As many of you already know, a few weeks ago, I was contacted by the lawyers from an organization asking that I cease doing business under the name of Your Birth Right because it was improper use of their company’s trademark “Birthright”. Being a midwife and nurse and NOT a lawyer I really had no idea what this meant and I was completely confused as in my opinion Your Birth Right and Birthright were not the same and as such I was NOT infringing on their trademark at all.
After doing some research and speaking with a few lawyers it all began to make sense. Unfortunately, while our names are NOT the exact same and we are NOT providing the exact same services, they do have a legitimate claim and the right/responsibility to ask me to cease use of their Trademark.
So what does all of this mean?
It means that effective immediately, I will be moving forward to stop all business, marketing, advertising, and postings that include or come from any entity with my current business name “Your Birth Right.”
I will be taking multiple steps to inform all of my readers, and supporters of current and future changes. One of the first things I am doing is asking each of you visit my current website, still currently active at www.yourbirthright.com to fill out the “Keep Me Updated Form.” Filling out this form will place you on a special email list. When my new business name, blog, website is up and running you will be the first to know. Please know that this email list will NOT be sold or used for any direct marketing but will be used to keep you informed of my progress and let you know when I am “back in business.” I do not know how long my current website will be active so PLEASE visit the site TODAY and fill out the form.
I will be making decisions over the next few months about my future moves, my business plan and when and how I will proceed. Please know… this does NOT mean that I will disappear, or leave the Birth Blogosphere.
I still, always have, and always will believe that women have a right to birth when, where, and how she wants to. I believe given the information they need, women know FULL well how to make the best decision they need for themselves and their families. I worked the other day and helped finished the unnecessary induction of a 19 year old woman who was having her first baby at 39 weeks gestational age. When I asked why she was having an induction her mother responded “Well the doctor asked her if that’s what she wanted.” When I asked if the doctor spoke with them about the documented risks and the length of time her induction could take, (she was on day 2) the answer was of course “No.”
I share all that to say… NO… I will not be silent. I may have to change the name of my blog and move things around a bit but I will not be silent because my voice, your voice, her voice, his voice… they are ALL still needed!! My opinions, my ideas, my passion… NONE of that will change. What will change is my URL.
You may remember in mid April, I wrote a piece about the work of Transition. LOL… Just about a month later I received the letter from the lawyer. I guess you can say I am REALLY am in transition! J
While I am disappointed that I will have to change my business name there is some good news here… I was getting noticed. If I weren’t I would have never been contacted by their lawyers. So with that in mind, the transition continues. I hope that you will support me during this time and be there to celebrate when I birth my next “baby”. Until then… Continue to be blessed and birth well.
In Birth and Love,
Nicole
