A small online business called TeesInTheTrap.com that opened for business in May of 2014 claims that Nene Leakes bought one of their T-Shirts and then stole the idea and began selling them herself. The Tees In The Trap brand shirt has punctuation and reads, ” Girl, Bye.” Nene’s knockoff of their T-Shirt has no punctuation. Nene is pictured above wearing the shirt that Tees In The Trap claim she purchased from them.
Just another rich bitch trying to steal other people’s ideas to make a buck.
Aloha Nene.
Of course Nene’s has no punctuation!
Lol, that’s just what i was about to say. I bet she pronounces punctuation like, “pun-she-ation”.
Come on you guys, she says that she’s “very college educated”! I’d love to know what that means exactly.
The foolishness of this individual is quite disturbing and I can see that she is going to begin paying the price for it. Unbelievable.
“Moose Bye” on the other hand is available, it is my gift to Nene. She can print that, wear that, own that.
l think your idea is brilliant! You are such a generous gift giver. l just hope this moose can look a gift horse in the mouth. That is if her nose isn’t too high in the air!
If Nene went outside in the rain she would drown.
And they stole the saying from her? Or was it said around before NeNe started saying it on RHOA?
I’m pretty confident Nene didn’t coin “girl, bye” — it was an internet meme first. Nene made it more popular, for sure, but she didn’t invent it. Just like Kenya didn’t coin “Bye Felicia” — that was on a show first, then became an meme and then Kenya made it more popular, etc.
Even if she did “coin” it (doubtful) as some point phrases like that become in the public domain (i.e., can’t be “stolen” as they’ve become so ubiquitous that anyone can use them). However, putting them on a t-shirt for sale *may* implicate copyright violations because it becomes a “new” thing by being a t-shirt design. (Note, I say “may” as I’m don’t claim to be an expert on copyright or intellectual property right law, etc.)
*sorry for all the typos — typing and watch TV don’t mix so well!
Welcome to my world. Watching TV with one eye and recapping with the other. Typos galore. 🙂
On Thu, Jan 15, 2015 at 9:22 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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Seriously? Girl, bye. And Bye Felicia have been around long before RHOA was a twinkle in Andy Cohen’s eye.
On Thu, Jan 15, 2015 at 8:44 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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I know bye Felicia came from Friday, but I don’t really remember anyone using it until recently
I know I sounded “out of touch” but if it ain’t a red neck saying, I’ve probably haven’t heard it. Thanks for the insight. I just can hear NeNe stating that SHE made the saying famous. I need to leave my bubble more often lol!
Nene Leakes did NOT coin the phrase girl bye or make it popular. Neither did an Internet meme. I’m 26 and we’ve been saying that since I was 13…way before Internet memes were a thing & before cell phones. I’m probably young compared to a lot of you but that phrase has been in the younger crowds and black community for a very long time.
When I wrote “popular” I meant more mainstream. But what you write about it being in clubs/in younger black communities before the internet meme thing just shows what I’m talking about when a saying or phrase becomes so ubiquitous that it becomes part of the public domain (ie can’t be stolen/owned because no trace can be made to who coined it). I’m not surprised at all that it would start with the younger set before working its way across a broader swath of society –most things that become part of pop culture do.
It has been heard it the club scene for years. Nothing new, there. My hairdresser, Darryl Anne, has been saying it since he moved to Charlotte from San Francisco. He said everyone said it in the clubs there, and he thought it was funny when it was said on the show years later and very late and played out. His words.
Exactly so I don’t know why NeNe acts like it’s some phrase she joined like “close your legs to married men” which everyone though was such a good read & i always thought was lame as hell just like the rest of NeNe. Even though I used to enjoy her. I went back to watch season 1 to remind me of the good days but honestly in retrospect, Nene was always horrible & rude. She just didn’t have as many things to brag about so it came off more endearing. Goddamn it even made Sheree more likeable to me and she’s the housewife I despise the most besides Brandi, Gretchen & now Nene.
“Toupee Bye” is also available.
I was looking for the “Ramen Noodle, Bye” shirt but couldnt find it on the site.
Right!
Bye, hairline
Or Bye, edges
Is this a surprise to anyone?? She has a clothing line based on clothes from other designers! The way she behaves you’d swear she created the designs
And she has a rap sheet too doesn’t she? ” five finger discount”
WWE also has a girl bye shirt, which is most likely where nene gets ideas on how to dress her giant body.
I was thinking this too. How many different variations of Girl, Bye t-shirts do we really need?
Maybe NeNe will learn the downside of constantly opening that gigantic gob of hers to let everyone know how “rich” she is.
Certainly someone who is perceived to have deep pockets is an attractive recipient of a lawsuit, especially when they steal other’s ideas.
Hopefully this business owns the design/saying in some way that makes NeNe’s theft actionable.
I see from their IG account that the “Very Rich Right Now”, Lenethia Monique Leakes has not attributed any credit to them- nor has she PAID them anything.
Sidebar: it appears that from NeNe’s IG account she is having trouble with timely fulfillment of her T-shirt orders, quality issues, sizing issues ( probably from ordering from Asia and not requesting US sizing), and apparently her “team” does not respond well to requests for tracking information et al…
That, my friend, is karma!
Anyone who actually ordered that shit, and expected anything more than the service they got, fully deserves it.
I’m actually surprised its not worse.
Girl gone.
Girl gone isn’t allowed into the gate anymore.
I’ve been asked before to do one of those stores… I’ll think about it. I’m honored that there is an interest.
Pretty please, with sugar on top, and a cherry in the middle!
Tamara you have more than a few funny phrases of your own that you can put on a shirt . What do you think ?
Sound like PITA. Plus, who would wear a Cuntsicle T-shirt. 🙂
I like when you say “and maybe monkeys will fly out my ass” , lol that would sell
People would wear cuntsickle
Oh I would so wear one, I am hooked on the word and use it regularly. Lol
TT perhaps we could partner “Cuntsickle with Claudia’s Clit….we may be on to something
âIt’s cuntsicle. Like popsicle.
On Fri, Jan 16, 2015 at 12:28 AM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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I want to order a Because, Arizona shirt please!!!
That’s funny and all but would yall seriously as grown women wear t shirts in public that day cuntsicle or clit? I’m appalled enough at the vulgarity I see on t shirts as it is. I finally came around to liking the word cunt when I previously hated hearing it, but it does beg the question when is too far enough? We don’t even need shirts that say “I’m a rich bitch” or whatever thug in a cocktail dress shirt was going to be sold. Housewives are exhausting with always trying to peddle themselves in silly ways. I would be so embarrassed.
On behalf of all your semper fidelis TT-tards, we would wear them with pride.
I’d pay a small fortune for a Because, Arizona shirt!
I’d design a shirt that said “cunt” over a drawing of a sickle. Oo lemme put that on my Society 6 page
I went to that site, and they have stolen every popular saying that out and folks are using. Why not develop their stuff? Words can not be copyrighted? You can use any words or phrases. You have to trademark. They even took “Fix it Jesus.” They didn’t make it up. We all have said that phrase. Phaedra made it popular. How can they accuse anybody of stealing? They did get publicity for their site. Good move.
The phrase isn’t the issue . It’s the design.
Actually you can copyright words . It’s called trademarking. You can get a patent for words or phrases regardless how often used or how long the phrase has been around as long as it isnt already patented.
“Phrases” can be copyrighted/trademarked. Oprah owns the “Ah Ha Moment,” phrase. I know. I was shocked too. Look it up, you’ll see.
Hi Tamara, this is to be a personal message rather than a post. I have been a Trademark Paralegal for the last 12 yrs. It kinda bugs when people get the whole Copyright/Trademark/Patent issue confused. Here goes…Nene’s company actually filed for a trademark for this slogan in Class 25 (t-shirts/ clothing) with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and claims the date of first use in commerce (being sold over state lines) of December 2014. The phrase is NOT a copyright (think original art work, books, songs, etc. Trademarks are slogans and logos). The store owner claiming they used the phrase on t-shirts have not filed for a Trademark. That being said, if the store owners created the t-shirts before Nene’s date of first use then they have Common Law Trademarks rights. They could still sue her for infringement.
Ok. I’m done. You can dismiss me your funny Highness or ban me from forever trying to send you a private message. I read your posts and comments constantly throughout the day. Sh…don’t tell my boss 🙂
You make me laugh…
@ win u .Yes but the point is ,nene is a sneaking disgusting person who is unable to ever do the right thing . She bought their shirt copied their exact lettering and sold it as if she designed it. Why not support a small business by asking her fans to buy from them ,since she’s so rich and into girl power No ,instead she decided to be a snake.
The point is that Nene doesn’t care about anyone except herself or who she hurts and steps on in her pursuit of riches . She has no honor .
I don’t know the legalities but something happend because nene changed the design of the shirt she sells .
@ O.O – don’t get me wrong. I am in complete agreement with everyone. I am just being a crotchety pants when people misuse the definition of a copyright, trademark and a patent. All three are different. Like a dork, I thought that I was personally messaging TT not thinking my comment would post here (#FirstTimePosterProblems) :/
As for the local business, I’m sure they have superior rights on the t-shirts, which BTW, I bought a t-shirt from them this morning to show my support.
I enjoyed that information as a future law student! Maybe I’ll go into trademark law but I’m more interested in real estate law right now though.
TT. You wrote cuntsatchel also?
Great comments in here.
Yeah.. same issue. You can’t wear that in public! lol.
On Fri, Jan 16, 2015 at 1:32 AM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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Don Lemon could do a “Girl Byte” line in T-shirts. Or bYte fronts…
I don’t know how this would work in terms of intellectual property, but it’s not like they invented the phrase. If she used different font, different punctuation, color, cut, and fabric, then I think it is a different shirt.
Here’s the irony: NeNe can’t stand to be ignored or left out or dismissed; why she opts to beat you to the punch with the NOW well-worn “Girl, Bye!” abruptness…usually when she lacks the intelligent come-back necessary to trump what was just said to her. She knows she really don’t mean “bye”, what she really means is “why?” Why won’t you kiss my a*s the way a queen is supposed to worshipped? Check it out, for Season 8 [if they keep her on?], when she says “Girl, Bye” in that dismissive way, reply with a “Bye, Girl!” Thank me later, no…pay me later! Lol… Let me run on over to my co-worker, see if he can secure “that reversal quip” for me? 🙂
I am not surprised at all by this……You can put a moose in a designer dress but it’s still a moose.
NeNe missed the mark, she should have made one that said, “So nasty, so rude.” They’d make great gifts!
She did. And she stole that phrase from Kenya. That is what Kenya called Nene at the reunion.
On Fri, Jan 16, 2015 at 3:16 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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Or Nene could have a subtle play on “amuse-bouche” (titbit) with “Moose Butch” (buy tits)…
So I can be a little slow on the uptake for some of these read-speak sayings. What does “she doesn’t have edges mean?”
I believe it means she has over possessed her hair to the point of baldness so there are no edges to blend her wigs/toupee to.
Thanks!
Obviously, I should I have read this thread before posting my question about edges on the last thread. At any rate, Nene is a history of shoplifting. In my opinion this is pretty much the same thing. How wonder how much longer until Bravo gives her the “girl, bye” pink slip?
TT you need to stop! Google Girl Bye tshirts and at least 30 different retailers pop up. Did they ALL steal this business’s idea. I have two words for them. TRADE MARK!! Then they can really stake claim to a phrase we all use.
Vicent, you dickwad, you need to grow a brain. The shirt she is wearing was purchased by Nene from the store I linked to. Of course there are a thousand places to by T-shirt with slogans on them you fucktard. THIS is the one Nene ripped off.
Sit your dumbass down.
On Sat, Jan 17, 2015 at 2:55 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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Bwhahhahahahahaha @ sit your dumb ass down.
Yeah, because they said so it has to be true. The hatred you have for Nene is really creepy. It discredits your creditability has a valid blogger. Now, go sit your dumb, jealous, misinformed, lying, unscrupulous, hateful, ignant ass down!!!
You don’t seem to understand how the Internet works. Allow me to help you with that.
On Sun, Jan 18, 2015 at 1:56 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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If it weren’t for your bi-weekly Nene rants, articles you repost from Reality Tea and television program summaries, would you even have a column? Such a sad, sad, sad, sad, sad, sad, sad, sad, wannabe!
Thanks for the views that pay my bills. Your extensive research of my body of work is quite helpful. Whole Foods is expensive as fuck.
On Sun, Jan 18, 2015 at 1:59 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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I’d buy a tee shirt that said, “Sit your dumbass down.”