Yup, you read the title right. This Young House is going the way of the dodo and the dinosaur. And although it certainly wasn’t our idea (let’s just say lawyers were involved) it sure has added some excitement to our lives.
The good news is that we’re already whipping up lemonade from the sour lemons hurled in our general direction. We’ve got a brand-spanking-new name and URL, but the site remains exactly the same otherwise. So remember to visit younghouselove.com from this day forth (and to update you reader, bookmarks and even your blogroll if you link out to us).
Ok, so here’s the full scoop. On July 7th, as many of you know, we were busy celebrating our two year wedding anniversary. But on July 8th we got a nice little present in the form of a cease and desist letter from a prominent home improvement magazine/TV show which bears a few similarities to our old site’s name (you guys can figure it out, right?). Don’t they know the two year anniversary present is cotton, not paper? Anyway, they basically ordered that we immediately surrender the use of our old name and URL because they believed consumers were getting confused and may think that Young House Love was in some way related to their brand. Picture us scratching our heads. In almost two years of blogging under that moniker not one person has ever asked if we were related to that company.
That started a rollercoaster ride of emotions. First came fear and sadness – were we really going to get sued or be forced to hand over nearly two years of hard work? Then came confusion and anger – why was the same pub that contacted us last year to compliment our work and offer us a free magazine subscription suddenly sending lawyers after us? Not to mention the fact that our site and our logo looked nothing like theirs, our names were essentially opposites, our projects are on a completely different scale, and we’re clearly just two young people with a personal blog (not a corporation with deep pockets and an army of lifelong experts). But we eventually unclenched our fists and faced reality. Even though we completely disagreed with every single point they made, what two-person blog wants to go up against such an industry powerhouse? Can you just imagine that? In this corner we have a million dollar company. And in this corner… John, Sherry, and a feisty chihuahua. No thanks.
So after many hours spent huddling with an attorney, we decided the best way to move forward (and spare ourselves a potentially long and expensive legal battle) would be to turn the other cheek and change our name and URL. After all, just as the-magazine-that-shall-not-be-named doesn’t want to be accidentally associated with us, we certainly share that sentiment. Now more than ever.
And a funny thing happened after we made the decision to move on to bigger and better things. We got fired up. Not throw-something-I’m-mad fired up, but this-could-be-an-amazing-opportunity fired up. Then came the search for the perfect new name. We tossed out a few odd but applicable ones first (involving our infamous love of white paint, ceramic animals and charming chihuahuas) but we still felt like Youngsters at heart. So we decided to bridge the gap between our old name and the thing that our last URL had always been missing: the can’t-deny-it crush we have on our home. We secured our new website addy on Bluehost for $4 with a coupon (you know we like to sniff out a good deal) and our new blog baby: Young House Love was born. It instantly felt like a place we could call home, and we really like referencing the idea of falling in “house love” (that unmistakable puppy love that we all feel for the casa we’re tenderly fixing up).
And here we are less than a week later, welcoming you to our new virtual abode. We’re still unpacking a bit, so bear with us as we transition everything. We know it may take some time for you guys to get comfortable with our new name and URL, but just as our old blog was once our baby, this one is our “youngest child” which means we’re gonna coddle it and spoil our lovely readers even more than we did before. Weekly giveaways (starting back up tomorrow!), before & afters, step by step tutorials- we’ll serve it all up on a white lacquered platter.
In the order of housekeeping, we would also love to remind you to change your bookmarks, Google Reader (click that link or add “www.younghouselove.com/feed” to find the right feed), and even your blogroll and the outgoing links (old and new) on your blog if you’ve linked over to us (links to specific posts can easily be redirected to the right place by replacing “thisyounghouse” with “younghouselove” in the URL and leaving the rest of the address as-is). Now that we’re legally bound to go by Young House Love from this day forward, replacing those old links and switching any old copy that says “This Young House” to “Young House Love” will really help our new blog grow and prosper (and make our day to boot).
Plus, if you’ve been following us on Twitter or Facebook (btw, we had lots of fun reading everyone’s guesses about our big news all weekend) please take a moment to switch over to our new Young House Love Twitter and Young House Love Facebook pages. They’re a little bare at the moment, but rest assured they’ll be the only place for bonus content and what-we’re-doing details from this point forward. Our old accounts will just turn into periodic annoying reminders to make the move so it’s best to abandon ship and jump aboard our new ones asap (note: please unfollow or unfan the old YHL pages after your switch to help us clean ’em out).
Oh and of course, we’d be forever grateful it you’d tell your friends / family / blog readers / coworkers / dog / gourd lamp about our new address. We would hate to lose a single one of you in the switch. We even made a handy little 120 x 120 button for any fellow bloggers out there who wouldn’t mind adding it to their sidebar with a link back to younghouselove.com (click HERE to grab it), which will really make us feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Thanks so much for your support. You guys put the love in Young House Love, so smooches all around.
megan says
From the first photo I thought you were leaving! Sorry for the problems, but happy you aren’t going anywhere. Updated my link and can’t wait to see all the new stuff to come!
katiedid says
GGGGGgggrrrrr is right!!!!! What a bunch of over-stuffed shirts!! Here’s wishing you all the best….You will go far I am sure. :)
I will update asap!
Sandra says
What a shame. That’s definitely turned me off of the “This Old House” brand.
Hilarious that it’s already a part of their wiki entry. Are you allowed to update your own FAQ, or do their lawyer sharks expect you to pretend that the last two years never happened?
Colleen says
Good luck to you both! This has absolutely turned me off EVER wanting to watch TOH or have anything to do with that company.
Jenna says
Wow…I seriously can’t believe this… So sorry you had to contend with all that craziness. I will totally think twice now before turning to “the other” company.
But… I’m looking forward to your new place of residence on the worldwide web.
Johanna says
This jerks!! I’m with burger- Grrrr. So silly! Glad that you’ll still be blogging though, that’s the good news! :) Happy to go to a different site if it means that I can still read what you guys have to share! :)
Karen says
Words to TOH: “Jealousy is worse than hate.” Looks like the big guys were a bit envious of your youth-driven, very cool and successful site. Get a life, TOH, and pick much bigger battles. I will never buy your magazine!
Ally S says
But on the plus side Sherry, you must be so pleased to have been able to put your naming experience to use for yourself?
This won’t make a jot of a difference, you still rock…
Lin says
You are an amazingly talented & remarkable couple who provide a lot of inspiration to your ever growing legion of readers. You took the high ~ & smart ~ road &, although this has been a royal pain-in-the-you know-what over the past week or so, it will benefit you greatly in the long term.
The best things happen when people work with each other & not against each other. Big corporations sometimes forget that.
Traci Sherrill says
Sour grapes, I say….. >:-(
I’ll never understand to what benefit TOH felt that inconveniencing you would somehow lead to any gain on their behalf; Some people just can’t stand for others to have any success of their own. I’ve never bought a copy of TOH, and now that I’ve seen what they’re really made of (corporate greed), I never will. I guess if there is any silver lining to this, perhaps they perceived your blog as a gaining threat?
(Or, perhaps Burger had them shaking in their boots….. GRRrrrr……. )
I first discovered y’all about a year ago on Flikr, and loved your style…. didn’t even know you had a blog, until I saw your DIY mag features! It’s great that you’ve been able to carve a niche of your own in the “blog-o-sphere”, shakin’ what you’ve got…… is there, possibly, a book in the future? Better yet, a show? I’d TIVO you every day. :-)
I was lucky (I guess), and found my way to your blog right as this URL transition occurred. I am sorry for your inconvenience, and hope that you see this experience for what it really is; none of this would have ever happened if TOH didn’t know that you were on to something. I see a grand future for your enterprise.
Sick Burger on ’em. ;-)
jonez says
What a hilarious post! I love it. Change is good!
Shelly says
Boooooooo on you know who! How sad I don’t even want to say their name, they may sick the dogs on me for mentioning it.
Ashley says
Boo! Well, I love the new name even more!!! And I’m loving Burger’s ‘grrr’ sign! Haha! Ya’ll are too cute!
Kenneth says
I know remixing your brand can definitely be a downer – especially after all the time you’ve invested in it. You guys have a great, informative and well-designed site that has plenty of engaged readers… this event is only a catalyst for bigger things to come. Keep up the good work (and thanks for your great ideas!).
RomeoAndJewels says
FYI – to make sure that you keep any SEO benefit from your old site – make sure that if you are redirecting any pages from the old site to do an SEO Friendly “301” redirect from your old pages to your new pages. It tells Google that you have “permanently moved”. Good luck with the new address!
decor8Holly says
Thanks for writing to me today to tell me about this post and your news – wow – I had no idea. Yes, I’ll change the links in the various places where I’m mentioned you guys — of course.
Honestly, I see this as a great move for you. It’s important to no be associated with another company when you’re clearly not and I guess I can understand where they are coming from as I always thought This Young House was a spin off of This Old House and that you both worked for them or something. Then as I got to know you better I figured out you had nothing to do with them. But you are better off this way and everything happens for a reason so remember that.
I see this as a very positive thing for you and your future. Plus you are earning an income from this blog and your decorating services so it’s important that you in no way sound or look like someone else. You are going to do better I think with the new name.
I never liked the old name (sorry) because I always thought about that tv show, but the new one works – fresh, young and fun which is what you’re going for. :) Knock ’em dead you two!!!
xo
Holly
Sarah says
You all are so much better than that big corporation- and so is your site!
amyks says
Think your new name fits you guys perfectly…and lawsuits are not fun or cheap. My husband and his brother went through a similar experience with his company, they were sued by a bigger corp, faced with an injuction right before they opened their restaurant…they other guy said they had issues with trademark infringements…my husband wasn’t going to back down and change the name of his restaurant
(he also has a background in law), so they went to court and after several rounds and loads of cash, my husband and his brother actually won. The name remains 17 years later with 4 more restaurants being opened.
Shell Harris says
I had a similar problem when I owned the domain name IngridBergman.com for 10 years. I asked her “official” site to partner with me and then the next week I had a lawyer calling me. Her son was nice and offered my $500 for the site design though, which they never used. Oh, well. Glad it is working out for you.
Sarah says
A copy of the email I sent to TOH. I’m still your fan!
To Whom it May Concern,
I am writing to let you know that your recent actions against John and Sherry Petersik of http://www.thisyounghouse.com have severely altered my respect for your company. Their name is in fact, the very opposite of your company’s, and their small but wonderful family blog and DIY efforts are in no way affiliated with your company. They do not claim to be affiliated with your company in any way. It is even more shocking and outrageous that you would take action against all of their hard work (2 YEARS AFTER they started the blog!) after offering them compliments for their blog and a free subscription! If that is not hypocritical and short sighted, then I am not sure what is (not to mention belated!). My husband and I are avid DIY’s and my husband currently receives a (gift) subscription of your magazine. You may be sure we will not be renewing it. This disgusting display on your part has convinced me that there are far better choices out there for our home improvement needs than your company. Perhaps you should think about that while there is still time to make reparations.
Disappointed in Cincinnati,
Sarah —–
Tim says
It’s just the case of TOH protecting their brand. They had no problem with it when you were a smaller blog but if it turns into a job and a sales page then they’re going to have to take action. I didn’t expect the name to last as long as it did.
And oh look!
http://www.amazon.com/This-Old-House-1-year/dp/B00005R8BL?tag=slickdeals
Mary says
I have to say, I felt EXACTLY the same as Sarah mentioned above. I also wrote a very similar note to TOH and have since cancelled the FREE subscription that comes into my home. Yes, I said that right…I even cancelled a subscription I was not paying for! But I digress… I think you name is actually more fabulous that the one before it! What a wonderful feeling to know they feel so threatened by you! ;o) TOH is past its 1980s prime, but YHL is just getting started, can’t wait to see what you have in store for our little blog world!
Rachel says
You guys are awesome and I’m totally addicted to your blog. I would take it all as a huge compliment.
demetra says
You have done an amazing job on your first home. I was wondering if this would happen. We bought a new house in California (moved from the East Coast) and it was riddled with mold. I’ll have to send you some remodel pics, but you guys are amazing! I love that there are other couples out there doing it on their own with great results. To heck with the old name. It’s a testament to what you’ve created. You have a lot to be proud of! If they were smart at TOH – they would have scooped you up and put you guys on the payroll for all the people like you. They’re missing out on a huge demographic!
Little Miss Cupcake says
A friend just forwarded me your address and I have to tell you how very much I enjoyed reading this post. I am in a similar situation where I have been using a name for my internet biz for the past 2 YEARS (never TMed it) and 2 MONTHS ago someone opened a store in the same city as me with a similar sounding name and filed for the TM. I have recently posted to my blog about the whole sordid saga. I honestly believe that this person knew of me when they chose their name and I know they have been profiting from the reputation I have worked so hard to build — in just 8 weeks, I have had approx. 20 emails from people telling me they visited this other store thinking I was affiliated with it.
It’s funny because I too have been through all the stages you express and am finally at a point of acceptance of the situation (though still harbor quite a bit of anger). I think you have truly made the most of this bad situation and I admire your creativity in spreading the word about your change of name. Am currently grappling with this — do I wait for the cease and desist letter to come or proactively change my name?
Now that you have the perspective of almost a year behind you since the name change, I wonder if you would have done anything differently or have any additional words of advice to share?
YoungHouseLove says
So sorry to hear about your predicament! It sounds like you have a ton of faithful followers (like all those people who emailed you thinking you were affiliated with the other store) so in the end a name is just a name. You may want to proactively change it just to cut ties and keep this newcomer from profiting off the reputation you worked so hard to build, but you also might want to talk to a trademark attorney. See, even if someone else TMs a name, if you’ve been using a similar name for years before them, they don’t have the right to a TM and will be ordered to change their name. It’s sort of like you have a commonlaw ownership of a name since you were around first, and the fact that she came to town and got a TM doesn’t protect her (as long as you can prove that you used your name longer and that they’re profiting from your name since it’s adequately similar).
Of course in our case we didn’t have our site before the big dogs had their name (since they’ve been around forever) so this rule didn’t apply. And even if it did we’d never want to shoulder the expense of going up against such a giant. But in your case you just might win and the newcomer could be ordered to change their name! Could be worth a shot! Either way, our advice to you is that if you’re passionate about what you do, that’s what earns you fans- and a rose by any other name still would smell as sweet!
xo,
s
julie says
Keep your chin up! I like your site better anyways!!!
Stephen Gibson says
So long and thanks for the memories. The new site is great!
Mama says
How the heck do I add this page to my blogger?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Mama,
We’re not familiar with blogger, but this link will bring you to our subscribe page (which can also be accessed by clicking the button under our search button): http://feeds.feedburner.com/YoungHouseLove
Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Cory Clay says
So glad you guys chose to be “better” instead of “bitter”! Way to go! The fact that you could possibly intimidate TOH is a coup and a testament that they must believe in scarcity. The pie is big enough for all of us TOH!
Eric says
What TOH wasn’t telling back in mid-09, was that they were planning a Spin Off show with a name opposite their current show. So doing a search may cause people to stumble upon your site – which is exactly how I found you! (even with your new name).
YoungHouseLove says
Wow! That’s pretty funny! We definitely had no idea.
xo,
s
Jason says
Well, well! That was one of the best articles I’ve read this week. I didn’t realize how long it actually is until I got to the end and I scrolled back upwards just to see. Kudos to you both for taking it all in stride and coming back with a vengeance and with smiles reaching up to your ears. Shame on that big bully for being all legal and technical about this. Hmmm … maybe they have a patent on the word “young” and “house.” Oh well. ;)
Mizden says
Looking back at this, everything happens for a reason and YHL certantly goes better with you….I just read TYH (I started reading around late July 2010) and that name doesn’t sound like you it’s a bummer you had to face a situation like that but I’m glad you change the name! :)
YHL 4life! haha
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Mizden!
xo
s
Ali says
Hi!
Just surfing around your site (been an avid reader/fan for years), but apparently I never read this far back in the archives. I had no idea there was ever a different blog name! YHL is just so perfect I couldn’t imagine anything else! I’m glad it all worked out in the end ;)
My new hubby and I settle on our first home this coming Wednesday and I couldn’t be more excited to get DIY’ing! (I may have made my Christmas list out of tools seen in John’s peg board post :)
Thank you for all the inspiration and laughs! Hopefully we will have a reader redesign to send in sometime!
-Allison
Frederick, MD
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks so much Allison! And we’d love to check out your Reader Redesign!
xo
s
Charlotte @ Ciburbanity says
Hey guys,
Sorry to hop onto an ancient post… and happy to email if the answer is basically too complicated for the comment section, but I’m expiring the idea of changing up my blog URL… a rookie mistake lead to a somewhat ‘clever’ blog name (City+Suburb+Sanity=Ciburbanity), but one that’s hard to remember and pronounce. Doh. The PR of the move is something that I think I can handle… but the logistics completely overwhelm me. Did you pay someone to help with the redirect of your old site? Your situation might be complicated by the legality of your first site (like it probably had to go away)… I’m obviously just concerned that every link back I’ve made to my own contact will be affected, etc. etc. Any technical tips for making the move to a new URL? Ugh. Thanks!!! xxCHarlotte
YoungHouseLove says
We didn’t pay anyone for the switch, we just continued to pay for the old domain and added a URL forward to that so when people clicked the old one it forwarded to the new one. I think if you google around for how to “redirect a website” you’ll see how to use your old name so that anyone who clicks it gets redirected to the new site). Hope that makes sense!
xo
s
Charlotte @ Ciburbanity says
Thanks, Sherry! Glad it’s not crazy complicated…. so for all the links to your old site that are out there… do you STILL pay for the old domain and have things forwarded or have you eventually gone back to alter all the old This Young House links in your own content? Website stuff hurts my brain…
YoungHouseLove says
Yes, I think we pay $7.99 a year to keep thisyounghouse.com forwarding? It’s not too bad, and we get auto renewal emails to remind us.
xo
s
Kelli says
I’m working through the archives to console myself now that you guys have…retired? Not sure what to call it. Anyway, this post takes on a sad foreshadowing now.