Just a headsup: The admirable people behind the Alabama Rig are having a blast threatening YouTube users over any mention of the term "Alabama Rig", even in search tags. Take a look at the following impressive comments:

(vid 1: http://youtu.be/w_daZ8NoKBQ )
"Did you know that using the Alabama Rig; registered name is a copy write infringement? Using Alabama Rig or A-rig in any way to lead advertising to your utube video is illegal. I need youto remove your tags and any liture with Alabama Rig name in it. Consider thisa friendly warning. Tammy Poss"

(vid 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TzRhWJFNCs)
"Hey Buddy, I know your young. But you have broken the law. The Alabama Rig is a registered name with the US Patent Attorney'sOffice along with; A-Rig. It is against the law to use it for any reason without written permission from us. Which you do not have. Consisder this a friendly warning to remove all wording and tags using the names for your gains. Thank you. Tammy Poss"

(vid 3: http://youtu.be/QjAsoqatDZs)
"The Alabama Rig; and A-Rig name is a registered name with the US Trademark Office. You are illegally using it. Your design will infringe on our patent. You I believe have been notified."

"You are still using our name illegally for financial gain. I don't see how you can be telling people God bless you. You are stealing from us as well as using our Name The Alabama Rig and A-Rig which is registered with the US Trademark office illegally. Consider this a friendly; reminder next will not be so friendly."

"This is to notify you that you have used The Alabama Rig in a illegal manner without wriiten permission. This name is a registered a Trademark name with the US Trademark Office. Your title stated; home made Alabama rig which must be deleted. Consider this a friendly notice. Also when the Patent is granted you also are infringing on the patent with 3 wires. If you have any questions you may call us direct at 256-275-9383 or our attorneys, either or. Thank you. Tammy Poss"

"Read the disclosure on our patent application I had it worded so the any (Head) made of any material which we have other application coming down stream with different heads. Also the wires are stated multiple meaning more than 1. I hope you understand our frustration, thats like Ford amking a new engine and you happen to be a mech forthem or just figure something out on your own but not your idea in the first place.; then make a video for"

Vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9lAD3b42Bk&feature=related

"You are illegally using The Alabama Rig as; a tag in your tags to direct traffic to your video. The Alabama Rig and A-Rig is a registered name through the US Patent Office. "

The last one is pretty crazy-can you imagine if it was illegal to use any "term" in search engine tags? Nike, Pepsi, etc? What are your thoughts?

Pretty funny coming from folks that knocked off an umbrella rig and now are busting on other folks. Sorry but the gold mine days of $25 Arigs is over. Way too easy to make much cheaper.

They had some rather sneaky ways of promoting their own products themselves. I will never purchase one of the actual rigs from the originators.

Ha just for kicks makes me wanna make a video and call it the letter before B rig... Thats legal right?

Who makes these warnings? And who makes the "official" alabama-rig?
After all this time I think a-rig and such are like a generic term( I.e. bandaid, kleenex, coke)

Here is the funny thing. If everyone that he gave a "friendly notice to" told him to go to hell, if he wanted to pursue action he would have to PAY his attorney to send a cease and desist order. He would spend more money seaking legal action than he would protect.

I wonder what he is telling all of the other companies that are knocking off his product as we speak?

Is it the 'Trademark Office', or the 'Patent Office'......?
Either is a lie.....hasn't been time for either to make a decision. Both are Government agencies.....
I did get busted last week for using a Texas Rig....
but dang....it's been with us for years. ..bout time...:)
$25 fine and have to put a swivel up the line for a year...:)
What's next?

Tom deleted his video I'm assuming for the same reasons.

Can we call it the "A-hole Rig?"

Bingo!

Here's the kicker: Have any of you guys uploaded a YouTube video before? If so, you'll know that YouTube asks you to type in a few "descriptive" tags for your video, so others can search and find it. From the above posts, it looks like the professionals behind the Alabama Rig want to ban users from even adding the term "Alabama rig" to their YouTube tags. That's pretty hilarious.

As an analogy, imagine uploading a video of bass fishing with a chatterbait (homemade or otherwise DIY) and being told you could not use the term "chatterbait" in your video, in your title, in your description, etc. Good luck with that.

If they are not selling the rigs they make or profiting from the video what are they infringing on?

Oh, wow, it gets even better. Check out this video:
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HSDbziTVaw&feature=colike)
"To whom it may concern. You have used my Registered Trademark name in your title and on your video for financial gain. It is against the law to use someone's trademark name without written permision. I need you to remove your title and video due to the illegal use of our name. Consider this a warning. FYI you might want to check the disclose on the patent; pening, when issued you will be infringing on the patent even with three wires, I wrote it to state multiple wires which is moe than 1. TPoss"

TPoss seems to believe all umbrella rigs will be made illegal (except the Alabama Rig) by this "patent" he keeps raving about. Looks like this internet bully hasn't heard of the Streisand effect http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand_effect .

THIS

Here they go again, threatening a little kid with his fishing video. He isn't selling anything either.

http://youtu.be/JB60QKQlfBk

"Hey Son, You need to remove my registered name from your video and title. The Alabama Rig name can't be used to advertise a knock-off or Fake. Consider this a friendly warning. "

Nice people.

I agree with what one posted above.. How in the world does a company take a design umbrella rig that has been around for long time and get a Patent on it??

Good thing Henry Ford and Sam Colt didn't think like these guys...

It just shows their main interest is in the mighty dollar. And not in fishing.
And so worried that someone is going to quickly develop something a little better and bump them out of the spot light...

I wonder where they dreamed up this great idea.... Huuummaaa the (umbrella rig)
Maybe....

And people please remember not to use the A word or A and rig in the same sentence.... Just a friendly threat... LmAo

Can I tell them to screw off in a friendly way?

The first part is gold! But did you really get in trouble for using a Texas rig?

Seems to me a patent that just says multi wires would be too vague. Those thing ussually have to be specifically descripted to hold. If he specified five then three wires could be 10% dif. Also A rig or alabama rig has already become a "common" term name which could prevent lawsuits. I think he is just reaching trying to make up for poor marketing planning ahead of time.

I have some home made A-rigs for sale

Can people use the term umbrella rig? I will buy local homemade ones from now on.

My understanding is that a trademark is fairly easy to get, Copyright, even easier. Patent? that's a whole other ballgame.

Anyone want to invest in my endeavor making and marketing "bama-rigs"?

Lol, this is their YouTube channel. http://www.youtube.com/user/TheAlabamaRig

Maybe we start an e-mail campaign and let them know what we think of their tactics?

Their website lists their contact email as: slicklures@comcast.net