

That "habitual" part in his file is deeply disturbing to me.
 
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Re: International Watchman-litigious watch/ strap dealer

FYI, found this thread when I was searching for strap info and mentioned it over at f71, where a few lawyerly folk have contributed to the discussion:
https://www.watchuseek.com/f71/term-nato-under-threat-938934.html

That "habitual" part in his file is deeply disturbing to me.
Pretty much all sexual predators are habitual. Those that aren't classified as such by law enforcement simply haven't been caught again. Yet.

For every time one of these pedophiles is caught, there are usually a dozen or more other cases that are never charged.
 

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Re: International Watchman-litigious watch/ strap dealer

Well... shoot.

I bought a couple of straps from him earlier this year! Ugh.
 

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Re: International Watchman-litigious watch/ strap dealer

We have had a few run ins with IWC on Ebay, he is a VERO owner and as he has the rights to the words NATO & ZULU used in association with a watch strap, we kept getting listings removed with no explanation, it was only later did we finally get a response from them, and I found it absolutely beyond belief that in the States he could get the rights to the words NATO when it originates from the UK, where we are based.

We simply removed the US as a shipping option and we are okay within Ebay to sell everywhere else as his paperwork only applies within the US.

I looked deeper into this and seen that there was an appeal process within the US with the department that issued the rights to this process but due to the distances felt it not viable but I think it would be worthwhile the 18
companies based in the US joining forces, splitting the legal bill between them and appeal the decision made in the US.

In the instance of the NATO strap, I really cannot see how that won't be overturned, there is enough on the internet to confirm where the NATO strap originates from and it is certainly not unique to IWC !!
 

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Re: International Watchman-litigious watch/ strap dealer

We have had a few run ins with IWC on Ebay, he is a VERO owner and as he has the rights to the words NATO & ZULU used in association with a watch strap,
I believe it's Maratac that has a registered trademark for Zulu (which just about everyone seems to infringe on). I once asked Crown and Buckle why they referred to their Zulu style straps as "Heavy Duty Nato", and they told me they couldn't call them Zulu because Zulu is a registered trademark of Maratac. If you go onto Westcoastime.com, they even show the name as Zulu®.
 

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Re: International Watchman-litigious watch/ strap dealer

According to the VERO programme within Ebay, IWC has the monopoly on the words NATO & ZULU in association with a watch strap, he would have had to show paperwork confirming this.

I believe it's Maratac that has a registered trademark for Zulu (which just about everyone seems to infringe on). I once asked Crown and Buckle why they referred to their Zulu style straps as "Heavy Duty Nato", and they told me they couldn't call them Zulu because Zulu is a registered trademark of Maratac. If you go onto Westcoastime.com, they even show the name as Zulu®.
 

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Re: International Watchman-litigious watch/ strap dealer

Well, IWC has "Zulu" all over its website, isn't he infringing on Maratac's trademark?
Yup. Having a trademark doesn't protect anything on its own. You need to follow it up with legal action to protect it. If Maratac isn't doing that, their trademark is being abused.

International Watchman has some straps named UTC-Zulu, so they're probably trying to skirt Maratac's trademark by inserting the extra term. The interesting thing is that UTC-Zulu isn't trademarked, probably because it too closely resembles the trademark already held by Maratac for a similar product, and wouldn't be allowed because of that.

According to the VERO programme within Ebay, IWC has the monopoly on the words NATO & ZULU in association with a watch strap, he would have had to show paperwork confirming this.
I did a search on the U.S. Government trademark registration site, and it confirmed that Zulu is indeed registered to Maratac. Registration # 3830667 on May 26, 2010. I also found this on the site of a Maratac strap re-seller (not Westcoast Time) "Zulu and Maratac are registered trademarks of Maratac Inc." NATO and NATO G10, however, are definitely registered trademarks of International Watchman. I don't know what shenanigans they pulled with eBay to get themselves Zulu coverage as well. Here's a third party article that also identifies who has the trademarks.

EDIT: I just did a search of all trademarks registered by International Watchman, and ZULU is definitely NOT trademarked by them. What IS interesting, is that he has trademarked NATO for use in over two hundred different applications (not just watch straps). He has essentially tried to lock up the term NATO for almost every type of sporting application possible, so he can sue as many people as possible. SCUMBAG!!!

Here's what International Watchman has trademarked the use of the term NATO for, other than watches, watch bands, or watch straps. Can you believe this guy? This is abuse of the system.

Toy archery sets consisting of toy bow, arrows, quivers and targets; Toy military play set consisting of toy guns; Toy guns; Toy knives; Toy grenades; Toy Figurines; Archery arrows; Archery bow bags; Archery bow cases; Archery bows; Archery equipment, namely, non-telescopic bow sights; Archery quivers; Archery sets; Crossbows; Fencing equipment, namely, foils, gauntlets, masks, pistes, and epees; Sabres; targets; Firearm targets; Archery targets; Electronic targets for games and sports; Animal hunting decoys; Camouflage screens for hunting purposes; Electronic hunting game calls; Field blinds used in hunting; Hunting blinds; Hunting arrow points; Hunting bows; Hunting game calls; Lures for hunting or fishing; Camouflage netting used in hunting; Fishing buoys; Fishing bait holder; Fishing floats; Fishing hooks; Fishing lures; Fishing poles; Fishing reels; Fishing rods; Fishing sinkers; Fishing tackle; Fishing tackle boxes; Fishing tackle bags; Flies for use in fishing; Lines for fishing; Spears for use in fishing; Sportsman's fishing bags; Paintball guns; Paintballs; Scuba fins; Scuba equipment, namely, spring activated spearguns; Scuba equipment, namely, spearfishing harpoon guns; Scuba flippers; Athletic equipment, namely, mouth guards, striking bags, striking shields, hand wraps; Athletic equipment, namely, training devices to be worn on the body for support; Athletic sporting goods, namely, athletic wrist and joint supports; Athletic sporting goods, namely, under-eye grease for reducing glare; Athletic sporting goods, namely, adhesive, under-eye glare reduction strips; Athletic tape; Hand pads for athletic use; Elbow guards for athletic use; Elbow pads for athletic use; Knee pads for athletic use; Protective athletic cups. Shin pads for athletic use; Shoulder pads for athletic use; Wrist guards for athletic use. Manually-operated exercise equipment for physical fitness purposes; Sports equipment for boxing and martial arts, namely, boxing gloves, boxing bags, punching mitts, belly protectors, groin protectors and shin guards; Firearms; ammunition; explosives; guns; rifles; airsoft rifles and guns not for recreational use, bb guns; pellet guns; assault rifles; revolvers; hunting rifles; shotguns; magazines for weapons; gun, rifle, shotgun and machine gun cartridges; Loading clips for small arms; hand guns; bullets; fireworks; gun cases; gun barrels; rifle barrels; bipods for weapons; muskets; holsters; Beverages, namely, drinking water and beer; Beverages, namely, alcoholic beverages except beer; Decorative magnets; Sunglasses; eyeglasses; gun scopes; telescopes; binoculars; body armor; Protective body armor, namely, ballistic, bullet, blast, slash and stab resistant clothing; diving goggles; Scuba masks; Scuba snorkels; Weight belts for scuba diving; Regulators for use in scuba diving; Buoyancy compensator jacket for use in scuba diving; Air tanks for use in scuba diving; Tactical laser sights; spotting scopes; rifle scopes; compasses; Field-glasses; spyglasses; cameras; cases for mobile phones, multimedia devices, laptop and tablet computers; Tripods for cameras; Gas masks; Life vests; Life preservers; Life jackets; Life rafts; Protective ear coverings; Protective eyewear; Protective helmets; Protective industrial shoes; Protective industrial boots; Protective work gloves; Protective face-shields for protective helmets; Diving equipment, namely, protective diving shoes; CD players; DVD players; Digital audio and video recorders and players; Bullet-proof vests and clothing; computer game software; fire extinguishers; walkie-talkies; radio; Satellite radios; Two-way radios; Knife, knives, pocket knives, combat knife, folding knife, bayonet, razor, machette, cutlery, hunting knife, serrated knife, carving knife, utility knife, skinning knife, fillet knife, fishing knife, trench knife, military knife, combination knife, balistic knife, locking knife, butterfly knife, throwing knife, fighting knife, gravity knife, dagger, oyster knife, bowie knife, divers knife, ceramic knife; Clothing, namely, tops, bottoms, hats, shirts, t-shirts, skull caps, sports caps, berets, gloves, socks, stockings, belts, jackets, coats, skirts, suits, jerseys, tank tops, sweatshirts, dresses, shorts, pajamas, pullovers, bathing suits, rain wear, sweat pants, shoes, boots, beanies, ties, bandannas, footwear, underwear, sweatbands, headbands, wristbands, ponchos, vests, sweaters, mittens, suspenders, visor hats, hiking boots, biking shorts, Cyclists' jerseys, cyclists' shoes;
 

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Re: International Watchman-litigious watch/ strap dealer

Surely this shows how unprofessional the Trademark organisation is in the US, that anyone, without giving any additional information can trademark a word in association with products that it has no association whatsoever, and some that are so extensive, t-shirts, stockings , come on !!!!

The word NATO has been around far longer than IW and the NATO strap originates from the UK, the system there in the US is a joke, produces a gravy train for lawyers !!!

Here's what International Watchman has trademarked the use of the term NATO for, other than watches, watch bands, or watch straps. Can you believe this guy? This is abuse of the system.

Toy archery sets consisting of toy bow, arrows, quivers and targets; Toy military play set consisting of toy guns; Toy guns; Toy knives; Toy grenades; Toy Figurines; Archery arrows; Archery bow bags; Archery bow cases; Archery bows; Archery equipment, namely, non-telescopic bow sights; Archery quivers; Archery sets; Crossbows; Fencing equipment, namely, foils, gauntlets, masks, pistes, and epees; Sabres; targets; Firearm targets; Archery targets; Electronic targets for games and sports; Animal hunting decoys; Camouflage screens for hunting purposes; Electronic hunting game calls; Field blinds used in hunting; Hunting blinds; Hunting arrow points; Hunting bows; Hunting game calls; Lures for hunting or fishing; Camouflage netting used in hunting; Fishing buoys; Fishing bait holder; Fishing floats; Fishing hooks; Fishing lures; Fishing poles; Fishing reels; Fishing rods; Fishing sinkers; Fishing tackle; Fishing tackle boxes; Fishing tackle bags; Flies for use in fishing; Lines for fishing; Spears for use in fishing; Sportsman's fishing bags; Paintball guns; Paintballs; Scuba fins; Scuba equipment, namely, spring activated spearguns; Scuba equipment, namely, spearfishing harpoon guns; Scuba flippers; Athletic equipment, namely, mouth guards, striking bags, striking shields, hand wraps; Athletic equipment, namely, training devices to be worn on the body for support; Athletic sporting goods, namely, athletic wrist and joint supports; Athletic sporting goods, namely, under-eye grease for reducing glare; Athletic sporting goods, namely, adhesive, under-eye glare reduction strips; Athletic tape; Hand pads for athletic use; Elbow guards for athletic use; Elbow pads for athletic use; Knee pads for athletic use; Protective athletic cups. Shin pads for athletic use; Shoulder pads for athletic use; Wrist guards for athletic use. Manually-operated exercise equipment for physical fitness purposes; Sports equipment for boxing and martial arts, namely, boxing gloves, boxing bags, punching mitts, belly protectors, groin protectors and shin guards; Firearms; ammunition; explosives; guns; rifles; airsoft rifles and guns not for recreational use, bb guns; pellet guns; assault rifles; revolvers; hunting rifles; shotguns; magazines for weapons; gun, rifle, shotgun and machine gun cartridges; Loading clips for small arms; hand guns; bullets; fireworks; gun cases; gun barrels; rifle barrels; bipods for weapons; muskets; holsters; Beverages, namely, drinking water and beer; Beverages, namely, alcoholic beverages except beer; Decorative magnets; Sunglasses; eyeglasses; gun scopes; telescopes; binoculars; body armor; Protective body armor, namely, ballistic, bullet, blast, slash and stab resistant clothing; diving goggles; Scuba masks; Scuba snorkels; Weight belts for scuba diving; Regulators for use in scuba diving; Buoyancy compensator jacket for use in scuba diving; Air tanks for use in scuba diving; Tactical laser sights; spotting scopes; rifle scopes; compasses; Field-glasses; spyglasses; cameras; cases for mobile phones, multimedia devices, laptop and tablet computers; Tripods for cameras; Gas masks; Life vests; Life preservers; Life jackets; Life rafts; Protective ear coverings; Protective eyewear; Protective helmets; Protective industrial shoes; Protective industrial boots; Protective work gloves; Protective face-shields for protective helmets; Diving equipment, namely, protective diving shoes; CD players; DVD players; Digital audio and video recorders and players; Bullet-proof vests and clothing; computer game software; fire extinguishers; walkie-talkies; radio; Satellite radios; Two-way radios; Knife, knives, pocket knives, combat knife, folding knife, bayonet, razor, machette, cutlery, hunting knife, serrated knife, carving knife, utility knife, skinning knife, fillet knife, fishing knife, trench knife, military knife, combination knife, balistic knife, locking knife, butterfly knife, throwing knife, fighting knife, gravity knife, dagger, oyster knife, bowie knife, divers knife, ceramic knife; Clothing, namely, tops, bottoms, hats, shirts, t-shirts, skull caps, sports caps, berets, gloves, socks, stockings, belts, jackets, coats, skirts, suits, jerseys, tank tops, sweatshirts, dresses, shorts, pajamas, pullovers, bathing suits, rain wear, sweat pants, shoes, boots, beanies, ties, bandannas, footwear, underwear, sweatbands, headbands, wristbands, ponchos, vests, sweaters, mittens, suspenders, visor hats, hiking boots, biking shorts, Cyclists' jerseys, cyclists' shoes;
 
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