[stoneleech]

After having recently posted photos of my van, i have received a letter from Ionics stating they own the words reach & wash system as registered trade mark. Is this true? I have searched it with no definite results.

[Chris Cottrell]

yes they certainly do shame but true

[stoneleech]

what the water logo thing or the words?

[Moderator David@stives]

the phrase "reach & Wash. 

but  not "we can reach and wash your high windows"

[WCE]

reach then wash or Reach it & wash it - Put that and they cant touch you! 

[john tomkins]

What have they threatened you with?
Would Reach 'n' Wash be ok....certainly be cheaper to alter the signwriting

[WCE]

What have they threatened you with?
Would Reach 'n' Wash be ok....certainly be cheaper to alter the signwriting

No you couldn't use that. I did a search of Reach & wash, Reach and wash and reach 'n' wash. The first was the actual trademark and the other two cannot be trademarked due to their likeness to the actual trademark. So if you cant register the other two due to this reason I guess it would be possible for Ionics to take legal action on these grounds, after all in their eyes if you are using a slogan so close to theirs then you must be trying to pass yourself off as them or as a user of their equipment.   

[stoneleech]

What have they threatened you with?
Would Reach 'n' Wash be ok....certainly be cheaper to alter the signwriting

they have just told me to remove it off my van or send a picture of my system inside my van. I'm thinking of changing to Reach & Clean system, does anyone know if this would be a problem?

[WCE]

Another company uses that as their branding of their equipment! Not sure though if it's trade marked.
www.reachandclean.co.uk 

[stoneleech]

Another company uses that as their branding of their equipment! Not sure though if it's trade marked.
www.reachandclean.co.uk

the only reach and clean trademarked seems to be toothbrushes, which is in a different category, i think i'll go with it and see if any other massive business wants to goliath me, thanks to all the Ionics police and the hater who provided Ionics with the photo. Lesson learned.

[Alex Gardiner]

Here is the link to the 'reach & wash' registration information:

www.ipo.gov.uk/ohim?ohimnum=E4682308

I couldn't find the phrase reach and clean registered.

[WCE]

Another company uses that as their branding of their equipment! Not sure though if it's trade marked.
www.reachandclean.co.uk

the only reach and clean trademarked seems to be toothbrushes, which is in a different category, i think i'll go with it and see if any other massive business wants to goliath me, thanks to all the Ionics police and the hater who provided Ionics with the photo. Lesson learned.

Register the trademark yourself!!! Then charge them for a licence to use it 

[Moderator David@stives]

To keep a trademark from becoming a generic term you have to be seen to be defending it.

ie hoover is now an accepted term for all vacuum cleaners

[SherwoodCleaningSe]

Is it possible to repost the pictures and airbrush out the offending Logo as a first step?  Most companies won't pursue a matter in court unless they really have to.

Simon.

[stoneleech]

this is what i'm emailing the guy from Ionics who wrote to me:


Please accept my apologies. I had no idea that Ionic Systems Ltd had trademark over the words “Reach & Wash”. You are correct, I am not a customer of Ionic Systems Ltd and do not have an Ionic’s system on board my van. I will remove the words “Reach & Wash” from my signage straight away.

It would have been useful on your website to state that it was a registered trademark as I could have avoided the expense incurred; needless to say I understand your company’s position on this but feel I have been “picked on” because my signage looks so good.

I never intended to pass myself off as a user of Ionic’s equipment and as far as I am aware my customers have no idea who Ionic Systems Ltd are and that “Reach & Wash” pertained to Ionic Systems Ltd (this maybe something for your marketing people to look into?).

However, as I am a law abiding citizen I will respect your registered trademark.

Yours sincerely

[David Slater]

this is what i'm emailing the guy from Ionics who wrote to me:


Please accept my apologies. I had no idea that Ionic Systems Ltd had trademark over the words “Reach & Wash”. You are correct, I am not a customer of Ionic Systems Ltd and do not have an Ionic’s system on board my van. I will remove the words “Reach & Wash” from my signage straight away.

It would have been useful on your website to state that it was a registered trademark as I could have avoided the expense incurred; needless to say I understand your company’s position on this but feel I have been “picked on” because my signage looks so good.

I never intended to pass myself off as a user of Ionic’s equipment and as far as I am aware my customers have no idea who Ionic Systems Ltd are and that “Reach & Wash” pertained to Ionic Systems Ltd (this maybe something for your marketing people to look into?).

However, as I am a law abiding citizen I will respect your registered trademark.

Yours sincerely

Very nice letter stoneleech.

As you say, it would be hard to suggest you are impersonating an Ionics system.

...seeing as no customer has ever heard of them or understands what they sell, there wouldnt be a pecuiary andvantage any way.

[JSMC]

ionics sounds like complet f***in idiots if ye ask me.

[Mr T]

second that, a watched a demo of thers wasnt impressed by the guy at all.

[JSMC]

ionics must have someone check these sites for picture sof peoples vans.

sad day indeed.

[Nathanael Jones]

Its sad that they're cracking down on the small guy, who is at the end of the day actually advertising their system for them free of charge anyway!!!

I thought all this trademark nonsense had stopped 12 months ago, but apparently some numpty in Ionics feels the need to start again.