A general rule in business is always alienate potential paying customers, and one Lafayette, Louisiana bar is really acing it.
Bar Code, a downtown lounge set to open soon in Lafayette, wanted to make it extra clear that they aren’t associated with a gay bar in Richmond, VA, also called Bar Code. See where the confusion could come from?
They took to Facebook to clarify:
But a name is just a name, right? Except here’s the gay bar in Richmond:
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
And here’s the definitely-not-a-gay-bar in Lafayette:
Look familiar?
Here’s the response the new bar received:
File this under the ‘social media fail’ category.
via IND
Captain Obvious
Call me crazy, but it’s really not that serious. The internet sure is whiny.
I'm Black, and HIV-Positive.
Well goddamn! That 2nd version of Bar Code looked like a classy joint! I wonder why the Hip-Hop version of the original Gay Bar looked like a much classier version of the original Gay bar itself in the first place.
Maybe if the gay community stopped being so anti-non-white themselves, the outrage over the new Bar Code would’ve actually meant something. As it is it’s just more “tsicar”, two-faced hypocrisy, and spin doctoring!
Tracy Pope
That the new, uh, straight peoples BARCODE chose a too similar signage (a rainbow barcode?) to the gay BARCODE is seemingly against the odds of pure coincidence. That they want to be known as a “straight” bar, eh, who cares? I just hope any possible confusion doesn’t lead to violence.
@I’m Black, and HIV-Positive.: It’s easy to generalize but please use qualifiers when voicing an opinion. I know there are anti- non-white gay people. I read about it in the blogs all the time.
I haven’t personally met any but then I live in a predominantly Hispanic town. None of my friends who are also gay are also white.
transiteer
Yeah – use the gay colours on your business and say you’re NOT. Not too astute I’d say, and knowing there’s another bar that is gay and the logo is almost identical? Who do you think your clientele will be?
I'm White and HIV-Negative
@I’m Black, and HIV-Positive.: You presume the owners of the Lafeyette bar are black because they describe the bar as “hip hop” And because you think they are black, you give them a pass on their anti-gay statements. So typical of you. Your rants about racism just demonstrate that you are primarily talking about yourself.
jwtraveler
Well, if they’re homophobic, I certainly wouldn’t go there and force them to take my money.
MarionPaige
Why would a business in Louisiana take to the internet (an inter-state means of distribution) to declare that it is not related to a bar in Virginia?
Think for a minute?
Is it possible that this gay vs hip hop non-story is not the real story?
One thing is obvious, there is less likely to be any trademark / servicemark / IP disputes between the two businesses as long as both bars only operate in their respective states. However, once one or both businesses take to the internet (presumably with domain names) THIS then gives rise to possible trademark / business idea disputes (and certainly domain name disputes). And, if the “original” bar is made aware of another bar using the same name (through this bullshit NON-Story) and does not take legal action, THAT could be used in an attempt to negate the original bar’s IP claims.
Note: It is technically illegal to register a domain name similar to a mark that someone is claiming trademark rights to. So, what is a “Legal” way to alert someone that you’ve registered a domain name similar to their’s and that you MIGHT be willing to sell that domain name to them (for price way over $12.00)? One way would be to take to the internet and declare that you hip hop business in louisiana is not related to their gay business in virginia and LET THE INTERNET DO YOUR DIRTY WORK.
The are some serious cybersquatters out there who have created businesses and operated them for years ALL in an attempt to either ( a) destroy some similarly named business’ IP claims; or ( b ) to try to claim that they legitimately registered a domain name similar to another business’s domain name. For example, that is /was this “alleged” fan site about Battlestar Gallatica on the net that looked like a harmless fan site. however, the domain name used the site is owned by an infamous cybersquatter through a series of shell companies (that attempt to hide his ownership). This fansite operated for YEARS apparently hoping that the Battlestar Gallactica franchise would pay big money for the domain name it was using.
BTW, there are currently 45 live trademarks that use the term “barcode”, there are 35 that use the term “bar code”
MarionPaige
People need to think about possible motivations for stories in the media since nothing accidentally makes it way into the media.
MarionPaige
ABC’s 20/20 did a “news story” that featured a new internet based business with a MISOGYNISTIC sounding name. What are the odds that a national television network just happened to pick a business with a MISOGYNISTIC name to profile? ABC’s own standards and practices prevented the profile from being broadcast over the airwaves but 20/20 still ran the story on its website. What are the odds? I mean, I may see conspiracies where there are none but, what are the odds that there wasn’t a lot more behind someone at 20/20 deciding to pimp that particular business?
I'm White and HIV-Negative
@MarionPaige: “It is technically illegal to register a domain name similar to a mark that someone is claiming trademark rights to. ” This is not correct. The use of another’s trademark in commerce is generally only prohibited if it leads to consumer confusion. Cybersquatting is a special case controlled by a specific statute. There is no evidence to suggest cybersquatting here so your comments are irrelevant as well as wrong.
jason smeds
So is this new hip-hop bar saying that you can’t be gay and like hip-hop? One can only surmise that that is precisely the assumption in its advertising.
gyntlgynt
It doesn’t help that it is located just a few steps away from 2 gay bar’s that are no longer there.
sfbeast
“It a straight bar that mostly hip hop”. I think that just about sums it up. It’s for lowlife thugs who don’t know English. The gays will be rushing right over.