Philadelphia U17 Sabre and U20 Epee @ FAML--Not a USFA Event

[dridge]

Currently, "The Fencing Academy--Main Line: Paoli PA" is not a Philadelphia Division USFA club.

Though posted on AskFRED, this is not a USFA event. The Philadelphia Division will not award classifications for FAML tournaments until FAML becomes a USFA club.

Drew Ridge
Vice-Chair, Philadelphia Division

[qatet]

Also, please note that the Fencing Academy Main Line is in no way affiliated with the Fencing Academy of Philadelphia, despite the fascinatingly similar name.

Kate Thomas
Fencing Academy of Philadelphia

[Draven]

Why wouldn't someone want to be a USFA Member Club?
you get all sorts of benefits, like Club insurance, listings on the USFA website etc.?

[KidLazy]

Also, please note that the Fencing Academy Main Line is in no way affiliated with the Fencing Academy of Philadelphia, despite the fascinatingly similar name.

Furthermore, please note that KidRock is in no way affiliated with KidLazy, despite the fascinatingly similar name.

[dridge]

Why wouldn't someone want to be a USFA Member Club?
you get all sorts of benefits, like Club insurance, listings on the USFA website etc.?

http://www.usfencing.org/usfa/content/view/2101/137/

addresses FAQ surrounding USFA Club Insurance.

Drew

[Draven]

Seems to me that FAML is trying to trade off FAP's name recognition in that particular market. I wonder if there are other implications in trademark and copyright etc.....

[Peach]

It's kind of weird--I did a double-take when I saw it posted on FRED for my division and said, "What the heck is this?"

After I did a little digging I realized it was a new incarnation of a club that has been doing unsanctioned stuff for a long time and has squabbled with pretty much everyone in the division before.

I don't know if I will ever understand people.

[oiuyt]

Seems to me that FAML is trying to trade off FAP's name recognition in that particular market. I wonder if there are other implications in trademark and copyright etc.....

I don't know, Fencing Academy of *LOCATION* is a fairly generic and common formulation.

"Philadelphia Academy of Fencing" (PAF), while still generic, might raise eyebrows, but FAML? Meh, I guess, but certainly not enough that I'd question it.

-B

[qatet]

I don't know, Fencing Academy of *LOCATION* is a fairly generic and common formulation.

"Philadelphia Academy of Fencing" (PAF), while still generic, might raise eyebrows, but FAML? Meh, I guess, but certainly not enough that I'd question it.

-B

FAP offers numerous classes on the Main Line, which is just one region of the Philadelphia suburbs (the part that follows the main line of the old Reading Railroad). For instance, I personally coach at five different Main Line locations, for a total of eight different classes. I know that at least two of our other coaches work at Main Line locations and I may be forgetting some.

[oiuyt]

Right, but what name is used with those (FAP) programs?

Is there any significant chance of confusion? Of people thinking Andy's club is one (or more) of the satellite programs at which you teach?

-B

[qatet]

Right, but what name is used with those (FAP) programs?

Is there any significant chance of confusion? Of people thinking Andy's club is one (or more) of the satellite programs at which you teach?

-B

I'd guess that there's less chance of people who already fence getting confused, since fencers are used to the "Fencing Academy of X" formula, but I'd think it's more of an issue for those who have just a passing affiliation with us - kids who come to one of our Main Line camps for a week and then want to start up again six months later, for instance. We are worried that new families such as these might think it was a branch. "Fencing Academy - Philadelphia" with it's younger sibling branch "Fencing Academy - Main Line."

Really, pursuing the matter is Mark's call. He's looked into it, been informed that he could pursue legal action, but ultimately decided (as far as I know) that legal action is a pain in the arse and we would simply clarify the distinction any time it came up.

In this context, however, I wanted it to be clear that it is not in any way FAP that is running unsanctioned tournaments. We do our damnedest to run quality events. There aren't that many clubs in this area, and FAML did not start using that name until sometime last year, so it was worth clarifying.

I wonder if there are other cities in the country where there are such similar names. Usually people _want_ their clubs to be easily distinguishable. I've got to say, it strikes me as decidedly unusual for an established business to take a name so similar to another established business (both of these clubs have been in the area for decades).

[oiuyt]

Mmmm, yes. This could easily be a larger concern for those that aren't as connected to who's who.

It's interesting to note that most of the large clubs in the area have that formulation or something very similar:

Fencing Academy of Philadelphia
Fencing Academy of South Jersey
Bucks County Academy of Fencing (which I believe is the oldest of the three)

-B

[Draven]

Mmmm, yes. This could easily be a larger concern for those that aren't as connected to who's who.

It's interesting to note that most of the large clubs in the area have that formulation or something very similar:

Fencing Academy of Philadelphia
Fencing Academy of South Jersey
Bucks County Academy of Fencing (which I believe is the oldest of the three)

-B

There is however a clear distinction between Philadelphia and South Jersey and Bucks County.

It's kind of funny however, that when FASJ first started the owner photo copied FAP's marketing materials with a cut and paste in South Jersey part, new names and proceeded to distribute it as his own..... which is how they got the name FASJ. again interesting violations of intellectual property rights.

Also as Qatet mentioned, it's odd that one would choose such a similar name, in an area where a previously established business operates, unless you were looking to trade off of the recognized name.