So I get back from a nice Alaskan vacation and I get this from Ray Lampe also known as the “Celebrity”:

http://www.drsbbq.com/docs/drsbbqCertified1.pdf

Before I continue let me say that anything further is of my (Robert King’s) own opinion and nobody else.

Let me clarify before I continue:

1. DR’s BBQ, LLC was dissolved in December of 2010 and wasn’t actively marketed since March or April of 2010.

2. Our business was catering and nothing else. I did post on a blog on occasion.

3. The business name came from the two initials of Doug and Robert. Hence the name DR’s BBQ. It is pronounced as written Dee R’s.

4. I Robert King am the sole owner of the domain and website drsbbq.com and have always been.

5. I have never been contacted by the “Celebrity” regarding this matter until this certified letter was received.

Let me just say that I consider myself a level headed person. If I was contacted in a normal manner I would have responded in kind. All that had to be done was click on the contact us page and send an email. My last blog post was in March of 2010. Perhaps upon looking at that it would appear that the business wasn’t being actively marketed? But I digress.

I try to instill in my children a sense of self worth and pride in who they are and to ALWAYS treat others kindly until they give you reason not to. Do NOT let others walk over you EVER. Maybe we don’t have much but your pride can never be taken away. I’m sure many of you out there can understand where I’m coming from.

Now, I’m not a lawyer of course but I stayed at a Holiday Inn once. On the document that was sent from the link above it lists trademarks for DR. BBQ’S and DR BBQ. The public records can be viewed at:

#3168468
http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4009:ngan5a.7.3

#3144444
http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4009:ngan5a.8.4

They are listed and commented in red below:

1. Barbecue spices and sauces
We never sold any spices or sauces.

2. Conducting classes and demonstrations in the field of cooking
No classes were ever conducted. No course materials were ever handed out. The only cooking “demonstration” was recipes posted on my blog until March of 2010 (over a year ago). A quick google search reveals quite a few folks posting recipes on their blog.

3. Entertainment services, namely, personal appearances by a celebrity in the field of cooking.
While catering we never offered entertainment services. I also am not a celebrity nor have any desire to be one. I heard they like to look at themselves in the mirror a lot and I’m nowhere near that pretty.

As stated above the name was taken from our initials. I’m sure everybody involved are highly educated people. When I was in school we were taught that DR’s is pronounced Dee R’s and Dr. is pronounced Doctor. Maybe I was absent from school that day?

Which leads us to Cybersquatting (domain squatting). Cybersquatting defined is registering, trafficking in, or using a domain name with bad faith intent to profit from the goodwill of a trademark belonging to someone else. I have never pretended to be Ray Lampe nor do I have any desire to be Ray Lampe a.k.a. “celebrity”. I have never used the word “Doctor” or made up a degree to be one in using our name when we were in business. My website has alway had my name on it and explaining how we came across our name.

I’m sure some of you may know Ray and would take his side. I can understand that and have no problem. I just refuse to be stepped on when I have done nothing wrong.

I welcome anybody’s thoughts and opinions in this matter!

Ray, since I’m sure you are reading this any future correspondence can be sent to robert @ drsbbq.com

Thanks and you all have a GREAT day!