A Note From the Founder & CEO of Meowingtons March 16 2017, 18 Comments

If there’s a time for women entrepreneurs to prevail, it’s now. I won’t be bullied into submission over something I’ve worked so hard for.

deadmau5 emma bassiri meowingtons lawsuit

Being involved in a lawsuit is irritating and at times distracting. Rather than let Mr. Zimmerman’s harsh and undignified comments get me down, I am instead re-energized to continue building my business, serving loyal customers and the larger Meowingtons.com community to make it even better with more cat-themed fashions, accessories, and pet products than ever before. I want this matter to serve as an example to encourage every woman business owner to stand up for themselves, especially now when women’s rights and equality are in the public eye during Women's History Month.

I also don’t want to lose sight of what’s important at hand here. I started meowingtons.com as a place for cat lovers to unite, share, and most importantly laugh over the undeniably hilarious creatures we call cats. I’ll be even more energized through this ordeal if cat lovers would come together and create more life-changing bonds between humans and cats by supporting the Humane Society and all the hard work of its volunteers who have dedicated their lives to saving animals and finding them forever homes.

Community support is really appreciated via sharing this post, leaving a comment, and if you’d like, donate to the Humane Society here:

- Emma Bassiri

Comments

Cynthia J. Campbell on November 24 2019 at 08:50AM

Using ’women’s rights ’ blah blah blah as a lame, convenient, go-to excuse to try and evoke sympathy for a blatant theft of trademark, copyright and patent that Joel created years before you is illegal. As an attorney myself who had not even heard of you prior to seeing a small blurb in a local Bar Journal, I can assure the posters on this site that Joel SHOULD win, but if he gets ahold of an Obama feminist judge and does not, he should have no problem wiping the floor with your whiny, grasping, feminist ’I’m a victim’ ass on appeal.

Kenda on August 04 2019 at 12:26AM

This has absolutely NOTHING to do with womens rights. Why are you blaming that as a reason?

E Chris on August 15 2018 at 01:12AM

Why are throwing a lawsuit against Joel. I mean, you sell cat necklaces, and stuff for women. Deadmau5 uses his own cat’s name and creates logos for shirts out of his cat and Ideas. He was surprised that someone had taken his cat name; meowingtons. He doesn’t affect your business at all. Is totally different from you. I believe it only makes you look like someone that wants money out of a lawsuit. He used that name before you.

Zimmerman is also suing Scott Hutchison, a former Toronto DJ who manages the cat-themed merchandise website. The complaint includes a social media screenshot of a photo Hutchison shared in 2010 of deadmau5 tracks playing on his computer. Zimmerman says it’s “simply inconceivable” that Hutchison was unaware of his pet Meowingtons when the website registered its trademark.

Smells fishy.

sqsw0810 on May 11 2018 at 10:21AM

About the word “Meowingtons”, and the claim that “it is too original and can’t be coincidence”, I would like to quote Ross from “Friends” episode 207 (1995): “Can I come over tomorrow and pick up Fluffy Meowington’s cat toy”. Did the writers get the name from deadmau5 (active from 1998, cat adopted in 2010) as well? He can’t claim the rights to every word he has ever used.

About the rights to the brand name, just let a judge make the call and focus on your own life.

These comments by angry fans only mean “boredom”, “lack of education” and “anger management issues”.

Jennifer on April 18 2018 at 09:32PM

Well deadmau5’s business is more successful than yours so maybe this has nothing to do with women’s rights?

JIM on April 18 2018 at 09:29PM

Deadmau5 has more of a claim to it than you. The mau5 will prevail!

Alyson on January 06 2018 at 01:05PM

I could say a lot, but at the core, I think it’s awesome that you are fighting for your trademark. He and his affiliates were also reported to the F.B.I. for some things that are much more serious than this before news of this became public. I really do hope you win.

Steve Works on October 21 2017 at 04:11PM

Deadmau5’ been using that name for ages… It’s too original to coincidentally be “discovered” by another entity…
Give it back to Joel !

John Jeanmeyer on June 06 2017 at 11:50AM

DeadMau5 has been using this name for WAY! longer than you… change your name that’s the simple solution. hope he runs you into the ground.

Ashley Rick on March 22 2017 at 04:34PM

Correct me if I’m wrong but deadmau5 has had his cat Meowingtons LONGER than just this year.
..Why is there a need for a lawsuit over a cat’s name and how the hell is it tied to the “women’s rights” topic?

Storm on March 18 2017 at 10:37AM

“Confusingly similar”? What the claw? I mean, if PetCo and PetSmart can handle it, being in direct competition with each other, I think some guy’s cat can cope. Not only have I never heard of Prof Meowington, I can tell the deifference. Let me at ‘em! Just let me at ’em! * semiferals here for the defense! Honestly. How can we help?I’m a new customer but I’m so glad I found this place.

Carlos on March 17 2017 at 04:41PM

I applaud you for fighting back… I probably would too..

But what does any of this have to do with women’s equality? I mean, is it necessary for you to refer to women’s rights as a weapon to give you an edge in the fight? You seem to be strong enough to do it without the extra gibberish. Good Luck.

Jen on March 17 2017 at 02:42PM

I’m glad you’re fighting back! Meowingtons.com has great products but I also admire what your company is doing for the animals in your local community. As someone who adopted from the Humane Society of Broward County, I’m grateful!

The commenter who thinks you should ‘live and let live’ or somehow share the name obviously doesn’t understand that having a trademark means you have to defend it legally or forfeit. :P And that’s certainly not an option!

Kup0w on March 17 2017 at 12:16AM

Live and let live I say.

I’m not a lawyer, and maybe I’m a bit biased as well, but all this is over a cat name… It has nothing to do with women’s rights either, but please don’t consider this as hate.

I can pretty much guarantee he’s not the first person to bestow that name upon a cat. To me it sounds silly that someone would put that much time and effort over a cats name. The time, money, and just the resources… It must be daunting, I’m sure you guys must be able to agree on something.

You’re running a great business under this name, and if anything his use of the name for his cat is probably helping you and bringing more traffic along with sales. That being said I personally don’t think someone would mistake your site as something he would endorse and vice versa. You both are very clearly separate entities, and I don’t think your average consumer would get confused either.

I would take any comments from Joel as being more so out of frustration, not personally. A lawsuit over what name he gave his cat basically. Take a step back and look at it from an outside perspective. From a business perspective it must be frustrating, but at the same time I’d say it has helped you as well and increased your sales.

Kitty A. Plenty on March 16 2017 at 07:34PM

I’m so sorry you are dealing with this. I love your website and your products, and of course I am a big proponent of women entrepreneurs. It looks like this is not the only copyright law suit this man has filed. He must get off on conflict. Free publicity, perhaps. Lawsuits are financially and emotionally draining. They seem to serve no one other than attorneys. Stay strong.