Are you following me on twitter? If not, you missed the mini-rants that made Victor have to hide the knives last week. Here’s a taste:
**For some reason, my fave site (sk*rt) is changing their name. On an entirely unrelated note, I HATE Skirt! Magazine.**
**For those of you who are confused on the two skirt references of my last twitter, let me elaborate…**
**…Skirt! Magazine is a giant, pushy corporation that sucks ass and might give you VD. (In my opinion.) **
**Sk-rt.com is an amazing website run by 3 amazing women and they rescue kittens in their spare time. And perform miracles on crippled dogs.**
**You should help sk-rt.com find a new name and you should burn down kiosks that offer skirt! magazine. Metaphorically speaking, of course. **
Many of you questioned what the deal was with these insane ravings. You can read about it here. Basically Skirt! Magazine is a free mag like the penny saver that talks like it’s all about girl power but is owned and controlled mainly by dudes who like to sue my friends. My friends started Sk-rt.com which is an awesome website that’s like digg for girls and promotes chicks (including myself) and then many, many months later Skirt! Magazine buys skirt.com and decides to sue sk-rt.com for the name. (Keep in mind that sk-rt is more popular than Skirt! Mag and Sk-rt is all “Hey, why don’t we throw some parties together! Girl power! We’re advertising you for free! Have a cupcake!” and Skirt! Mag is all “Sure! But first we’ll steal your design and sic our condescending lawyers on you since you’re a bunch of stupid girls with no money. Have a cupcake (filled with poison), stupid girls!” Then when Skirt! mag loses their dumbass lawsuit (because they are obviously TOTALLY in the wrong) Skirt! just threatens to keep on suing and making my friend’s lives hell because they are a huge company with money to burn and they know that my friends are just three friends who started a website for fun and don’t want to have to deal with this kind of crap. So rather than spend their kid’s college funds in legal bills my friends decided to just change their name because they don’t want to deal with the negativity anymore. I, on the other hand, wallow in negativity for fun and can’t stand the idea of these hypocritical assholes getting away with being all “Girl power!” while suing the very women who embody “girl power”. If you have skirt! mag on your blogroll I’d encourage you to delete like I did. I encourage you to write about it and to get the word out that bullying isn’t right and that you can’t hide behind a “we love women!” facade while secretly sending out horrible threatening letters to awesome chicks without that sort of nasty behavior getting noticed. I’m not sure how long this post will stay up before I get some sort of threatening letter myself but at least I’ll know that I got the word out to a few people and really, at the rate this company is going, we’re all going to be sued by them eventually anyway. In fact, if you are even wearing a skirt right now I think you’re pretty much fucked.
Bullying is wrong, whether it’s in the schoolyard, the workplace or the boardroom, and like my mama always said, “If you stand up to a big bully you’ll see the real smallperson hiding behind the facade”. And she’s right because if you peek under Skirt! Mags skirt all you’re going to see is a dick. (Actually a bunch of dicks if you want to get all technical.)
Anyway, sk-rt.com has shed it’s skirt and is now kirtsy.com which is a better name anyway and in honor of the new name I’m taking off my skirt too. Yay for public indecency!
And just so that you don’t get them confused…
Skirt! Mag = Assholes who probably have tiny penises.
Kirtsy = Fabulous website that you should be using to promote your own writing and to discover awesome crap and was started by these three chicks who I know in real life and who kick ass and do not have penises:
PS. If you write about this leave me a link in the comments and I will totally pimp it out here.
PPS. All of this is completely my opinion and as far as I know Skirt! Mag didn’t actually give anyone poisoned cupcakes even though I bet they totally wanted to.
Comment of the day: Hey you know the SKIRT magazine distribution box on Main street by midtown? it um, fell over and was hit by the metro train this morning. I did a small kirtsy as it passed. ~ skirth8rt
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158 thoughts on “The post where I finally get sued”
I love you people. Seriously, the first four comments are always my favorite because I just sit here thinking “Shit. This is the post that will get no comments.” Then after the first 4 I can breathe again. No kidding.
And sadly, no, I’ve never been to any of the cupcake events. I miss everything.
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I hate skirts anyways. Panty hoses and shaving – who needs ’em?
Sounds like some men were denied adequate teet sucking from their mommies. A great slogan for encouraging breast feeding: “Nurse your son or he’ll grow up to be a real douche… lactating consultant available”.
And what do you want to bet those idiots sue the gals anyway? “Alls they did was to move the ‘s’ to the end and add a ‘y’, your Honor. A clear case of trademark infringement, your Honor. Suck your cock, your Honor?”
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Just started noticing the change this morning- thanks for filling me in- Amy totally could have told me-Big Changes! Because you know, we’ll be roomies, and all. But no. Had to hear it Jenny. (btw- thanks Jenny for the lead!)
Will now go kirtsy myself so I can be a part of what tho cool chicks are doing. Because I’m nothing if not a follower.
Jenny – you are a goddess. Thank you for sharing the TRUTH!
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i made them gone from my blogroll before i even finished reading your post. i usually pick up a copy when we go out to dinner but i will refrain from doing so in the future.
Awesome post! I am getting so tired of all these companies/sites targetting women/moms who are run by men. Makes me sick. I hope in the social world we can show them that bullying in the board room isn’t going to last long if you want women involved!
i hadnt heard of kirtsy (or what it used to be) before, but it sounds amazing and i love cupcakes. i make lotsa cupcakes. they love me too, which is why they stick to my ass and hips. fat girls ftw.
anyhow, i digress. my point was that those people are *whacked* and you rock. and kirtsy rocks too.
Why be metaphorical? I’ve already confiscated a kiosk, in Laura’s honor. Did it long before the name turf war started, ’cause I knew the mag was just a bunch a jerks.
Now, what do I do with this kiosk? I hear scrap metal prices have gone up; maybe I’ll recycle it. 🙂
Jenny don’t you know you can’t mention cupcakes without getting a ranting, cupcake addicted Erica O’Grady coming at ya? Expect a knock on your door an second now.
Thanks for speaking the truth! Power to the people! Power to Kirtsy! Power to Cupcakes! Power to Me!
Sorry. Went power-mad. It happens once I give power to cupcakes.
Who ever heard of Skirt magazine?! Not me. I think it’s fictional. Or crap. Probably crap.
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You guys rock.
Feel free to republish, link it…whatever you like. This post is public domain.
Oh, and I’d never heard of Skirt! either until they opened a Houston branch which promptly (swear to God) went out of business. Ah, karma.
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It’s cool to see that Sk*rt chose just to get out of the fight and move on. But kudos to The Blogess for poking the Skirt! in the eye once more just for good measure!
But like my daddy used to say: “Son, never wrestle with a turd. Win, lose or draw you just get shit on ya”
Poisonous cupcakes sounds like an evil-ly delicious baking project. I will send them to the publishers of Skirt! ASAP. Then, I will bake knockout-delicious non-piosonous cupcakes and eat them myself while enjoying Kirtsy. mmmmmmcupcakes!
I have followed this closely and had many Tweets with the wonderful (ex) Sk*rt girls. Remarkable how blind and arrogant the Skirt people are. Here’s hoping your grasssroots effort explodes in their face. I predict your posts stands and plan to retweet it.
Seriously, I was going all kinds of mama bear over this, but felt utterly powerless. All I could do was take the photo of that woman who is apparently sucking lemons on the skirt! magazine homepage and do nasty things to it in photoshop until I felt better.
Jenny, because I worship at the altar of The Bloggess, I posted my own rant on the injustices of that stupid magazine over here: http://tinyurl.com/6h6mg5
When asked why I’m skirtless, you’ll hear me mutter, “Cuz The Bloggess said so. Cuz The Bloggess said so. Cuz The Bloggess said so.”
Skirts are for suckers anyways. Skorts on the other hand ROCK! You can totally have too many Zima’s and not have to worry about Britney Spearsing your waiter.
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This kind of stuff makes me see red. I blogged it and linked to you.
But I am keeping my skirt on, since I have kids, and well, that isn’t cool. But said skirt is definitely in a bunch,here.
Cynical assholes. I actually do have my butt in my post today. I figured that was very Jenny of me.
Anglophile Football Fanatic’s last blog post..Oh, Twit!
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Hey you know the SKIRT magazine distribution box on Main street by midtown? it um, fell over and was hit by the metro train this morning. I did a small kirtsy as it passed. 🙂
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SkirthateR – I don’t know who you are but I love you.
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I hate crap like this. Skirt magazine can stuff it.
Jenny (who is not me), I think that’s a great question and I haven’t heard of skirt! Mag responding to the coverage but I did have the opportunity to read some of what was sent from them and their lawyers to the kirtsy girls and it was nasty enough to convince me to delete them from my blogroll.
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I had put the link to the new site in my side blog, and just updated it to link to your superb explanation of the reason behind the name change.
I have never even seen Skirt magazine (not available in Canada?), but you can be sure I will never buy it if I do see it.
1)Typepad stopped recognizing my login identity and I couldn’t post at all yesterday.
2)I just joined Twitter, but I can’t figure out HOW IN HELL I’m supposed to follow people. Yes, I’m that dumb.
3)Late again to the party, so I didn’t know about Skirt! or Sk*rt or whatever. Frankly, I’m thinking that those dickless wonders who want to sue our lovely friends should probably call their magazine SKIRT?…or just KILT, since guys like that won’t ever admit to wearing a skirt. Yeah…and their dolls are called “action figures”. Blah, blah, blah…
4)Why is everyone funnier than me?
ummmm…can i just say thanks for this awesome post? i’m a kirtsy editor and you’ve said a lot of the things a lot of us were thinking. so, thanks! and yes, those three behind kirtsy are pretty darn awesome. gooo kirtsy!
However, this post reminds me of having parents who screamed at each other all the time and wanting to hide under the bed until it was over (even though I was TOTALLY on HER side!).
Is it just me, or does women taking off their skirts (in protest, of course) seem like an awesome idea? You know, I can think of a few hundred more things that need to be protested.
BTW, for those of us who can’t wear skirts, can I assume that it’s okay if we remove someone ELSE’s skirt as our protest, as long as we have their permission?
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I am only wearing pants from now on. I bet I can kirtsy in pants. But I doubt I could curtsy, without ending up in an ambulance.
Kirtsy is a great name. Off to check them out now…
I almost had juice come through my nose when I read the part about wearing a skirt, which I am indeed doing right now. I’m totally going to boycott Skirt, and way to go Kirtsy! Y’all are awesome
What a fabulous post! Thanks for getting the word out!
Yeah but thats a lawsuit. people dont pay lawyers to be nice to others. I’m sure sk-rt’s lawyer wasn’t nice either.
Have you talked to another human?
(btw, I still like kirtsy so don’t flame me)
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jenny (not the bloggess) – We don’t flame here. It’s against the policy. And honestly I have some great friends who write for Skirt! Mag and I still adore them even though I will no longer be going to that website.
Lawsuits are never nice, it’s true, but I did see the letter that the kirtsy chicks wrote in response to the nasty lawsuit letter (which they wrote themselves because they didn’t have a lawyer at that time) and it was the most adorable letter I’ve ever seen and in fact I think they even signed it “Hugs, the sk-rt chicks”. I realize that every story has two sides but just looking at the basic communications that have gone back and forth between the two parties the true character of each seems to shine through.
There’s nothing wrong with liking or even supporting Skirt! Mag but I think it’s also important that people know the whole story so they can make an informed decision on whether to continue supporting them.
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back when i’d first heard about sk*rt, i was all excited for laura and the gals. so, when i happened to see this skirt magazine, i thought maybe they were tied together somehow so i picked it up. first, i looked to see if i recognized any names – no. then, i thought i’d just check out the content. no. as in there was no content. it was a cute looking magazine but there was nothing to it. i felt cheated out of the 5 minutes i wasted flipping thru the thing. so, i hated them a long time ago. little penises and all. i mean, what kind of person thinks that we fab women have time to waste on page after page of non-informative crap? little dicked ones, that’s who.
for pete’s sake, even glamour has a little bit of info in it.
the jerks at skirt will get what is coming to them. people might be fooled once with this crappy publication but can you really read the same nothing over and over again each month?
even giving it away, skirt magazine isn’t worth it.
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Internjen – You don’t have to worry about reading it anymore. The Houston branch apparently went out of business after just a few months. Apparently they couldn’t even give it away.
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i was thinking that wherever and whenever i see that canned ham, formulaic bullshit of a publication, i’d pick up like, oh, say, 40 of them and use them for toilet paper. but, then, i thought, nah… a) too much effort for nonsensical people who i really shouldn’t be thinking about b) the paper it’s printed on would totally chafe my ass. (and my vagina)
Thats all I’m saying also. I’m not going to dump a mag I enoy reading w/o hearing what they have to say.
I guess I don’t like joining the lynch mob mentality.
Good luck kirtsy chicks.
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Hi jenny.
You most likely will not hear what they have to say because they only speak through a lawyer.
I’ll give it to you in a nutshell though. They have a USPTO registered trademark for “SKIRT!” for a magazine and online use as it pertains to topics of female interest. It’s a federal trademark and as such would require litigation in federal court.
Check out this link. They sued a pre-existing magazine called “Pink!” because it was printed on similar paper, of the same size, and targeted women in one or more of their markets:
You might want to read this: http://www.skirt.com/herstory. It seems her startup story is not dissimilar to the one you’re talking about, except she did it 14 years ago.
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Wow, I totally didn’t know about the differences of the magazine and the website. I actually liked the magazine, but when I sent them an essay I had written and said it wasn’t their style or something, I felt bitter and thus, stopped reading. Glad to know that the website changed their name…much better. Anyhow, thanks for this great post!
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Teri, I’m really glad you pointed that link out because it kind of proves my point. After a few people commented about Skirt! Mag’s dumbassery in alienating all the sk-rt followers they replied by saying “To protect our brand, we asked them to stop breaking the law and change their name. …Nikki Hardin, who with $400 in her pocket and a dream, created something real, something that she didn’t have to steal or borrow.”
That’s exactly the kind of blatantly untrue, mean-spirited bullshit that I think shows their true character.
The fact is, Skirt! Mag sued and lost. The sk-rt (now Kirtsy) chicks won because they were most definitely not breaking the law. Implying that they were is just kind of mean and stupid, especially in light of the fact that the kirtsy chicks are well known in the blogging community for always putting others first.
Well, you haved 88 comments already, so I’m not sure you’ll read this, but here’s my post — from the perspective of someone really new to blogging who wasn’t on Sk*irt and didn’t know why to be UNTIL NOW. NOW I’m mad. Now I’m a member of Kirtsy. And you can damn well be sure I’ll stay that way. Thanks!
Oh oh, I get it, I’m not spam!! So for the last time… I’m so glad that you’re here to say what I wouldn’t dare!!
Oh, and I picked your story as an editor’s pick 😉
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Well I am off to check Kirtsy too! I hate the man!
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This may be the best. blog. post. ever. e-v-e-r.
Now I will slink off and humbly try to write something one iota as entertaining about the fabulous Kirtsy on my blog. Actually, I’m sleepy. I’ll Kirtsy in the morning.
I love that the Kirtsy Girls are taking the high road and strutting their awesome selves on off to bigger and better things, but I ALSO love that the Bloggess is holding everyone accountable for their actions. The Kirtsy Chicks, for example, must be held accountable for being totally adorable. (HOW CUTE is that PHOTO??)
Long live Kirtsy!!!
And Bloggess, you are FIERCE!
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Best. Post. Ever. You said it best sister Jenny. I Love Kirtsy. Love the kirsty chicks and love the cupcake references. Your post totally rocked and long live Kirtsy.
*sob* I broke your blog. I was all cute awesome comment and then it went all ‘nah, this blog is too cool for the likes of you’ and done went broke.
I can’t remember what I said, but I must be some serious kinda stalker to actually come back and admit it… do the Kirtsy chicks like stalkerish Aussie chicks? Cause if they do I am all over them.
I see your protest of taking off your skirt and raise you one by taking off my shirt too! It’s close enough in spelling that I’m now uncomfortable wearing it. Be warned America!
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Loved this post. Hate when people do stuff like that. Kirtsy is great and I’ll be visiting everyday.
I *just* finished writing a supa-feminist rant. and now I have to go and bump it down to support kirtsy.
which you know I will do for you (and Laura and Laurie — and, um, the other very, very nice woman who also runs it. sorry, nice person whose name I don’t yet know but will never forget once you’ve punched me in the nose for not knowing it when I meet you at blogher and confess to having not known your name because I cannot edit my thoughts and you’ll be completely p.o.’d, as you should, and I apologize in advance for making you punch me in the nose).
Once again you have lit up the proverbial light bulb. I had no clue that the two were not one and the same! I won’t be grabbing my Sk*rt mags at the library anymore .. and will pay more attention to my Kirtsy emails!
Those damn penises are always mucking things up.
Shame.
i checked out their website— Skirt Magazine has been around since 1994!!! when did you guys start?
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Sarah, you’re triple exclamation points are frightening me but you’re also making me giggle a bit.
I’m not going to answer your question because I don’t really understand it but I can tell you that I’ve been wearing skirts since 1973 and surprisingly have yet to be sued by whoever invented the word. (I assume her name was “Mrs. Skirt” but I could be wrong on that.)
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Thanks so much for promoting an awesome site that empowers women…Cupcakes Rule!
In the law of defamation truth is a complete defense. They are bullying assholes. Now make them prove they’re not! You’ve got tons of loyal and lawyerly fans out there, Jenny. I dare them to sue you.
My question was what year did http://www.sk*rt.com begin?
The reason I ask is because, after some research, it appears that Skirt Magazine started well before this website and that Skirt is attempting to protect their brandname.
I assume Jane Magazine would do the same if a website called http://www.j@ne.com came about….(irregardless of the name Jane having been coined and used years and years before the magazine and the website even existed…. or were even capable to exist for that matter!)
I’m sorry you had to change your name, but I do like the new name you have picked, Kirtsy, it’s very nice. Best of luck. I assume that there is enough love to go around for both Skirt and Kirtsy to exist in this world!
And my last point… what is it with all these men-haters? “damn penises mucking things up”. In my feminist world, men are equal to women, just as women are equal to men. 🙂
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Thank you Jenny, for informing me – I’m an idiot. I’d noticed the “kirtsy” all over the place and thought, “what the heck is going on?” Now, I know.
It’s about time I head on over there and find out more about those ladies. Especially if they’re handing out cupcakes! 🙂
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Interesting read! Not sure what all of the get up is about? Obviously a cybersquatting case was won by this “kirsty” and lost by skirt mag…
However, they quickly changed their name to “kirsty” before Skirt could take them to court for Copyright infringement… So obviously someone knew they were in the wrong.
And now it seems like a feminist rant about winning a lawsuit? Doesn’t add up to me. Not sure what all of the ranting is about.. But after reading this, to believe that the majority of the women posting here are married mothers, is quite disappointing. How immature!
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Sarah – read the story. The magazine tried to force the name change – and lost their case. So they threatened to file again, probably in a different venue. They had $$$$MONEY$$$$$ to burn – and the Kirtsy Grrlz didn’t. So, instead of fighting a battle which might easily have led to a Pyrrhic victory, the Kirtsy Grrlz took the road less travelled and changed their name.
Good for them. However, not so good for the magazine, who showed that while you can get your way sometimes by bullying others, it can also come back and bite you square on the ass.
This story isn’t one about who would have won the final battle had the kirtsy girls had the money to go up against a billion dollar company. The final verdict could have gone either way and honestly I can see both sides. This story is about the way people treat each other. It’s about 3 sweet chicks who started a website to promote others and who have always been about helping, giving and sisterhood. It’s about a large corporate entity who preaches the stuff that the kirtsy girls stand for, all the while sending out threatening letters, engaging in bullying tactics and generally being assholes.
There’s nothing wrong with being a man. In fact, I married one and most of my best friends are men (including tons of my readers here). There is however, something wrong with being a dick. There’s no problem with Skirt! Mag acting all Donald Trumpy because they are a business but if Donald Trump started talking all about how he’s all about love and sisterhood and girlpower we would all call him on his bullshit.
By the way, I’m not affiliated with Skirt Mag or Kirtsy at all, I just have friends on both sides and thought the story should be told.
While we’re being perfectly honest though, I should mention that one of you has an IP address of Morris Communication (the company that owns Skirt Mag). Please know that this is not an attack on the men and women who work for Skirt, as some of my best friends write for them. It’s simply important that businesses (including yours) be held accountable for their actions and if this backlash causes just one company to be a little nicer in their dealings then this will have been a success.
To answer your question, Sarah, Sk-rt.com (now kirtsy) existed before skirt.com and is a totally different kind of business than skirt mag which existed in magazine form since the 90’s. However I’ve been using the term “skirt” since I since the 70’s and never had the urge to sue either one.
I had no idea that Skirt! was run by angry corporate guys. I usually pick up a copy at the grocery store and assumed it was like a much smaller O. (The founder?/editor’s name escapes me, but it seems very much her voice/brand, similar to how every issue of O Magazine has Oprah on the cover.)
The Skirt!/Sk*rt confusion crossed my mind briefly when the site launched, but I assumed both were aware of the other.
Until I learn more, I’ll continue to read and enjoy both. Kirtsy is a much better name for the site. Flippy, fun and sassy.
I am an attorney who helped the awesome kirtsy.com ladies deal with the initial Skirt Magazine cybersquatting arbitration and the multiple follow-up threats of lawsuits. We posted about the initial UDRP victory for sk-rt.com here.
Skirt Magazine could have handled this much better than it did. The sk-rt.com ladies never received so much as a phone call or letter before being dragged into legal proceedings. They likely would have changed the domain name and brand on request without litigation threats, if for no other reason than to avoid the cost of litigaiton. But instead the protocol was endless threats from lawyers which persisted even after sk-rt.com agreed to change the name.
The lesson here is simple. Sometimes lawyers only know how to cause and escalate problems, rather than find solutions and explore opportunities. I suppose it is what most lawyers are trained to do, fight threaten, fight.
The internet has changed things for lawyers and every business with an on-line presence. Lawyers need to be constantly aware that their actions are, for the first time in history, subject to instantaneous scrutiny. Serving clients with internet law problems requires as much business-savvy, as it does legal acumen.
The blogosphere has a way of knowing when things are right and fair. On the web, companies with internet law issues need to be extremely careful about bullying and the potential backlash that can bring. The sk-rt.com girls were able to do in a couple of months what Skirt Magazine probably won’t ever achieve in terms of building an on-line community of women and monthly web traffic. You would have thought that it would have been a perfect opportunity for them to jump right to the front of the line. But, again, the lawyers could not stop gnawing on the trademark bone long enough to realize the t-bone steaks piled up high right beside them.
It is unclear whether Skirt Magazine would have ultimately won its trademark infringement lawsuit in the end. But the sk-rt.com girls were never interested in lawyers, litigation or the rest. Their only priority since day one was the community members, which is exactly where it should be.
Unfortuantely, skirt magazine existed long before sk-rt.com, as did skirt magazine’s website, skirtmag.com. They even used the flowers/asterisks feature long before sk-rt.com. Skirt magazine is even distributed in Charlotte, NC, where one of the kirtsy girls lives. If the 3 kirtsy are as savvy as they claim to be, how could they have missed all of that?
Right and fair is to not play off another’s trademark by merely substituting a hyphen for the letter “i”. Clearly skirt magazine would have won the trademark infringement lawsuit.
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Pamela, no one disputes that a trademark exists. It was a complete oversight. And, the ladies were not in fact aware of the magazine. Most people in the US aren’t aware of it either and never will be. That’s not the point we are making. The point is that they went about it all wrong. How hard is this to understand? It’s GREATER than a legal issue. It’s a business issue and in this case a missed opportunity for the owners of skirt! magazine. On the contrary, their actions could prove detrimental to their brand.
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Pamela,
I have to think since one of kirtsy’s founders lives in Charlotte, that if Skirt magazine was much of a presence she would have known about it…she’s a graphic designer. And no matter what the industry, the name, or the punctuation, bad press is bad press. Or maybe there’s no such thing as bad press…I guess Skirt Magazine will have to let us know.
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Actually Pamela, the magazine did not use the asterisks before sk_rt.com – I thought what you did until someone pointed me towards a great trail of cached screen shots that proves that they in fact modified their own site design to mimic that of sk_rt in recent months – presumably in preparation for a lawsuit?
If you read the attorney’s comment above you, there was no trademark infringement whatsoever found in initial arbitration. So I’m not sure how you’re using the word “clearly.”
Pamela, the others are right – Skirt magazine used an exclamation mark as the “I” for their logo up until well after sk-rt launched. The daisy that Sk-rt uses didn’t make an appearance on skirt magazine’s site until recently. Check the Internet Archive – this screenshot is from August 2007 – http://web.archive.org/web/20070824174652/http://www.skirtmag.com/
I know what magazine I’ll never pick up! You have awesome commenters on here. I can feel the love (and hate) on the screen.
Any betting folks here? So how long will it take for the magazine to fail? I give em 6 months tops!
BTW, great analogy by Enrico (normally I would just say the lawyer, but he deserves props) about the steaks and not seeing them. Can I quote you on that?
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I think really the point is that branding is about perception. What is legal, moral, right, wrong or otherwise is irrelevant. At the end of the day, kirtsy.com took the high road, and did great things for their brand, while “Skirt!” may have just taken a huge dump on theirs.
I hope both organizations learn from this experience and become better for it. Time will tell, right?
I don’t really have an opinion on the who’s right or wrong side of it all.
But I do know this I live in place where the magazine is distributed. It’s been around a while. Everyone knows what it is. You can’t get your hair done without seeing it laying around in a salon. So I have a hard time buying the idea that if someone lived in the market they were not aware of the publication.
I heard about the website when it launched and it so closely resembled the concept and look of the magazine that when I visited the site it never even occurred to me that it was run by a different group of people. They seemed one in the same.
Do I think litigation and threats are right way to address the problem right off the bat? Probably not. Did the ladies do enough research before launching their product/site? Probably not.
In the end they’ve both gotten way more notoriety out of the whole thing than existed before … so in some ways… everybody won. Why be haters to either party?
My, oh my, this just gets better & better (or worse & worse depending on how ya look at it). Can someone just copyright every single symbol in the English language and get this over with?
I’m miffed with “Pamela’s” (she is, according to the website to which “she” linked, a Feminist–from the site: Although a feminist, Pam still likes to look at eye candy. Send cute picutures of yourself to–pamdemoniumzine@hotmail.com“) insinuation that the site formerly known as sk*rt is less than savvy is less than accurate.
Anyway, this would make a great SNL episode. Just sayin’…Power to Kirtsy. If/when I have babies one day…Skirt(!) or (?) or (*) or whatever they finally decide to call themselves, assuming (and this is a big ASSumption) they’re still around…will be on the No Read list. Along with, like…well, just that.
Don’t be sad, Shoegirl. You rock no matter where you write and I’m so proud to be your friend. The actions of the Skirt mag people who made these dumbass decisions are not indicative of many of the talented people who contribute there. I’m sad that the writers are having to deal with this crap especially since so many of my friends contribute their writing there and now are having to deal with this negative backlash that they weren’t even aware of.
You rock, as do all men and women who contribute to the good to the world with their writing, art, and thoughts.
I’ve had some xanax. Can you tell?
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Thanks Jenny! I know you love me and I love you too! But you already know that. I love everyone’s comments too.
OMG! That totally sucks! I got an email saying they were changing their name but never got around to reading it, because I’m too absorbed in my own ME-dome. There’s nothing I hate more than a bunch of misogynist in chic clothing!
From my years of working at the giant asshole law firm full of penises (seriously, the penis to no-penis ratio was seriously off kilter), I was surprised that sk-rt didn’t get sued when they launched.
It all sucks balls though, especially that they tried to feed them poisoned cupcakes, but I’m not surprised. Evil bastards. Anyways – I don’t miss the hyphen, and I like the kirtsy name. It is really cutesy.
(I’m a bit too seriously in that post. That second seriously in the penis sentence should be a waaaaaay instead of a seriously. Sorry, I was distracted by the penises.)
Wow…I can’t even recall how I got to this page but talk about KARMA! I picked up Skirt! Magazine last year while visiting my bf in ATL…instantly fell in love with the premise, etc and even, until today, aspired to publish a piece with them! Well I may be definitely rethinking that goal! Gosh–what a disappointment. But YEA! to Kurtsy…cuter name anyway. : )
I am so disappointed to find this out about Skirt! Magazine. I won’t be picking it up anymore. I believe in competition, and patents, trademarks, etc. But not in theft!
I like the Kirtsy name, but I liked Skirt better!
I guess ‘fair is rare’, as a girlfriend of mine use to tell her children.
I also never knew about the Skirt webpage before, (now Kirtsy) but I’ll be there. Thanks.
Wow, that is insane! I had no idea! I’ve actually never read Skirt! magazine, because it doesn’t really have a West Coast presence (though it was just becoming big in the South when I left five years ago). However, I am going on a press trip next week, and the EIC of Skirt! Atlanta is going to be there, and I’ll totally throw rocks at her on your friends’ behalf (behalves?).
I am one of the people who is threatening to sue for 2 million dollars to all the dicks that wear skirts. They should of left me alone with my own plastic and rubber if you get my drift . But no everyone has to know what a girl does when shes not kirtsying.
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hmmm I am not a Catholic and Mother Theresa who? Well, goddesses today spend thier time entirely on twitter.
.-= Plantar Fasciitis´s last blog ..Morton neuroma treatment =-.
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I am so disappointed to find this out about Skirt! Magazine. I won’t be picking it up anymore. I believe in competition, and patents, trademarks, etc. But not in theft!
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I love this! I always read my comment several times before I submit. Considering who many of my “friends” are it’s a good thing I do that.
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skirtsy? oh, i got nothing to say, but i had to wear a skirt (scottish kilt) as a young boy. mmmm manly, yes.
buddy ambergris’s last blog post..his name was always Buddy
I LOVE YOU!!!!! I have so taken off my skirt too today- buck naked here kirtsying my ass off
amy’s last blog post..Hey Jack Kerouac, I think of your mother
i’m going to go have my cock shortened so Jenny will write about me too
Cupcakes for breakfast. It was amazing.
(Also, you weren’t at their It’s raining cupcakes from the Heavens breakfast meet-up, were you??)
Heather B.’s last blog post..Everything’s Coming Up Tulips
I love you people. Seriously, the first four comments are always my favorite because I just sit here thinking “Shit. This is the post that will get no comments.” Then after the first 4 I can breathe again. No kidding.
And sadly, no, I’ve never been to any of the cupcake events. I miss everything.
I hate skirts anyways. Panty hoses and shaving – who needs ’em?
Long live kirtsy!
Amy in Ohio’s last blog post..Weezie, start packing!
I had no idea. Wow.
Yeah, I actually kind of like the new name better.
What a bunch of fuckturds.
Maggie, dammit’s last blog post..are you still reading?
Sounds like some men were denied adequate teet sucking from their mommies. A great slogan for encouraging breast feeding: “Nurse your son or he’ll grow up to be a real douche… lactating consultant available”.
Tootsie Farklepants’s last blog post..The Post That Makes You Say Awwww….and Maybe Ack!
And what do you want to bet those idiots sue the gals anyway? “Alls they did was to move the ‘s’ to the end and add a ‘y’, your Honor. A clear case of trademark infringement, your Honor. Suck your cock, your Honor?”
Just started noticing the change this morning- thanks for filling me in- Amy totally could have told me-Big Changes! Because you know, we’ll be roomies, and all. But no. Had to hear it Jenny. (btw- thanks Jenny for the lead!)
Will now go kirtsy myself so I can be a part of what tho cool chicks are doing. Because I’m nothing if not a follower.
Headless Mom’s last blog post..The One Without A Title
Jenny – you are a goddess. Thank you for sharing the TRUTH!
i made them gone from my blogroll before i even finished reading your post. i usually pick up a copy when we go out to dinner but i will refrain from doing so in the future.
viva la revolution!
piglet’s last blog post..mother’s day 2008
dudes in skirts are cunts. except for the scottish and all the polynesian fellas, they’re cool.
blundstone’s last blog post..scrum cheat sheet. excellent.
We love you and we love the kirtsy girls.
Thanks for the expose’. Are you sure you don’t moonlight for TMZ?
Motherhood Uncensored’s last blog post..Of Lollipops, Mystery Illnesses, & Sad Goodbyes
Awesome post! I am getting so tired of all these companies/sites targetting women/moms who are run by men. Makes me sick. I hope in the social world we can show them that bullying in the board room isn’t going to last long if you want women involved!
Tweeted (via @missrogue: http://twitter.com/gwenbell/statuses/809467858). Blogging it today.
Gwen Bell’s last blog post..Carolina-Colorado Cross-Pollination + A Contest!
whoa, this is *nuts*!!
i hadnt heard of kirtsy (or what it used to be) before, but it sounds amazing and i love cupcakes. i make lotsa cupcakes. they love me too, which is why they stick to my ass and hips. fat girls ftw.
anyhow, i digress. my point was that those people are *whacked* and you rock. and kirtsy rocks too.
ps: hi from twitter.
jen’s last blog post..Two Astronomy Myths!
RAAAWWWWWK! And may Kirtsy kick ass and take names.
QueenofSpain Erin’s last blog post..I Remember Mama Voting
Never heard of that site, but I’m addicted now… Thanks for my new daily crack source!
skirt skirt skirt! assholes!
kirtsy kicks ass and so do the Kirsty Chicks!
Thanks for telling the truth!
imelda’s last blog post..links for 2008-05-12
Awesome post. LOL! And THANK GOD they picked the best name and kept their branded look.
Aimee Greeblemonkey’s last blog post..Three Mothers
Why be metaphorical? I’ve already confiscated a kiosk, in Laura’s honor. Did it long before the name turf war started, ’cause I knew the mag was just a bunch a jerks.
Now, what do I do with this kiosk? I hear scrap metal prices have gone up; maybe I’ll recycle it. 🙂
http://twitter.com/imelda/statuses/809473151
imelda’s last blog post..links for 2008-05-12
Jenny don’t you know you can’t mention cupcakes without getting a ranting, cupcake addicted Erica O’Grady coming at ya? Expect a knock on your door an second now.
Also re-tweeted – http://twitter.com/imelda/statuses/809473151
Can I republish this post on my site too?
imelda’s last blog post..links for 2008-05-12
Thanks for speaking the truth! Power to the people! Power to Kirtsy! Power to Cupcakes! Power to Me!
Sorry. Went power-mad. It happens once I give power to cupcakes.
Who ever heard of Skirt magazine?! Not me. I think it’s fictional. Or crap. Probably crap.
You guys rock.
Feel free to republish, link it…whatever you like. This post is public domain.
Oh, and I’d never heard of Skirt! either until they opened a Houston branch which promptly (swear to God) went out of business. Ah, karma.
It’s cool to see that Sk*rt chose just to get out of the fight and move on. But kudos to The Blogess for poking the Skirt! in the eye once more just for good measure!
But like my daddy used to say: “Son, never wrestle with a turd. Win, lose or draw you just get shit on ya”
Jay Lee’s last blog post..Virgin Of Guadalupe
I was wondering what the deal was. Also, what’s with the exclamation point? I think I’m going to change my blog name to Chicky! Chicky! Baby!!!!!!
Think more people will take me seriously then?
Chicky Chicky Baby’s last blog post..I’m just trying to keep you in the will
I am taking off my skirt right now, and mooning skirt. Excellent, excellent post!!!
Kelby’s last blog post..Mommy Bloggers on Mother’s Day
Wow that is some fucked up shit, thanks for exposing them for who they are. I will try to get something up later because this will not be tolerated.
Mama C-ta’s last blog post..Happy Mama’s Day
Poisonous cupcakes sounds like an evil-ly delicious baking project. I will send them to the publishers of Skirt! ASAP. Then, I will bake knockout-delicious non-piosonous cupcakes and eat them myself while enjoying Kirtsy. mmmmmmcupcakes!
Erica’s last blog post..Cashing in on the $0.16 Timbit
I have followed this closely and had many Tweets with the wonderful (ex) Sk*rt girls. Remarkable how blind and arrogant the Skirt people are. Here’s hoping your grasssroots effort explodes in their face. I predict your posts stands and plan to retweet it.
Michael J Pratt’s last blog post..the style observer on Access Hollywood
Truth telling is so cathartic, ain’t it? Keep up the good work 😉 Now I’m heading over to kirtsy to see what I’ve been missing!
Karri Flatla’s last blog post..If You?re Feeling Stuck, Try Going Uphill Instead of Down (Karri as Small Business Coach)
Jenny, I don’t know why you’re beating around the bush…tell us what you REALLY think!
(gigglin’…………….)
Robin’s last blog post..Oopsidaisy!
You? ROCK.
Seriously, I was going all kinds of mama bear over this, but felt utterly powerless. All I could do was take the photo of that woman who is apparently sucking lemons on the skirt! magazine homepage and do nasty things to it in photoshop until I felt better.
I did blog in a very positive way about the name change at ecochick though… http://www.ecochick.ca/2008/05/kirtsycom.html
Shannon’s last blog post..And another thing.
Hmmm – thanks. I just took my skirt off to avoid getting sued (as per your advice) and got a ticket.
I’m totally suing you too.
Kelley’s last blog post..Apple Pie FM
Jenny, because I worship at the altar of The Bloggess, I posted my own rant on the injustices of that stupid magazine over here: http://tinyurl.com/6h6mg5
When asked why I’m skirtless, you’ll hear me mutter, “Cuz The Bloggess said so. Cuz The Bloggess said so. Cuz The Bloggess said so.”
Robin’s last blog post..kirtsy.com
Thanks for saying what some of us are too diplomatic (ie chickenshit) to say. Pefect. And not at all untrue.
Mom101’s last blog post..Sage, My Sage
You beat me to the little dicks thing, but I was right there with you.
You seriously rock girl!! I’m glad you called it what it was–bullying.
Personally, I am going to Kirtsy a little extra low to those pseudo-Skirt! people–with my back turned and my underwear pulled all the way down.
MammaLoves’s last blog post..My Medicated Mother’s Day
Crazy shit…
Kirtsy is a WAY better name anyway.
mp’s last blog post..$50 iTunes Giveaway!!
Skirts are for suckers anyways. Skorts on the other hand ROCK! You can totally have too many Zima’s and not have to worry about Britney Spearsing your waiter.
This kind of stuff makes me see red. I blogged it and linked to you.
But I am keeping my skirt on, since I have kids, and well, that isn’t cool. But said skirt is definitely in a bunch,here.
http://casadecruz.blogspot.com/
TLC’s last blog post..Ok, Maybe I Won’t Sell Them To the Gypsies After All
Love the site whether it’s called Sk*rt, or Kirtsy, or Bob…
The magazine can now kiss my cellulite dimpled ass.
Great post. Now I’ve got to go get the new badges up on my site! 🙂
Jenny this is why I love you. You don’t hold back! Rock on sista!!
Becky Mochaface’s last blog post..Toilet revelations
Doing a little creative tucking and folding in a show of solidarity. *There*
Up yours, Skirt!
This thing you’re doing is gonna kick em where it really hurts. Oh the irony…
BusyDad’s last blog post..What Are YOU Doing on Tuesday at 1pm EST?
I’m a Kirtsy editor and loved every word of your rant. 🙂
mary’s last blog post..Hell hath no fury
I love Kirtsy and think the new name rocks!! They’ll be successful no matter what their name is. Go girls go! I love momprenuers.
I’ve blogged it here:
http://www.muirheadkingdom.com/blogs/daria/2008/05/12/474/
and Twittered it too:
http://twitter.com/BoutiqueCafe
Daria’s last blog post..Sk*rt is Out, Kirtsy is IN!
Cynical assholes. I actually do have my butt in my post today. I figured that was very Jenny of me.
Anglophile Football Fanatic’s last blog post..Oh, Twit!
Hey you know the SKIRT magazine distribution box on Main street by midtown? it um, fell over and was hit by the metro train this morning. I did a small kirtsy as it passed. 🙂
SkirthateR – I don’t know who you are but I love you.
I hate crap like this. Skirt magazine can stuff it.
Suebob’s last blog post..Growing up or not
Done! And I knew there was a reason I didn’t chose a skirt today. Phooey on them!
Veronica’s last blog post..RH Reality Check & Work it, Mom Monday!
Get this… Talk about insecurity. A co-worker of mine just discovered this. It looks like Skirt! Magazine also owns these addresses:
skirtsucks.com (as of may ’07, right after skirt.com)
skirtmagsucks.com (as of apr 30 ’08)
skirtmagazinesucks.com (as of apr 30 ’08)
Administrative Contact, Technical Contact:
Morris Publishing Group, LLC domain.admin@morris.com
P.O. Box 936
Augusta, GA 30903
US
706-828-3861
they forgot skirtblows.com
Wow. Insecure…or blindingly self-aware?
well. magazines that spead disease can suck my left butt cheek.
Through a dental dam, of course, you know, for protection.
flutter’s last blog post..Therapy Notes: Mind, body and haircuts
Wow…I hate to get in front of the torches and pitchforks crowd.
But has anyone actually talked/emailed skirtmag or skirt.com? I’d like to hear the other side.
Until then I’ll enjoy both skirt mag and kirtsy.
Jenny (who is not me), I think that’s a great question and I haven’t heard of skirt! Mag responding to the coverage but I did have the opportunity to read some of what was sent from them and their lawyers to the kirtsy girls and it was nasty enough to convince me to delete them from my blogroll.
I had put the link to the new site in my side blog, and just updated it to link to your superb explanation of the reason behind the name change.
I have never even seen Skirt magazine (not available in Canada?), but you can be sure I will never buy it if I do see it.
Great post on this whole mess 🙂
Angella’s last blog post..Kirtsy
1)Typepad stopped recognizing my login identity and I couldn’t post at all yesterday.
2)I just joined Twitter, but I can’t figure out HOW IN HELL I’m supposed to follow people. Yes, I’m that dumb.
3)Late again to the party, so I didn’t know about Skirt! or Sk*rt or whatever. Frankly, I’m thinking that those dickless wonders who want to sue our lovely friends should probably call their magazine SKIRT?…or just KILT, since guys like that won’t ever admit to wearing a skirt. Yeah…and their dolls are called “action figures”. Blah, blah, blah…
4)Why is everyone funnier than me?
apathy lounge’s last blog post..If I’m Not In The Car, What Day Is It?
ummmm…can i just say thanks for this awesome post? i’m a kirtsy editor and you’ve said a lot of the things a lot of us were thinking. so, thanks! and yes, those three behind kirtsy are pretty darn awesome. gooo kirtsy!
suann’s last blog post..so long sk*rt, hello kirtsy!
I was wondering why they were changing the name. It is better now though, won’t be sending any accidental traffic to skirt mag now either, yeah!
Ginny’s last blog post..Review ~ Baby Jamz Jammin’ Microphone
Bastards.
But Kirtsy is a great name. Really great.
magpie’s last blog post..Dreams for Our Children
Aplounge…today I’m TOTALLY not funnier than you.
However, this post reminds me of having parents who screamed at each other all the time and wanting to hide under the bed until it was over (even though I was TOTALLY on HER side!).
Not that that EVER happened to me;)
I skeered.
😉
Greta’s last blog post..Ask DTBMULF
A Kirtsy Editor speaks out! And links to The Bloggess: http://tinyurl.com/5oepzz
Happy commenting. Thrilled to see this thing grow legs. <3
Gwen Bell’s last blog post..Sk*rt is Now Kirtsy: Proof You Can Deal with Dicks & Come Out on Top
Is it just me, or does women taking off their skirts (in protest, of course) seem like an awesome idea? You know, I can think of a few hundred more things that need to be protested.
BTW, for those of us who can’t wear skirts, can I assume that it’s okay if we remove someone ELSE’s skirt as our protest, as long as we have their permission?
I am only wearing pants from now on. I bet I can kirtsy in pants. But I doubt I could curtsy, without ending up in an ambulance.
Kirtsy is a great name. Off to check them out now…
Jennifer H’s last blog post..(Not) slaying the dragon
I almost had juice come through my nose when I read the part about wearing a skirt, which I am indeed doing right now. I’m totally going to boycott Skirt, and way to go Kirtsy! Y’all are awesome
What a fabulous post! Thanks for getting the word out!
Erika’s last blog post..Freckle Face Giveaway Winner!
@theboggess
Yeah but thats a lawsuit. people dont pay lawyers to be nice to others. I’m sure sk-rt’s lawyer wasn’t nice either.
Have you talked to another human?
(btw, I still like kirtsy so don’t flame me)
jenny (not the bloggess) – We don’t flame here. It’s against the policy. And honestly I have some great friends who write for Skirt! Mag and I still adore them even though I will no longer be going to that website.
Lawsuits are never nice, it’s true, but I did see the letter that the kirtsy chicks wrote in response to the nasty lawsuit letter (which they wrote themselves because they didn’t have a lawyer at that time) and it was the most adorable letter I’ve ever seen and in fact I think they even signed it “Hugs, the sk-rt chicks”. I realize that every story has two sides but just looking at the basic communications that have gone back and forth between the two parties the true character of each seems to shine through.
There’s nothing wrong with liking or even supporting Skirt! Mag but I think it’s also important that people know the whole story so they can make an informed decision on whether to continue supporting them.
back when i’d first heard about sk*rt, i was all excited for laura and the gals. so, when i happened to see this skirt magazine, i thought maybe they were tied together somehow so i picked it up. first, i looked to see if i recognized any names – no. then, i thought i’d just check out the content. no. as in there was no content. it was a cute looking magazine but there was nothing to it. i felt cheated out of the 5 minutes i wasted flipping thru the thing. so, i hated them a long time ago. little penises and all. i mean, what kind of person thinks that we fab women have time to waste on page after page of non-informative crap? little dicked ones, that’s who.
for pete’s sake, even glamour has a little bit of info in it.
the jerks at skirt will get what is coming to them. people might be fooled once with this crappy publication but can you really read the same nothing over and over again each month?
even giving it away, skirt magazine isn’t worth it.
Internjen – You don’t have to worry about reading it anymore. The Houston branch apparently went out of business after just a few months. Apparently they couldn’t even give it away.
i was thinking that wherever and whenever i see that canned ham, formulaic bullshit of a publication, i’d pick up like, oh, say, 40 of them and use them for toilet paper. but, then, i thought, nah… a) too much effort for nonsensical people who i really shouldn’t be thinking about b) the paper it’s printed on would totally chafe my ass. (and my vagina)
Available:
skirtmagsucks.biz
skirtmagsucks.info
skirtmagsucks.net
skirtmagsucks.org
skirtmagazinesucks.biz
skirtmagazinesucks.info
skirtmagazinesucks.net
skirtmagazinesucks.org
skirt-mag-sucks.com
skirt-magazine-sucks.com
And I was shocked that they hadn’t covered this obvious base…
skirtmagsucksgigantichairyarse.com is available!
Shannon’s last blog post..The Reward
@jenny the bloggess
Thats all I’m saying also. I’m not going to dump a mag I enoy reading w/o hearing what they have to say.
I guess I don’t like joining the lynch mob mentality.
Good luck kirtsy chicks.
Hi jenny.
You most likely will not hear what they have to say because they only speak through a lawyer.
I’ll give it to you in a nutshell though. They have a USPTO registered trademark for “SKIRT!” for a magazine and online use as it pertains to topics of female interest. It’s a federal trademark and as such would require litigation in federal court.
Check out this link. They sued a pre-existing magazine called “Pink!” because it was printed on similar paper, of the same size, and targeted women in one or more of their markets:
http://tinyurl.com/5fcp4j
Pink had the nerve to be for women and use (gasp) an exclamation mark! much like SKIRT!
Anyway, enough from me. If you have money and a federal mark you can pretty much bully anyone.
Take care,
James
Right on.
Fight the power!
Dr. Ding’s last blog post..Sexy Time Warp
Well…mine doesn’t pack the punch of yours, but I blogged it with my PG kids in mind.
http://pensieve.typepad.com/pensieve/2008/05/kirtsy-isnt-jus.html
Funny how you were talking square dancing at GM/BM and kirtsy-ing here. I think you’re ready for a hillbilly hoedown!
😉
Robin’s last blog post..kirtsy isn’t just “skirt” misspelled with an extra “y”
I had no clue why they were changing their name. Sucks why.
Maria’s last blog post..I Gave You a Virtual Hug.
You might want to read this: http://www.skirt.com/herstory. It seems her startup story is not dissimilar to the one you’re talking about, except she did it 14 years ago.
Wow, I totally didn’t know about the differences of the magazine and the website. I actually liked the magazine, but when I sent them an essay I had written and said it wasn’t their style or something, I felt bitter and thus, stopped reading. Glad to know that the website changed their name…much better. Anyhow, thanks for this great post!
Teri, I’m really glad you pointed that link out because it kind of proves my point. After a few people commented about Skirt! Mag’s dumbassery in alienating all the sk-rt followers they replied by saying “To protect our brand, we asked them to stop breaking the law and change their name. …Nikki Hardin, who with $400 in her pocket and a dream, created something real, something that she didn’t have to steal or borrow.”
That’s exactly the kind of blatantly untrue, mean-spirited bullshit that I think shows their true character.
The fact is, Skirt! Mag sued and lost. The sk-rt (now Kirtsy) chicks won because they were most definitely not breaking the law. Implying that they were is just kind of mean and stupid, especially in light of the fact that the kirtsy chicks are well known in the blogging community for always putting others first.
I am only wearing kirtsies from now on.
HRH’s last blog post..Monday Potluck proving I am a rebel…
Well, you haved 88 comments already, so I’m not sure you’ll read this, but here’s my post — from the perspective of someone really new to blogging who wasn’t on Sk*irt and didn’t know why to be UNTIL NOW. NOW I’m mad. Now I’m a member of Kirtsy. And you can damn well be sure I’ll stay that way. Thanks!
http://mommysmartini.blogspot.com/2008/05/why-you-should-know-and-love-kirtsy.html
MommyTime’s last blog post..Why You Should Know (and Love) Kirtsy
I read it and I loved it. Seriously, you people kick ass.
I’m damned proud to be a blogger today.
Jenny, thanks for bringing the news to the people.
ps. I’m kirtsy-ing.
http://www.definingsomeday.com/2008/05/kirtsy-for-you.html
Elle’s last blog post..A Kirtsy for You
I have never heard of Skirt Magazine so it won’t be a loss for me. But if I had any lying around…I’d be burning them. Shame on them!
P.S. I just joined Kirtsy! You ladies rock!
Mrs. Schmitty’s last blog post..Attention: Complaints Department
Great post! I copy and pasted it to my blog as well.
http://imnobetterthanu.blogspot.com/
I’m so glad you’re here to say what I wouldn’t dare! Here’s my post:
http://www.mommybytes.com/2008/05/tuesday-toot-long-live-kirtsy.html
Oh oh, I get it, I’m not spam!! So for the last time… I’m so glad that you’re here to say what I wouldn’t dare!!
Oh, and I picked your story as an editor’s pick 😉
Well I am off to check Kirtsy too! I hate the man!
This may be the best. blog. post. ever. e-v-e-r.
Now I will slink off and humbly try to write something one iota as entertaining about the fabulous Kirtsy on my blog. Actually, I’m sleepy. I’ll Kirtsy in the morning.
michellew’s last blog post..Blog Party 2008 Giveaway!!
Jenny–You GO!!!
I love that the Kirtsy Girls are taking the high road and strutting their awesome selves on off to bigger and better things, but I ALSO love that the Bloggess is holding everyone accountable for their actions. The Kirtsy Chicks, for example, must be held accountable for being totally adorable. (HOW CUTE is that PHOTO??)
Long live Kirtsy!!!
And Bloggess, you are FIERCE!
Best. Post. Ever. You said it best sister Jenny. I Love Kirtsy. Love the kirsty chicks and love the cupcake references. Your post totally rocked and long live Kirtsy.
white trash mom’s last blog post..I Want My Mommy
*sob* I broke your blog. I was all cute awesome comment and then it went all ‘nah, this blog is too cool for the likes of you’ and done went broke.
I can’t remember what I said, but I must be some serious kinda stalker to actually come back and admit it… do the Kirtsy chicks like stalkerish Aussie chicks? Cause if they do I am all over them.
Kelley’s last blog post..Unlike the Bloggess, I will give you ninja.
And, of course, I had to weigh in on the issue, with a little bit of snarky smartassism…
~EdT.
Ed T.’s last blog post..Wmy America is Doomed – and why it isnt
I guess I’ll have to go check out kirtsy now.
I see your protest of taking off your skirt and raise you one by taking off my shirt too! It’s close enough in spelling that I’m now uncomfortable wearing it. Be warned America!
Loved this post. Hate when people do stuff like that. Kirtsy is great and I’ll be visiting everyday.
Rosemary
http://her-home-blog.com
Rosemary’s last blog post..Flooring For Every Room
Is it weird that my eyes still flip it around to say Skirt(y)? Like that weird circulating email with the words all jumbled? Weird.
Kyla’s last blog post..Happy Mother’s Day!
Reading your blog is better than watching the news. You are my source for important information and topics!! Thanks, Jenny!!
Traceytreasure’s last blog post..Who Would Have Thought?
drat.
I *just* finished writing a supa-feminist rant. and now I have to go and bump it down to support kirtsy.
which you know I will do for you (and Laura and Laurie — and, um, the other very, very nice woman who also runs it. sorry, nice person whose name I don’t yet know but will never forget once you’ve punched me in the nose for not knowing it when I meet you at blogher and confess to having not known your name because I cannot edit my thoughts and you’ll be completely p.o.’d, as you should, and I apologize in advance for making you punch me in the nose).
the end.
lildb’s last blog post..miercoles GIGANTE! or, this post is nothing to get excited about.
I love your blog and I was outraged by what happened. I’ve posted about it on my blog. You Go Girl!!! Kirtsy.com is awesome!
Jenn’s last blog post..Damn The Man! Save the Empire!!!
“kirtsy” is cute. I was thinking “sans-sk-rt” .com …
Shades’s last blog post..All In
Once again you have lit up the proverbial light bulb. I had no clue that the two were not one and the same! I won’t be grabbing my Sk*rt mags at the library anymore .. and will pay more attention to my Kirtsy emails!
Those damn penises are always mucking things up.
Shame.
caroline’s last blog post..Happy Mother’s Day!
i checked out their website— Skirt Magazine has been around since 1994!!! when did you guys start?
Sarah, you’re triple exclamation points are frightening me but you’re also making me giggle a bit.
I’m not going to answer your question because I don’t really understand it but I can tell you that I’ve been wearing skirts since 1973 and surprisingly have yet to be sued by whoever invented the word. (I assume her name was “Mrs. Skirt” but I could be wrong on that.)
Thanks so much for promoting an awesome site that empowers women…Cupcakes Rule!
Amy Castellano’s last blog post..And they’re off….
You are giving me one hell of a bloggy education, lady. Down with skirts! Death to all men with small penises.
conversemomma’s last blog post..The Love Of Change
In the law of defamation truth is a complete defense. They are bullying assholes. Now make them prove they’re not! You’ve got tons of loyal and lawyerly fans out there, Jenny. I dare them to sue you.
Red Flashlight’s last blog post..Electronic Records Compliance
Jenny the Bloggess…
Haha, sorry about the !!! I do get carried away.
My question was what year did http://www.sk*rt.com begin?
The reason I ask is because, after some research, it appears that Skirt Magazine started well before this website and that Skirt is attempting to protect their brandname.
I assume Jane Magazine would do the same if a website called http://www.j@ne.com came about….(irregardless of the name Jane having been coined and used years and years before the magazine and the website even existed…. or were even capable to exist for that matter!)
I’m sorry you had to change your name, but I do like the new name you have picked, Kirtsy, it’s very nice. Best of luck. I assume that there is enough love to go around for both Skirt and Kirtsy to exist in this world!
And my last point… what is it with all these men-haters? “damn penises mucking things up”. In my feminist world, men are equal to women, just as women are equal to men. 🙂
Thank you Jenny, for informing me – I’m an idiot. I’d noticed the “kirtsy” all over the place and thought, “what the heck is going on?” Now, I know.
It’s about time I head on over there and find out more about those ladies. Especially if they’re handing out cupcakes! 🙂
Interesting read! Not sure what all of the get up is about? Obviously a cybersquatting case was won by this “kirsty” and lost by skirt mag…
However, they quickly changed their name to “kirsty” before Skirt could take them to court for Copyright infringement… So obviously someone knew they were in the wrong.
And now it seems like a feminist rant about winning a lawsuit? Doesn’t add up to me. Not sure what all of the ranting is about.. But after reading this, to believe that the majority of the women posting here are married mothers, is quite disappointing. How immature!
Sarah – read the story. The magazine tried to force the name change – and lost their case. So they threatened to file again, probably in a different venue. They had $$$$MONEY$$$$$ to burn – and the Kirtsy Grrlz didn’t. So, instead of fighting a battle which might easily have led to a Pyrrhic victory, the Kirtsy Grrlz took the road less travelled and changed their name.
Good for them. However, not so good for the magazine, who showed that while you can get your way sometimes by bullying others, it can also come back and bite you square on the ass.
~EdT.
Ed T.’s last blog post..Hell’s Kitchen: Whining and Dining
This story isn’t one about who would have won the final battle had the kirtsy girls had the money to go up against a billion dollar company. The final verdict could have gone either way and honestly I can see both sides. This story is about the way people treat each other. It’s about 3 sweet chicks who started a website to promote others and who have always been about helping, giving and sisterhood. It’s about a large corporate entity who preaches the stuff that the kirtsy girls stand for, all the while sending out threatening letters, engaging in bullying tactics and generally being assholes.
There’s nothing wrong with being a man. In fact, I married one and most of my best friends are men (including tons of my readers here). There is however, something wrong with being a dick. There’s no problem with Skirt! Mag acting all Donald Trumpy because they are a business but if Donald Trump started talking all about how he’s all about love and sisterhood and girlpower we would all call him on his bullshit.
By the way, I’m not affiliated with Skirt Mag or Kirtsy at all, I just have friends on both sides and thought the story should be told.
While we’re being perfectly honest though, I should mention that one of you has an IP address of Morris Communication (the company that owns Skirt Mag). Please know that this is not an attack on the men and women who work for Skirt, as some of my best friends write for them. It’s simply important that businesses (including yours) be held accountable for their actions and if this backlash causes just one company to be a little nicer in their dealings then this will have been a success.
To answer your question, Sarah, Sk-rt.com (now kirtsy) existed before skirt.com and is a totally different kind of business than skirt mag which existed in magazine form since the 90’s. However I’ve been using the term “skirt” since I since the 70’s and never had the urge to sue either one.
You should make a graphic to boycott Skirt.
AtomiK Kitten’s last blog post..I don’t even think I can make a rule…
Just an observation – I’m betting humor is not a main puzzle piece in some people’s feminist utopia.
Amy in Ohio’s last blog post..A Mother’s Dream
I had no idea that Skirt! was run by angry corporate guys. I usually pick up a copy at the grocery store and assumed it was like a much smaller O. (The founder?/editor’s name escapes me, but it seems very much her voice/brand, similar to how every issue of O Magazine has Oprah on the cover.)
The Skirt!/Sk*rt confusion crossed my mind briefly when the site launched, but I assumed both were aware of the other.
Until I learn more, I’ll continue to read and enjoy both. Kirtsy is a much better name for the site. Flippy, fun and sassy.
karrie’s last blog post..Top Ten Questions I Have Fielded Today
I am an attorney who helped the awesome kirtsy.com ladies deal with the initial Skirt Magazine cybersquatting arbitration and the multiple follow-up threats of lawsuits. We posted about the initial UDRP victory for sk-rt.com here.
Skirt Magazine could have handled this much better than it did. The sk-rt.com ladies never received so much as a phone call or letter before being dragged into legal proceedings. They likely would have changed the domain name and brand on request without litigation threats, if for no other reason than to avoid the cost of litigaiton. But instead the protocol was endless threats from lawyers which persisted even after sk-rt.com agreed to change the name.
The lesson here is simple. Sometimes lawyers only know how to cause and escalate problems, rather than find solutions and explore opportunities. I suppose it is what most lawyers are trained to do, fight threaten, fight.
The internet has changed things for lawyers and every business with an on-line presence. Lawyers need to be constantly aware that their actions are, for the first time in history, subject to instantaneous scrutiny. Serving clients with internet law problems requires as much business-savvy, as it does legal acumen.
The blogosphere has a way of knowing when things are right and fair. On the web, companies with internet law issues need to be extremely careful about bullying and the potential backlash that can bring. The sk-rt.com girls were able to do in a couple of months what Skirt Magazine probably won’t ever achieve in terms of building an on-line community of women and monthly web traffic. You would have thought that it would have been a perfect opportunity for them to jump right to the front of the line. But, again, the lawyers could not stop gnawing on the trademark bone long enough to realize the t-bone steaks piled up high right beside them.
It is unclear whether Skirt Magazine would have ultimately won its trademark infringement lawsuit in the end. But the sk-rt.com girls were never interested in lawyers, litigation or the rest. Their only priority since day one was the community members, which is exactly where it should be.
Enrico S.’s last blog post..test
I sympathize for the kirtsy ladies, I really do.
Unfortuantely, skirt magazine existed long before sk-rt.com, as did skirt magazine’s website, skirtmag.com. They even used the flowers/asterisks feature long before sk-rt.com. Skirt magazine is even distributed in Charlotte, NC, where one of the kirtsy girls lives. If the 3 kirtsy are as savvy as they claim to be, how could they have missed all of that?
Right and fair is to not play off another’s trademark by merely substituting a hyphen for the letter “i”. Clearly skirt magazine would have won the trademark infringement lawsuit.
Pamela, no one disputes that a trademark exists. It was a complete oversight. And, the ladies were not in fact aware of the magazine. Most people in the US aren’t aware of it either and never will be. That’s not the point we are making. The point is that they went about it all wrong. How hard is this to understand? It’s GREATER than a legal issue. It’s a business issue and in this case a missed opportunity for the owners of skirt! magazine. On the contrary, their actions could prove detrimental to their brand.
Pamela,
I have to think since one of kirtsy’s founders lives in Charlotte, that if Skirt magazine was much of a presence she would have known about it…she’s a graphic designer. And no matter what the industry, the name, or the punctuation, bad press is bad press. Or maybe there’s no such thing as bad press…I guess Skirt Magazine will have to let us know.
Actually Pamela, the magazine did not use the asterisks before sk_rt.com – I thought what you did until someone pointed me towards a great trail of cached screen shots that proves that they in fact modified their own site design to mimic that of sk_rt in recent months – presumably in preparation for a lawsuit?
If you read the attorney’s comment above you, there was no trademark infringement whatsoever found in initial arbitration. So I’m not sure how you’re using the word “clearly.”
Mom101’s last blog post..Misunderstood
Loving lawyer-man Enrico S.
(just so you know I could have been completely inappropriate in so many ways here, but thanks to kirtsy, I’m trying to be more lady-like)
Amy in Ohio’s last blog post..A Mother’s Dream
Pamela, the others are right – Skirt magazine used an exclamation mark as the “I” for their logo up until well after sk-rt launched. The daisy that Sk-rt uses didn’t make an appearance on skirt magazine’s site until recently. Check the Internet Archive – this screenshot is from August 2007 – http://web.archive.org/web/20070824174652/http://www.skirtmag.com/
zchamu (shannon)’s last blog post..Going Squirrelly
I know what magazine I’ll never pick up! You have awesome commenters on here. I can feel the love (and hate) on the screen.
Any betting folks here? So how long will it take for the magazine to fail? I give em 6 months tops!
BTW, great analogy by Enrico (normally I would just say the lawyer, but he deserves props) about the steaks and not seeing them. Can I quote you on that?
I think really the point is that branding is about perception. What is legal, moral, right, wrong or otherwise is irrelevant. At the end of the day, kirtsy.com took the high road, and did great things for their brand, while “Skirt!” may have just taken a huge dump on theirs.
I hope both organizations learn from this experience and become better for it. Time will tell, right?
Katherine’s last blog post..Wet chihuahua cocoon
I don’t really have an opinion on the who’s right or wrong side of it all.
But I do know this I live in place where the magazine is distributed. It’s been around a while. Everyone knows what it is. You can’t get your hair done without seeing it laying around in a salon. So I have a hard time buying the idea that if someone lived in the market they were not aware of the publication.
I heard about the website when it launched and it so closely resembled the concept and look of the magazine that when I visited the site it never even occurred to me that it was run by a different group of people. They seemed one in the same.
Do I think litigation and threats are right way to address the problem right off the bat? Probably not. Did the ladies do enough research before launching their product/site? Probably not.
In the end they’ve both gotten way more notoriety out of the whole thing than existed before … so in some ways… everybody won. Why be haters to either party?
Melizzard’s last blog post..Congratulations FussyPants
Well shit. Now I’ve got to go searching for AllMediocre Magazine. Or Mediocre-Mag. or something.
AMomTwoBoys’s last blog post..Prepare Your Ovaries…
My, oh my, this just gets better & better (or worse & worse depending on how ya look at it). Can someone just copyright every single symbol in the English language and get this over with?
I’m miffed with “Pamela’s” (she is, according to the website to which “she” linked, a Feminist–from the site: Although a feminist, Pam still likes to look at eye candy. Send cute picutures of yourself to–pamdemoniumzine@hotmail.com“) insinuation that the site formerly known as sk*rt is less than savvy is less than accurate.
Anyway, this would make a great SNL episode. Just sayin’…Power to Kirtsy. If/when I have babies one day…Skirt(!) or (?) or (*) or whatever they finally decide to call themselves, assuming (and this is a big ASSumption) they’re still around…will be on the No Read list. Along with, like…well, just that.
Rawr.
Gwen Bell’s last blog post..Sk*rt is Now Kirtsy: Proof You Can Deal with Dicks & Come Out on Top
This blog entry makes me sad! 🙁 But I do love the new name, Kirtsy. It’s even cuter than Sk*rt!
Shoegirl’s last blog post..Glad I Ran Friday
Don’t be sad, Shoegirl. You rock no matter where you write and I’m so proud to be your friend. The actions of the Skirt mag people who made these dumbass decisions are not indicative of many of the talented people who contribute there. I’m sad that the writers are having to deal with this crap especially since so many of my friends contribute their writing there and now are having to deal with this negative backlash that they weren’t even aware of.
You rock, as do all men and women who contribute to the good to the world with their writing, art, and thoughts.
I’ve had some xanax. Can you tell?
Thanks Jenny! I know you love me and I love you too! But you already know that. I love everyone’s comments too.
Shoegirl’s last blog post..Good School News
OMG! That totally sucks! I got an email saying they were changing their name but never got around to reading it, because I’m too absorbed in my own ME-dome. There’s nothing I hate more than a bunch of misogynist in chic clothing!
Monkeytoemomma’s last blog post..When Doves Die.
I have a confession.
From my years of working at the giant asshole law firm full of penises (seriously, the penis to no-penis ratio was seriously off kilter), I was surprised that sk-rt didn’t get sued when they launched.
It all sucks balls though, especially that they tried to feed them poisoned cupcakes, but I’m not surprised. Evil bastards. Anyways – I don’t miss the hyphen, and I like the kirtsy name. It is really cutesy.
Christine’s last blog post..Life = Risks
(I’m a bit too seriously in that post. That second seriously in the penis sentence should be a waaaaaay instead of a seriously. Sorry, I was distracted by the penises.)
Christine’s last blog post..Life = Risks
Wow…I can’t even recall how I got to this page but talk about KARMA! I picked up Skirt! Magazine last year while visiting my bf in ATL…instantly fell in love with the premise, etc and even, until today, aspired to publish a piece with them! Well I may be definitely rethinking that goal! Gosh–what a disappointment. But YEA! to Kurtsy…cuter name anyway. : )
Lesli’s last blog post..Update: Sleepless in Athens
I am so disappointed to find this out about Skirt! Magazine. I won’t be picking it up anymore. I believe in competition, and patents, trademarks, etc. But not in theft!
I like the Kirtsy name, but I liked Skirt better!
I guess ‘fair is rare’, as a girlfriend of mine use to tell her children.
I also never knew about the Skirt webpage before, (now Kirtsy) but I’ll be there. Thanks.
Wow, that is insane! I had no idea! I’ve actually never read Skirt! magazine, because it doesn’t really have a West Coast presence (though it was just becoming big in the South when I left five years ago). However, I am going on a press trip next week, and the EIC of Skirt! Atlanta is going to be there, and I’ll totally throw rocks at her on your friends’ behalf (behalves?).
Camels & Chocolate’s last blog post..Why Do Internet Scammers Always Hail From Nigeria?
I never heard of it till now, so I Googled:
“the skirt” magazine
You’re on page 1, baby! Right below the douchbags.
I love you a bit.
Mr Farty’s last blog post..Computer Terms Illustrated #17
Wow! this is a good idea.
Skirt Magazine has folded.
haha, guess they got their karma.
How does one go running a website where they save kittens? I honestly have never seen a kitten that needs rescuing in my life :p
Launch Tree’s last blog post..The Perfect OTO Page 😀
I am one of the people who is threatening to sue for 2 million dollars to all the dicks that wear skirts. They should of left me alone with my own plastic and rubber if you get my drift . But no everyone has to know what a girl does when shes not kirtsying.
hmmm I am not a Catholic and Mother Theresa who? Well, goddesses today spend thier time entirely on twitter.
.-= Plantar Fasciitis´s last blog ..Morton neuroma treatment =-.
I am so disappointed to find this out about Skirt! Magazine. I won’t be picking it up anymore. I believe in competition, and patents, trademarks, etc. But not in theft!
I love this! I always read my comment several times before I submit. Considering who many of my “friends” are it’s a good thing I do that.
Thanks for sharing your learning and experience with us.