January 2008
Santa Cruz, California,
Surf
City
trademark feud to end.
It appears the spat between the Santa Cruz business of Noland’s
on the Santa
Cruz wharf is finally going to chill
out. What has turned into a testosterone match with Huntington Beach
will finally simmer. What
has been at the center of the dispute is the first to register and
claim the
name� Surf
City�
officially as a trademark. Much
like Mc Donald’s, and others who have registered their names, the
southern California
group was
first to do so,so there is a right of precedence in that realm. The
facts though
of the name give a strong case to Santa Cruz.
Surf
City has been a name for Santa Cruz for
generations with numerous iterations in the
Santa Cruz Sentinel. The name Surf
City
has been noted as far back as the turn of the century in reference to Santa Cruz
in a variety of
endeavors. While Santa Cruz
County is
the second oldest county in the state of California,
Huntington
Beach is a
relative newcomer.
The reality is
that surfing has been going on far longer
here at Santa Cruz,
than probably anywhere else
in the continental United States.
The history
of surfing has
many interesting chapters, but I think all agree without the Hawaiian’s
coming
to Santa Cruz in the late 1800’s the modern water sport would be far
different.
The surfingforlife.com web site has a great history that is worth
checking out.
Surely Jack
O’Neill has made it far more comfortable for all with the
neoprene wetsuit.
That invention single handedly opened the world of surfing to the
masses who
would not otherwise brave the cold waters of the world. Certainly Santa Cruz
would have
always been on the map due to its great variety of waves, and quality
spots to
surf. While the river mouth on the San
Lorenzo
is not usually a good surf spot unless the storms are active and there
is a
good flow, it was the choice spot for surfing for the early Hawaiians.
What would
just pass for just another surfer pissing match,
unfortunately had to go the legal route. Thankfully for Nolan, there
was an
attorney that fought the case pro bono; otherwise it would be a costly
endeavor
just to sell a few T-shirts to the tourists. Glad to see that there was
an
outcome that allowed both cities to be able to cater to the tourists as
that is
an important industry for both.
Tourism is an
important part of many communities’ revenue.
Many want to take a memento home as evidence of being there. T’s shirts
seem to
proclaim to the world� I’ve been there� and are good for starting
conversations. As I have traveled I have found many know of our small
little
slice of heaven. The natural beauty of the area is broad. I think it
will be
humorously tongue in cheek when our federal government gets off their
stupid
high horse regarding hemp and marijuana, and the T-shirts are made of
natural
locally grown hemp fiber. I am sure there would be a lot of support for
it.
While surfing has become more of a
mainstream sport, many people of all economic strata engage in it. The
lawyer was a surfer and took the case pro-bono.I doubt that if he had
not been a surfer, he would have given the issue more than a passing
thought.
The houses in Santa Cruz nearest the good surf spots
have been increasingly updated to nice homes, from small cottages.
This appeal of the water has brought a more affluent clientele to the
area, which is good for the city coffers and increases the quality of
homes. If you want to see some homes in
Santa
Cruz, follow the link.
