Halcyon files for "DIR" Registered Trademark

I think we've all heard the argument that DIR isn't about the gear, and that the instructors in DIR-F classes never mention a certain brand of equipment.

I found it interesting to note ( and this doesn't seem to be broken as news anywhere ) that Halcyon has filed an application to trademark the term DIR and Doing It Right.

http://www.uspto.gov/main/trademarks.htm

Look up serial # 78235843 and #78235834

Not only are they quoting the term as it applies to gear, but also as to training. We've always known that JJ controlled both GUE and Halcyon, but this really should put an end to those who believe that the two are still somehow seperate. I wonder after their application gets approved that you start seeing lawsuits against people for using the trademark.

Below is a quote:
Word Mark DIR
Goods and Services IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S: Diving, snorkeling and scuba equipment, namely, tanks, fins, hoses, wetsuits, dry suits, regulators, buoyancy wings, back plates, lift devices, life rafts, weight release systems, weight systems, lift bags, rebreathers, alert markers, buoyancy compensators, lights, valves, personal flotation devices, wraps, pockets, dry suit inflation kits, bottle rigging kits, knives, clips, snaps, gear bags, hose units, bucklers, tank bands, manifold, snorkels, masks, flippers, weight belts and parts therefore, prerecorded videos in the field of scuba diving and diving techniques
IC 041. US 100 101 107. G & S: Educational services in the field of scuba diving and diving techniques, developing educational materials for others in the field of scuba diving and diving techniques, educational demonstrations in the field of scuba diving and diving techniques, educational services, namely, conducting courses, classes, seminars, conferences, instructions, workshops and programs, in the field of scuba diving and diving techniques, educational services in the nature of scuba diving schools

Mark Drawing Code (1) TYPED DRAWING
Serial Number 78235834
Filing Date April 9, 2003
Filed ITU FILED AS ITU
Owner (APPLICANT) HALCYON MANUFACTURING, INC. CORPORATION FLORIDA 15 SOUTH MAIN STREET HIGH SPRINGS FLORIDA 32643
Attorney of Record DANIEL S. POLLEY, ESQ.
Type of Mark TRADEMARK. SERVICE MARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE

I sure am NOW!

I thought DIR was NOT about equipment MFG, I thought it was a diving diciplen. Well, GUE sure tweaked me out. How in the name of Zeus's butthole do you trademark "Doing It Right"?

I was seriously warming up to DIR as of late until just now. I think I'll stick with my split fins, my NON Halcyon equipment, etc and be more than happy to be DIMW (Doing It My Way).

I know I will more than likely get BLASTED for my comments here, so be it. Blast away. Lemme have it, I don't care. This is BS, GUE went TOO FAR this time. I guess I won't be taking that DIR-F class after all. (And I was really going to do it)

That being said "STROKE POWER"!

so what if they are one in the same if it works for you use if not dont . its not that big of a deal ,you can still dir with non halcyon
gear. some of you just need to get over this .

GQMedic once bubbled...
GUE sure tweaked me out. ...

GUE went TOO FAR this time. I guess I won't be taking that DIR-F class after all. (And I was really going to do it)

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Some folks make decisions based on rational thought and some folks are more inclined to let their emotions rule.

I don't think most of the folks who are ruled by their emotions would find GUE training to their liking.

I think you have made a wise choice.

steleehin once bubbled...
so what if they are one in the same if it works for you use if not dont . its not that big of a deal ,you can still dir with non halcyon
gear. some of you just need to get over this .

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Yes, you can still be dir (lowercase), you just can't be DIR anymore, unless you are Halcyon. :tongue:

From the Halcyon/GUE point of view it makes a lot of sense. Otherwise anybody can merchandise any kind of junk and call it DIR, the same way that anybody can go to a DIR-F class and instantly become a DIR expert on Scubaboard.

GQMedic once bubbled...
How in the name of Zeus's butthole do you trademark "Doing It Right"?

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Probably much the same way you trademark:

"Professional Grade"
"Craftsman"
"This Bud's for you."
"Reach out and touch someone."
"Makin' it great"
"Drop the chalupa."
"Avoid the noid."
"Don't mess with Texas."

It's business. Jarrod probably has problems with people applying the term to any piece of junk they want to sell. Harley Davidson went through the same thing a few years ago.

GQMedic once bubbled...
I was seriously warming up to DIR as of late until just now.

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If you were changing equipment to make your diving safer and decided not to for political reasons, it appears safety is not all that important to you. That's an odd choice.

Considering that a complete DIR setup can be assembled without a single piece of Halcyon or Extreme Exposure gear, it is even more strange.

If you'd decded to go DIR while boycotting Halcyon and Extreme Exposure that would have made sense.

Now it looks like the ranting of a madman. The gear that you didn't like suddenly became good because of a document being filed? Isn't history loaded with people who made decisions that way? I'm sure you could come up with a few names.

I hope appearances are deceiving.

Boycotting Halcyon and Extreme Exposure would mean something. Boycotting DIR would be meaningless.

like don said , thats what i meant and i have a hard time using the cap lock button lol DIR there you go .

GQMedic once bubbled...
I sure am NOW!
...How in the name of Zeus's butthole do you trademark "Doing It Right"? ...

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You're one very funny guy! This was almost as good as the smokin' thang. Where do you come up with this stuff? Zeus's butthole?

Keep it comin', man!

SA

Yeeeesh! So JJ's got some great ideas on how to make extreme diving safer for everyone and he happens to run a business. So what? Why does having Halcyon trademark the term DIR and "Doing it Right" make their good ideas about diving less valuable?? Answer is, "It doesn't!"

You can buy their equipment or you can buy someone elses, honestly, does anyone really believe a halcyon backplate is that much different from a Dive Rite or an OMS backplate?! Come on, people.

I train in martial arts with my two kids and we love it. We love the exercise, we love the comaraderie, we love the emphasis on character development and community service they have there. So our master runs a large and profitable school. Does that detract from what get out of training with him? Absolutely not! But there are still those "purists" out there who would biotch and complain that he wasn't sleeping on his dojo floor in a sleeping bag and living on donations. He's polluted the "art" with crass commercialism.

You know, the fact that JJ runs Halcyon doesn't mean his ideas are any less valuable. Evaluate DIR principles and accept what you like and reject what you don't like! He's not a freaking regulating agency that's going to take your diving priveleges away! His ideas stand on their own merits. Halcyon dive gear stands on its own merits, too, and has to deliver a superior product or they don't succeed. If I were JJ, seeing how DIR is becoming a well-known acronym, I'd try to trademark it, too.

I'm still trying to figure out what all the heat is about DIR. This stuff is just. . .well. . .silly. IMHO, of course.

JPC

Don't flame me for this, but how can one expect to be taken seriously as a training agency when you are teaching a course that specifies a certain gear configuration, when you have such an obvious conflict of interest?

JJ is the father of DIR and an officer of Halcyon, the company which now has registered DIR as a trademark. Halcyon, which calls itself the "Doing it Right Equipment Company".

I won't argue that Halcyon makes fine gear. I use some of it myself, but when an equipment manufacturer is that closely involved in a training agency which writes gear specifications, it is hard to take that training agency seriously.

Maybe it isn't Doing It Right, maybe it is "Doing It for Halcyon's Profit Margin"