Williams-Sonoma, Inc. v. Knock Off Wood [1] SummaryThreat Type: CorrespondenceDate: 03/04/2010Status: ConcludedDisposition: Material RemovedLocation: Alaska Verdict or Settlement Amount: N/ALegal Claims: Copyright InfringementTrademark InfringementTrademark Dilution On March 4, 2010, a lawyer representing Williams-Sonoma, Inc. sent a demand letter to Ana White, a rural Alaskan housewife and publisher of Knock Off Wood, a blog that teaches readers how to build designer-looking furniture at home. ... read full description PartiesParty Receiving Legal Threat: Ana White d/b/a Knock Off WoodType of Party: Large OrganizationType of Party: IndividualLocation of Party: CaliforniaLocation of Party: AlaskaLegal Counsel: Pami P. Vyas - Townsend and Townsend and Crew LLP Description On March 4, 2010, a lawyer representing Williams-Sonoma, Inc. sent a demand letter [2] to Ana White, a rural Alaskan housewife and publisher of Knock Off Wood [3], a blog that teaches readers how to build designer-looking furniture at home. The letter claimed that White's blog infringed and diluted Williams-Sonoma's Pottery Barn trademarks by referring to Pottery Barn products names in the course of explaining how to make similar looking products. The letter also claimed that White infringed Williams-Sonoma's copyrights in catalog photographs by displaying them on the blog. White took the letter in good spirits: This is perhaps the biggest compliment that I have ever received! A gigantic corporation is THREATENED by a housewife that lives 100 miles from a stoplight, 1000s of miles from a Pottery Barn store, most of the time in her bathrobe (right now included), who writes a simple blog that makes NO money. And you should really pat yourself on the back, too! You building furniture has made this gigantic corporation take note and hand write a letter! (source [2]) White decided to take down the photographs and product name references, presumably ending the matter. Related Links: Techdirt: Williams Sonoma Nastygrams Blogger Who Helps People Build Their Own Furniture [4] Knock Off Wood: Our Blog Has Williams Sonoma Uncomfortable [2] DetailsWeb Site(s) Involved: Knock Off Wood [3] Content Type: PhotoTextPublication Medium: BlogSubject Area: CopyrightTrademark Court Information & DocumentsJurisdiction: AlaskaSource of Law: United States