WTF? V-bandz V Equisafety

[Meowy Catkin]

This is probably old news to many, but I've just gone on the V-bandz website and read this:

NEWS UPDATE - Warning to our customers – Potentially Misleading
“V-Bandz” Facebook page and web domain names

Dear Customers

Please be aware that we are currently in a trade mark dispute which is unfortunately affecting our "Four Seasons Coat" Facebook page. Our "V-Bandz" Trade Mark Registration accidentally lapsed (but be assured that we retain our full unregistered trading rights to the V-Bandz brand). Before we became aware of this lapse, a competitor (Equisafety Ltd) managed to obtain the registration. It has since been used to attempt to stop us trading – without success, except for a temporary take-down of our Facebook page.

We note that what might appear to be a V-Bandz Facebook page has now been set up (https://www.facebook.com/pages/V-Bandz/479007705554325?fref=ts).

We are concerned that this might lead to uncertainty and confusion on the part of some of our customers. We therefore wish to declare that the above Facebook page IS NOT the official V-Bandz Ltd Facebook page and does not represent our company or our authentic quality V-Bandz products in any way whatsoever. Neither do the web domains www.vbandz.co.uk or www.vbandz.com, both of which redirect to the Equisafety Ltd web page (http://www.highvisibility.uk.com/). The correct web address for V-Bandz Ltd is the page you have visited: www.v-bandz.co.uk or v-bandz.com.

The Intellectual Property Office is currently acting on our application to have the Trade Mark Registration obtained by our competitor struck off as "invalid", on the basis that the registration by Equisafety Ltd was contrary to the UK Trade Marks Act. We will then be able to ensure that the V-Bandz mark is once again registered in our name, and our online Facebook presence will then be able to return to normal.

We thank our customers for their loyalty and continued valued business while V-Bandz resolves these difficulties for everyone’s benefit.

Our Facebook is back up- Good News Update (12th Sept 2014)

The wheels of justice turn very slowly and our Trade Mark case is still ongoing. However, we have managed to get our Facebook page put back up again. This is our official page and can be found at https://www.facebook.com/vbandz?fref=ts Thank you for your messages of support.

V-Bandz shouldn't have let their trademark lapse, but who would have guessed that the hi viz business was so cutthroat?

 

[Capriole]

Wow that's lower than a snakes belly.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

I wonder what verdict the Intellectual Property Office will come to?

 

[SatsumaGirl]

I've used V-Bandz for years and years and always used to make a special effort to visit their stall, back when I used to go to HOYS regularly. The people who ran the stall at the time (I believe they were possibly the owners/people in charge) were absolutely lovely and I really think they've done well to keep going for so long with such a nice little range of products. Equisafety on the other hand... I've had a run in with them and their 'customer service' before and that's all I'll say on the matter! :-/

 

[MissTyc]

This is probably old news to many, but I've just gone on the V-bandz website and read this:



V-Bandz shouldn't have let their trademark lapse, but who would have guessed that the hi viz business was so cutthroat?

lmao!
Behind the scenes in the hi-viz industry.

Specialist equine hi visibility security clothing engineering companies fight it out in court, tune in next week for the next episode ....

 

[dogatemysalad]

Suppose it goes to show how desperate equisafety is. If the equisafety trade name was worth keeping they certainly wouldn't be re branding themselves. V-Bandz is a far superior brand and Equisafety's latest underhand move is nasty. The statements made by equisafety when the police advised riders against misleading the public by looking like police officers was shocking. V_bandz took a far more responsible and professional attitude, so I suppose this latest attempt to win trade is just another indication of their complete lack of integrity.

I have V-Bandz products that after years of use, are still in perfect condition. There's no comparison between the quality.

 

[FestiveFuzz]

Suppose it goes to show how desperate equisafety is. If the equisafety trade name was worth keeping they certainly wouldn't be re branding themselves. V-Bandz is a far superior brand and Equisafety's latest underhand move is nasty. The statements made by equisafety when the police advised riders against misleading the public by looking like police officers was shocking. V_bandz took a far more responsible and professional attitude, so I suppose this latest attempt to win trade is just another indication of their complete lack of integrity.

I have V-Bandz products that after years of use, are still in perfect condition. There's no comparison between the quality.

I don't think it's a case of them rebranding though, more that the domain lapsed and they took it upon themselves to snap it up and use it as a redirect so those googling v-bandz will now automatically redirect to equisafety. It won't last long though, in these instances the domains are usually handed back to their rightful owner within a week or so.

 

[dogatemysalad]

The links for equisafety website take you to High Visibility now which seems like rebranding . High Visibility Is A Subsidiary Of The International Equisafety Group.

It seems what they have done, is that if you put vbandz on the address bar, you get directed to Equisafety/High Visibility. If you type in v-bandz you get the real company.

Not a nice way to do business.

 

[Arizahn]

I've just ordered my new high-visibility stuff from V-Bandz, based on this thread - cheers for the reminder! Mine is all pink...even got poor Collie Dog a pink coat for late night walks...

 

[bakewell]

I think in trademark cases if someone has already established a pattern within that industry you can't name/ rename your company the same, ie my company is called Virgin and we make binbags, totally fine. However the company providing international air travel I'm going to set up can't also be called Virgin.
Apologies, I can't remember the legal wording on this, but I know there is a legal precedent, particularly with websites.
However the underhand tactics of equi-safety should totally be promoted so that people are aware.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

I've got a pink mesh rug for my grey. She looks very fetching in it, if your eyes don't get burnt in their sockets looking at it, due to the brightness of the colour. I can't imagine how many people you've blinded while walking your collie!

I've been pondering about getting some orange hi viz to replace my old, faded yellow hi viz. I have both equisafety and v-bandz at the moment, but i don't think that I'll buy equisafety again regardless of the shenanigans, the equisafety stuff has faded more and is younger.

 

[Arizahn]

I've got a pink mesh rug for my grey. She looks very fetching in it, if your eyes don't get burnt in their sockets looking at it, due to the brightness of the colour. I can't imagine how many people you've blinded while walking your collie!

I've been pondering about getting some orange hi viz to replace my old, faded yellow hi viz. I have both equisafety and v-bandz at the moment, but i don't think that I'll buy equisafety again regardless of the shenanigans, the equisafety stuff has faded more and is younger.

Collie Dog's coat has just been ordered, so I can't blind anyone <yet!>; we used to have our walks well away from traffic, but have moved house this year. He may never forgive me for buying him pink

 

[Meowy Catkin]

He'll certainly be easy to spot in it even if he's a tad embarrassed.

 

[Arizahn]

There was a yellow option but I wanted his coat to match mine...

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Makes sense to me. Matchy matchy should always be considered.

 

[vanrim]

To all those who think that Equisafety has been underhand you obviously are not aware of what VBandz has been up to.

 

[Arizahn]

To all those who think that Equisafety has been underhand you obviously are not aware of what VBandz has been up to.

Meh. They can make my hi-vis out of the flayed hides of pixies as long as it arrives, and is pink. I kind of expect all businesses to engage in shenanigans, tbh

 

[Toast]

I think the whole vbandz v equisafety thing has been going on for a long time if I rember rightly....

 

[Meowy Catkin]

To all those who think that Equisafety has been underhand you obviously are not aware of what VBandz has been up to.

So what are the details?

 

[EstherYoung]

I think the whole vbandz v equisafety thing has been going on for a long time if I rember rightly....

Indeed. I suspect six of one and half a dozen of t'other. Who knew hi viz could get so impassioned?

I have some bits of both. I wouldn't say either are my favourite hi viz supplier but they're ok.

Although if equisafety would like to replace the coat sleeve of Kezza's which arrived completely sewn up meaning you can't get your arm down it, that would be pretty cool.