Home is Where the Navy Sends Us

A friend of mine has the CUTEST craft that a friend of hers made that says, "Home is Where the Navy Sends Us." Such a true statement. I put my creative energy to work to come up with a cute design for my shop bearing this phrase. If you click on the images, you will be taken to the shop. There are a few functional products, such as post cards and note cards that can be sent out when you move to inform friends and family of your new address:

There are also some decorative items, my favorite being the framed print which displays your previous duty stations.


If you are interested in a personalized product, please email me at usnchic@hotmail.com and we will sort out the details.

USNchic's Armed Forces Fashions

New St.Patrick's Day Kid's Shirts!

I have made some new Children's St. Patrick's Day shirts for your little Leprechauns! Remember, you can click on the images to be taken to the shop.

"Mom's Lucky Charm: Lucky Since [insert date of birth here]"

Get them on white, yellow, blue, pink and grey T's in my Cafepress shop:

Or you can get it in a variety of colors, including green, in my Zazzle shop:

Personalized "Kiss Me I'm Cute" shirts, also available unpersonalized. If you don't see the name you want, email me at usnchic@hotmail.com and I will be happy to personalize this design for you.

New Chief and LDO Stuff

I had a few requests this week! YAY!

The first was a mug for an HMC, from his wife. The other side of the mug displays the CPO anchor.

The second was pillows for the USS Gettysburg Chief's Mess.

The third was a "Navy Chief Navy Pride" Shirt.

And lastly, I designed these simple yet unique stickers.

http://www.usnchic.com/

Navy Wife Shirts and Gifts

The majority of my designs are obviously Navy designs since we are a Navy family. This post will give you a preview of some of my Navy Wife shirts and Navy Wife gifts, as well as a few Navy Girlfriend shirts and Navy Fiance shirts. Please keep in mind that there are many more designs and each design is available on a variety of different products, not just the product in the image on this blog post.

You can click on an image to be taken to my shop.









Here's a unique Navy Wife Deployment Survivor shirt I created. You can even get a design that shows off how many deployments you've survived.




Here are some Navy Chief Wife shirts:







Here are some Navy IA Wife shirts I created while my husband was deployed as an IA.




*Iraq and Afghanistan also available.

Here's a couple Navy Wife and Veteran shirts I designed for all of those ladies who are veterans and Navy Wives.




If you are looking for a Navy Submariner's Wife shirt, I have a couple of those as well! Here is one example.


If you are the wife of a prior enlisted sailor turned commissioned officer, otherwise known as a mustang (LDO, CWO) I have some great Mustang Wife shirts and stickers for your car.






Maybe your heart belongs to a tattooed sailor? How about a unique I love my Tattoed Sailor shirt?


I also have a special Missing my Deployed Sailor or Corpsman shirts.


And last, but certainly not least, Navy Girlfriend shirts and Navy Fiance shirts.





I hope you like my designs! If you would like something personalized or have a question or suggestion, please feel free to contact me. usnchic@hotmail.com

I would love to hear your feedback or create a special design just for you.

Please become a fan of my work on Facebook.

A USMC Update

So, here's an update regarding the USMC requiring Zazzle to pull all user submitted USMC designs and products. Another shop keeper on Zazzle emailed the USMC Trademark Office, and they sent her the following response. It makes me much less peeved at the Marine Corps and more peeved at the print on demand sites (Zazzle, Cafepress) for not obtaining the license agreement for us. It's good to know that the profits go to the MWR. That's a great cause.

Zazzle - Marine Corps Products Q & A

1. Question: Why did Zazzle remove all my Marine Corps-branded Products?

Answer: The United States Marine Corps Trademark Licensing Office contacted Zazzle and requested all unlicensed Marine Corps-branded products be removed from their site.

2. Why did the Marine Corps ask Zazzle to remove my Marine Corps-branded products?

Answer: According to law (see below), permission is required from the Marine Corps in order to sell Marine Corps-branded products commercially. All companies and individuals wishing to sell Marine Corps-branded products must first enter into a license agreement with the Marine Corps Trademark Licensing Office. As the Trademark Licensing Office has yet to enter into a license agreement with Zazzle and/or any of it’s shop keepers (you), all products are unauthorized.

3. Question: What trademarks require permission to use from the Marine Corps?

Answer: The Eagle, Globe and Anchor, term Marine Corps, Marines, U.S. Marine Corps, initials USMC and the official Seal are deemed insignia owned by the United States Marine Corps. This list is not exhaustive, and if you have any questions about any Marine Corps-branded marks, please request permission before proceeding.

4. Question: I can see why the above insignia need a license agreement, but I am NOT selling any products which incorporate the seal, emblem, name, or initials USMC. Why did Zazzle take down my non-Marine Corps-branded products?

Answer: The Marine Corps requested Zazzle take down all Marine Corps-branded products which used the seal, emblem, name, or initials USMC. If your products do not contain any of these elements then please send us an electronic version so we may confirm. There should be no reason as far as we are concerned for Zazzle to pull any products which do not incorporate the above mentioned materials.

5. Question: Aren’t Marine Corps insignia in the public domain?

Answer: No they are not. Please see 10 USC 7881, as well as 15 U.S.C. 1225 and 10 U.S.C. 2260. In addition to being protected by specific statute, Marine Corps insignia are considered to be trademarks and, as such, are not to be used by third parties without permission. While it is true that works (such as written works) created by Federal employees are generally not protected by copyright, and are in the public domain, this does not apply to trademarks. Also, under 10 U.S.C. 2260, the U.S. Marine Corps may license trademarks and may retain and expend fees received from such licensing, to be used to cover the costs of securing trademark registrations, the costs of operating our trademark licensing program, and to be used for Marine Corps morale, welfare, and recreation activities.


6. Question: What about fair use? I was told military insignia were fair use.

Answer: "Fair use" is a principle of copyright law that allows for the limited unauthorized use of another's original copyrighted work for the purposes of criticism, commentary, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Commercial sales are not included in fair use. In the trademark law context, “fair use” contemplates the use of another party’s trademark that is not considered to be a “trademark use,” where the use does not function as a brand or identifier of source. While some instances of use of military insignia (such as in the background, or some other incidental use) might qualify as “fair use,” each such use must be reviewed in order to determine if it is a fair use, or a trademark use (requiring a license).

7. Why are the Marines being so greedy? Is this about money?

Answer: Our priority is to protect the integrity of our name and historical USMC marks. However, money is also a factor. How much money do you think Zazzle is making off of Marine Corps sales? Where does that money go? Did you know that proceeds from the revenues generated from licensed USMC products go back to Marine Corps morale welfare and recreation quality of life programs? Indeed, as is noted above, 10 U.S.C. 2260 allows for the use of licensing revenues to be used for Marine Corps morale, welfare, and recreation activities, which is a very honorable cause.


8. So what you’re telling me is that by selling USMC products without a license is actually taking away from Marine Corps quality of life programs?

Yes, that’s exactly right. When we have thousands of unlicensed vendors (like you) selling unauthorized products there is less money going into licensed product sales. Much of the money generated from the sales of USMC licensed products goes right back to the Marines, as referenced above.

Oh, we thought you were just being mean, so you’re actually not being evil and greedy?

Answer: No we’re not. Historic USMC insignia deserve protection. Many of the products being sold on Zazzle were augmented or modified tremendously. With all due respect, in our view, many of the USMC-branded products were in bad taste and offensive to the integrity of the Marine Corps’ image, which damaged the true historic value of the Marine Corps brand.

Do vintage USMC recruiting posters need to be licensed?

Answer: No they do not, provided they are faithful reproductions of the original artwork, and assuming they are not subject to copyright. Please be sure to maintain their historic integrity by not adding or deleting any of the original elements.

I’m a Marine Corps veteran and taxpayer. I bled for the Marine Corps Eagle, Globe and Anchor and if I want to make a buck off of it I should have that right!

Answer: First, thank you for your faithful service. There are hundreds of thousands of USMC veterans out there who are proud of their military service. Being a veteran does not give one the authority to launch a product line of Marine Corps-branded products. The USMC is the best custodian of its insignia and names which is why Marine Corps-branded products need to first be approved.

Can’t the Marine Corps and Zazzle work something out kind of like Zazzle did with Keds?

Answer: We’re not sure what agreement Zazzle has with Keds, but we’re more than willing to and have tried numerous times to reach out to Zazzle to discuss options. We haven’t heard anything substantive back yet.

I’m just a small time shop I can’t possibly qualify to become a licensee on my own.

Answer: We know that and are sensitive to your situation. Please understand we have to protect the Eagle, Globe and Anchor and our name. We hope to soon have an online manufacturer who will carry the license agreement on behalf of its shopkeepers. Just be prepared to meet USMC design guidelines!

Can I still make stuff for my Marine Corps friends using the term Marine Corps and Eagle Globe and Anchor?

Answer: You do not have the authority to create, promote and sell USMC-branded products without a license agreement. Department of Defense employees and their immediate families have an implied license to use the Eagle, Globe and Anchor on personal products such as printed materials, literature, briefings, coins and web sites. These items must be intended for internal use and not for sale, advertising or potential endorsements. Use of the Eagle, Globe and Anchor must adhere to guidelines set by the Trademark Licensing Office.


15. I did not know I needed permission to use Marine Corps insignia on products I was selling. What laws or terms and conditions have I violated?

Answer: When you first signed up for a Zazzle account you signed a User Agreement or Terms of Service.

If you were selling USMC-branded products and have agreed to the terms of the agreement you are responsible for ensuring your products do not violate any laws. In our view, your sale of Marine Corps-branded products was an infringement of the Marine Corps trademark rights, and a violation of 10 U.S.C. 7881, and therefore was a violation of law, which we view as a breach of the Zazzle terms of agreement

Here’s a sample of what ALL Zazzle users have agreed to;

“In using this Site, you agree to not:

upload, download, post, email or otherwise transmit any Content that may infringe any patent, trademark, trade secret, copyright or other intellectual or proprietary right of any party. As a guideline, you may contribute only original work that you have created yourself from original elements. This means you can't use images of celebrities or corporate products, nor images, text, or design that you've copied from a website without written permission from the owner.”

“By uploading any Content, you represent and warrant that you have the lawful right to reproduce and distribute such Content and that the Content complies with all applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations and ordinances”

Please understand if you are selling Marine Corps products via any other distribution channel you will need permission from the Marine Corps in the form of a trademark license agreement.

16. Now that I understand permission from the Marine Corps is needed to sell products bearing their owned trademarks, how can I get permission?

Answer: The Marine Corps is similar to any other major brand owner such as spam or Disney. We have strict guidelines and standards in order to ensure USMC products are of the highest quality and come from approved sources. We are sure you understand the need to protect the integrity of historic Marine Corps insignia. Even though Zazzle vendors mean well and love the Marine Corps unfortunately, much of the content on Zazzle displays incorrect use of Marine Corps trademarks which in turn degrades the strength of our brand. (We’ve seen every liberty taken with the Eagle, Globe and Anchor, stretching, skewing, distorting, incorrect color, scandalous or overly “edgy” products, etc.)

Permission to sell Marine Corps products is given in the form of a trademark license agreement issued by the Marine Corps Trademark Licensing Office. We believe the licensing solution lies not licensing each and every vendor (you) but for Zazzle to enter into a license agreement with the Marine Corps. This would enable them provide an umbrella license to vendors who meet our design guidelines. These types of agreements are not uncommon among online manufacturing companies such as Zazzle and brand owners like the Marine Corps. This way a Zazzle vendor who may not otherwise qualify for a license agreement is able to produce and sell approved USMC products.

17. Is it difficult to obtain a license agreement?

Answer: Yes, it can be difficult. As a popular brand owner the Marine Corps must protect its insignia against incorrect and unauthorized use. Our licensing department is similar to that of other brand owners such as Disney, spam, the NFL, the NCAA, etc. We have ethical, financial, legal, manufacturing and business standards each of our licensees must adhere to.

Welcome!

Hello and welcome to my new blog! I have a personal blog, but thought it would be a good idea to set up a separate blog for my military pride designs. Here is some background information on myself and my military pride designs.

I'm a Navy Veteran and Navy Wife. I served 4 years in the Navy as an Operations Specialist on board the USS Gettysburg (CG-64). My husband is an LDO (Limited Duty Officer). He was an FCC and was picked up for LDO while deployed to Iraq as an IA. There were two different instances in his career that inspired me to design military pride shirts and gifts. The first was when he made chief and I couldn't find any way of displaying my pride in my chief at the NEX, so I decided to create my own. It was fun, so I made a couple more simple designs, but then I got busy with school and kind of forgot about it. Then, my husband was selected to deploy to Iraq as an individual augmentee. Once again, I wanted some way to display my support for my husband, and couldn't' find anything. So..........I made an IA Wife shirt design and a few other designs for parents of sailors deployed to war zones. The designs became popular, so I started creating more. It became a wonderful hobby that kept me busy while my husband was deployed.

I absolutely love doing this. I love creating military pride designs and am always up for personal requests. If anyone has a new idea for me, I'd love to hear it! I also like to hear feedback from my customers, bad or good. You can contact me at usnchic@hotmail.com.

I do have three different websites that I sell my designs on: Cafepress, Zazzle and Spreadshirt. They all offer different products, and I like the variety. I do, however, wish there was one website that offered exactly what I want, but there isn't. Maybe some day!

Lastly, I ask that you please become a fan of my page on Facebook. Thank you for your support!





p.s. I did import some blog posts regarding my shops and other military related posts from my other blog, which is why there are posts older than this one. :)

I'm a little peeved at the USMC

I have three different websites that I sell my military pride designs on. One of them is Zazzle.com. I was recently informed that all of my Marine Corps related designs were being removed as per request from the Marine Corps. It would be one thing if the design contained the official Marine Corps Seal, but none of them do.

"The USMC now requires anyone using the USMC EGA or the words USMC, Marines, U.S. Marine Corps and more to have a license. A $1,000 initial fee with a minimum payment to the USMC of $5,000 in royalties a year."

Apparently they "own" the words MARINES, MARINE CORPS, U.S. MARINE CORPS, and the initials USMC. They didn't even look at the designs before they were deleted. If a product was tagged with the word "marine" it was removed. One girl had a simply design with two hearts and a yellow ribbon removed. No mention of the Marine Corps whatsoever! As for things that are tagged "marine", what if I was referring to marine life, as in dolphins and whales? In reading the message boards over at Zazzle, this has affected a lot of people and everyone is up in arms over it. Supposedly Cafepress is next, and the Navy will also be enforcing the same regulations.

First of all, the military is run on tax dollars. The military is not a private individual or a corporation. Salaries, benefits, pensions, etc. are provided by the taxpaying citizens of the U.S. They are not private, they are public. They obviously have proprietary and security interests in regard to their logos and symbols, and there are rules governing such things. But for them to own the words "marine" or "army"? As one poster in the Zazzle forum states, "There are a lot of armies in the world. Can the US military take down all designs with that word in the tags?"

Second, wouldn't the money they are spending to have government employess scour the web in search of items containing the letters USMC be better spent on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan?

I support the military. I served four years in the military and continue to serve as a Navy wife, but their impracticalities never cease to amaze me.

In conclusion, here are some of my favorite quotes from the Zazzle discussion board:

"Yeah, it's sad that one can't even express pride and appreciation for the military. I'm retired Air Force and I always assumed that, since they military in general was a part of the government and we taxpayers pay for it, we could express our support as long as we weren't using personal images (ie pictures of specific soldiers, their families, etc,). I mean, I would assume I could create a shirt that says "Go Supreme Court!" or "Go 39th Congressional District!" or something.... How can you "trademark" the Marines?

I can see it now-- military partnerships with other trademarked entities:
"The Navy, brought to you by Coca-Cola and your local Chevrolet Dealers."

I can't wait to see the new uniforms..." -dradcliffe


*image posted by Softproduct

"My family has served in Viet Nam, Desert Storm, and Iraq. Although we never considered ourselves a "military" family we've always tried to have some pride, and fealt what we were doing was necessary, but not always right.

When I returned from my overseas tour, I was spit on, called "baby killer" (not to mention a few others very nice names. I was even attacked by some "so called" peace demonstrators. I was refused employment because companies didn't hire "baby killers". My biggest disappointment through my military tours was the lack of support from our own government, and eventually the American people. I spent two years as a member of the honor guard burying "dead" from Viet Nam. It sucked, to say the least, but was my only way to show support for fellow servicemen and their families.

For the Marine Corps to trademark, then charge a large licensing fee for use, is totally irresponsible, lacking of forethought, and downright ignorance. In essence they are only increasing the possibility of lack of support for the military personnel who put their lives on the line every day.
I am appalled that they have done this to their own people. I've always asserted that they've never really given a "rats ***" about their own, and this just proves to me that I was right. Just another replacable number.
Maybe they will use the licensing fees to purchase the some of the equipment they were suppose to have when they first went into Iraq but didn't because they didn't have the funds for it.

It's a sad day knowing that I cannot make a bumper sticker or something else with the phrase "Proud parent of a US Marine". My goal for my "military related" products was not money for me, but donated to various military support organizations. My pride for the Marines Corps and the idiotic bureaucracy that allowed them to do this is dwindling rapidly at this point." -Tom Purse