Awestruck: Joanne Cornwell - Creater & Founder of Sisterlocks™
10:05 AM |
| Visit Sisterlocks.com |
JoAnne Cornwell lives in San Diego, California and is from Detroit, Michigan. She is an Associate Professor of Africana Studies and French at San Diego State University. She has researched African descended cultures worldwide, and understands how deeply hair issues relate to cultural identity. This understanding was the driving force behind her decision to found her trademark company, Sisterlocks™. Today Dr. Cornwell is an active member of the American Hairbraiders and Natural Haircare Association. She lectures widely on topics related to cultural expression in Africa and in the African Diaspora, as well as Sisterlocks.
While researching JoAnne Cornwell, I stumble across the lawsuit that happen between her company and nappyloc.com, and it was a bit of unnerving read. I know I only talk to her briefly, but she honestly seem like a nice person. Anyway...she end up losing the case against nappyloc.com, and I wanted to understand why.
I read that she did not patent her tools or her technique (which is properly why she lost the case) but I still thought that was very strange and can't possibly be true?? So I went on a hunt and started to search the patent database to see if her tools can be brought up and it didn't (Example: I was able to find lock loop & nappy locs tool easily). Since I was not able to get the patent information from the database, I went to sisterlocks.com site to see if she reference anywhere about a patent on her tools or technique, and all I was able to come up with was "Sisterlocks is a trademark company founded in 1993." I was able to verify her trademark here.
Now don't get me wrong, her tools are unique, and if you tried to make your own and sell it, she may be able to sue you because she has prior usage. It's just interesting that her tools and technique may not be truly "patent." I will modify my "What Does The Sisterlocks Tool Like" post until someone can verify for sure that she has those tools patent (I don't like misinforming people). If sisterlocks doesn't own a patent for the technique or the tools, how are so many of us so misinformed??
Who would have taught it was be so hard to find professional looking pictures of the creator of Sisterlocks by herself. Above is the only picture that I could find that fit this blog template, and look nice.
Please note that all pictures are copyright by Joanne Cornwell. You can visit her company website at Sisterlocks.com.
24 comments
The Sisterlocks tool reminds me of a crochet hook. I am not sure if it is patentable. Like making a wheel, I do not think that you can patent a wheel. Only a patent attorney would really be able to answer that question.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea what is considered "patentable" but I'm sure if the hook tool or the clip tool was patentable, it would have been done so already? If anything, the "clip tool" should be more patentable because I have not seen that type of tool anywhere.
DeleteI just spoke with an intellectual property attorney office last week about some other tool ideas. It costs $500 for a patent search. I decided to wait because unless I am ready to mass produce and distribute for sale, I will be jumping ahead of myself. Personally, I think that all tools can be improved. I do not see why anyone would want to take ownership of the existing S/L tools. Now, there is a market where people want to buy the S/L tool, but the artistry is in the artist's hands versus the tool. I am probably being of no help to this whole patent discussion, but it did spark some thought! Smile.
Delete$500 hundred for a patent search? You can do one yourself at the main government one --> www.uspto.gov/ or the Google version which is much friendlier www.google.com/patents. I'm not saying either of them are prefect, but if you have a keyword or phrase, the search is decent. It just will take some time (which is what I think you paying the lawyer for).
DeleteYou be surprise the type of stuff that I ran into that are targeted for dreads, from dreadlock comb to a dreadlock forming machine lol. I was interested in the swim cap that was gear toward people with dreadlocks. That would be a nice product.
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"Now, there is a market where people want to buy the S/L tool, but the artistry is in the artist's hands versus the tool."
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Love that line of yours. Very true statement. If if the tool was available to purchase, I honestly wouldn't know what to do with it.
I'm not an expert but I do have my own company and I'm familiar with the copyright, trademark, patent regulations here's the deal it is quite difficult to place a patent on a technique or hairstyle of course the sisterlock company name is trademarked but not the actual style or technique. That would be like trying to patent an afro lol....I've heard that the tool itself is patented.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the share and input. I honestly find this so fascinating. I know you can't patent a hairstyle, but I honestly didn't know you couldn't patent a technique?
DeleteAnyhow, the people that I have heard or read that the tools & techique are patented were mostly consultants or bloggers, I never read that Sisterlocks (who is a trademark company) stating that the tool and technique are patent.
You know, I went into the journey with all the information. I've been researching SLs since '05. In '06 I put a deposit down and never fulfilled the journey due to my own issues and knowing this. I have the links to the manuals, patterns, have talked to people who have taken the trainings and felt less empowered coming out of the training then going in. Yet, I still wanted them-but from an experienced consultant. Because, I know the OG consultants have done enough heads to know what's up, what works, what doesn't and really I bought into a system and a community. SL is really a brand you buy into with a family waiting for you. The other thing is, having had step sister locks(braidlocks maintained with a 4R pattern) and having installed multiple latched locks on others, I know that there is something unique about a SL install that keeps the locks small and the uniformity of them is unique and hard to duplicate. I put alot of thought into it knowing that I could have someone install latched locks on me, but I wanted the true experience this time. So, it was worth it to me. I needed to find out for myself, is there really a difference. So far, yes there is..but this is a great post and I look fwd to being able to offer more feedback as these babies mature! From my understanding, the training program is Trademarked. That's about it. I did read the tool was panted-but I think that's more heresay than factual..bc I can't dig that info back up like I can the case..just my 2cents!!
ReplyDeleteI so enjoy your two cent ^_^. What I like about the sisterlocks company is how the system is set up. The system is not perfect by any means, but at least they are some kind of accountability when you go into sisterlocks (meaning you can sue a consultant for bad work).
DeleteLike I explain too many people who are consider sisterlocks, if you looking for prefect grid, uniformly, and a vast community, you honestly can't go wrong with sisterlocks. The whole concept of consultant vs. trainees, and even the tools used in the creation of sisterlocks, is what really set the brand apart from other locking method. I'm not saying you can't achieve micro looking locks on your own, but the look and feel is very hard to reproduce without some form of training, and that what sisterlocks.com provides ( even though they is a huge cost associated with that).
Thanks so much for the share Cheleski, you feedback echo why I would continue the route of sisterlocks, even with all the knowledge I have now.
I agree. The gridding that I learned in Sisterlocks training was definitely the best part.
DeleteI agree with you both. And, again, it's worth it to me. My hubby can't stay out of my head and we both are marveling at how light and fluffy my hair is and it's falling DOWN again. People think I'm 'letting' my hair grow again, lol. Naw, I just have my length back(for the moment until shrinkage takes over). I just smile and say thank you. I also like hat no one really knows what I'm doing, it just looks like fine hair right now. It works for me. The training program is everything and the messaging and uniformity of the SL program does make a difference, like it or not. If I could have duplicated it with my own clients I would have, lol...nope. I may still take the program just for the education and experience, that's how amazed I am at this experience..Ok hyped neo signing off, lol. Have a gr8 day!
ReplyDeleteps. i just lOVE your blog, can you tell?
ReplyDeleteThanks...and I enjoy your feedback as well. Your experiences will help others, so please keep sharing them :D.
DeleteVERY interesting post. I've always thought the clip tool was patented, I'm sure that's what we were taught in the class...hmmm. Thanks for the research. I wish Brunsli's blog was still available -she gave an in depth legal analysis into the matter and showed that both nappy locs and SisterLocks kinda won that case - but when black women take each other to court over some HAIR I feel that everybody loses :(
ReplyDeleteYeah it was very unnerving for me to discover each of them suing each other over hair (*sigh*). I never had the opportunity to see Brunsil's blog, but she was one of my reasons for wanted sisterlocks, and your statement about the detail about the case on there has me wishing her blog was still active.
DeleteAnyhow… I search for a good while for either of those tools, and nothing showed up. I look under her name, dreadlocks, and the company and nothing showed up. I even check to see if you can hide your patent, but from what I read, all patents are public knowledge and are shared. So I just don't know.
I was trying to keep my mouth shut but you reeled me in with the excellent banter going on here.
DeleteI respect and admire Dr. Cornwell. I have met and chatted with her many times and helped the consultant team here organize the Sisterlocks Explosion in 2010. She is a relatively private and old school in many ways...
As far as the patents, patents are searchable and available to the public. The Sisterlocks tools are NOT patented.
The Nappylocs vs. Sisterlocks case's court documents are available online. Brunsli and her analysis was/is awesome.
The Sisterlocks technique works (this is why it has stood the test of time) but is not patentable. You can not patent a hair techique. Also interlocking is not unique (see the Massai men).
I do not plan on blogging about the case, the patents or the trademarks at least not now...
The point you made here pretty much sum up what I was thinking. I'm so glad I was able to reel you in to confirm what I already suspected. Thanks again for sharing what you know :D.
DeleteThe court case between Sisterlock and Nappylocs had little to nothing to do with the tool itself.
ReplyDeleteI didn't say the court case was about the tools itself? In fact I didn't go over the case at all, because I have no real legal expertise. I just mention while I was looking into the case, I find out the tool & her technique wasn't patent.
DeleteDo you have an idea what the court case was about?
I read the court case before i got my sisterlocks. It pretty much exposes the sisterlock manual and the sizing and locking technique. In my opinnion. Sisterlocks weren't happy that nappy locks were 'imitating' their small locks and pattern. I don't think sisterlocks were able to satisfy the courts that the hairstyle was 'truely unique' and therefore patent worthy. I agree with the statement:
ReplyDelete"Now, there is a market where people want to buy the S/L tool, but the artistry is in the artist's hands versus the tool."
I chose sisterlocks, but having said that, the consultant used a nappy lock tool for my install (she tried to hide it but i saw it), so can i really now say i have sisterlocks?? even the Sisterlocks master trainner couldn't tell the difference when she looked at my head....sigh
"I chose sisterlocks, but having said that, the consultant used a nappy lock tool for my install (she tried to hide it but i saw it), so can i really now say i have sisterlocks??"
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This is very interesting? I'm curious to find out if she is a sisterlocks consultant? If she is, then your sisterlocks are sisterlocks if she followed the same rules as far as the grid, pattern, and sizing?
I usually can tell for the most part, when a sisterlocks was installed incorrectly (either they are too big or the grid is jacked up). Sometime they may not even be sisterlocks but they sure look like it and to me that is fine.
Idk why I keep clicking on these links ... yeah I do I will read anything informative, and this one definitely is!
ReplyDeleteGirl this was an Interesting Article and Discussion! Not that I knew about the trademarks and patens SL vs nappy! Have seen the tools and just Learned some things that I may be able to pass on ... well refer this post to a girl interested. I told a few they should check with you when they ask me lock questions! Wonder they ask me and my short hair self???
Good Work Sis! =D
LOL...I'm sure you have ton of information to tell them as well. You like to research as well , so I'm sure you information tends to be correct as well. That was truely interest to research and the discuss was great as well.
DeleteAny new information on sisterlocks?
ReplyDeleteI release a post on the 18 of August, check out out.
DeleteNote: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.