FedX Threatens Kid Who Made Website Showing Box Furniture

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Jose Avila was a little short on cash and had no furniture, so he improvised, equipping much of his house with makeshift furniture fashioned from Federal Express boxes. After he put up a web site showing off his creations, FedX apparently wasn't happy and is threatening legal action using, among other things, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) as the basis.

This seems to be the latest in mean-spirited efforts on the part of Federal Express. The company in the past was instrumental in getting Bill Maher's television show "Politically Incorrect" cancelled after its host spoke out against the administration's position on terrorism and war with Iraq. In this issue, we find FedEx claiming that because this guy is using a .COM address, he intends to operate some commercial endeavor using their logo, and must be stopped.



Jose Avila built this table and chairs set from FedEx boxes and shipping supplies. The shipping company claims he's violating trademark and copyright laws and wants him to take down his website.

Fanciful as his creations may seem, FedEx is not amused. The shipping giant's lawyers have sent Avila letters demanding he take down the site he created to document his project, invoking, among other things, the DMCA.

Avila has outfitted his entire apartment with FedEx box designs, including a bed, a corner desk with wall shelves, a table, two chairs and a couch. Drawing from architecture and drafting classes he took in college, Avila has designed pieces that are surprisingly un-boxy.

He was blindsided by the cease-and-desist letter from the company to which he proclaims long-standing loyalty.

Details

 

Posted by IMposter on 2005-08-11 15:02:50
"terms of use" for FedEx boxes??? That sounds a little ridiculous right there. Maybe someone should start a national campaign to have people use FedEx boxes for garbage collection depositories. One box out on the street for every house on garbage day (reusable of course because of how sturdy they purportedley are). Seriously though, did this guy try to use the FedEx name for personal gain? I didn't see anything on his site to indicate that, but then again, he may have changed the site at some point...and if so, I could understand the claim. Otherwise, it's just quite silly.
Posted by Ruth on 2005-08-11 16:01:02
I don't think that furniture would hold up well in areas with high humidity.
Posted by Anonymous on 2005-08-11 21:44:30
thats the most rediculas thing i've ever seen only a moron would make there furniture out of caroboard box's
Posted by wizeGurl on 2005-08-12 13:39:59
I think FedEx is worried because they provide their shipping boxes for free, and this could start a huge trend that will put them out of business. Who wouldn't want furniture that was basically free, except for the hours of labor required to put the boxes together so skillfully? I mean, when it's so beautiful and all?

Uh oh...BSAlert has a .com address...and now it has photos of the FedEx box furniture. Get ready for that cease and desist letter....
tuutuut
Posted by Samuel(LA) on 2005-08-13 00:36:54
I don't think this type of furniture would do it for most ppl, nor will it last long. If the boxes were new, I think he should take his stuff down because it is not with any other intent that those shipping companies give out these boxes then for shipment only.

Furthermore, I don't really see much genius in all this. I am a college student myself, and the only things I bought is a big white foldable desk, a foldable chair, and an air bed. That fedex chair looks ok, but a regular plastic patio chair is only $1.99. Do something useful with u r time!
Posted by Pile on 2005-08-13 13:06:38
I'm under the impression that those boxes are glued together with all sorts of potentially toxic substances. I don't know if I'd want my whole house filled with corrugated cardboard off-gassing who knows what into the room.
Posted by Demosthenes on 2005-08-14 18:50:23
Well, at least he knows grammar bud.
Posted by Demosthenes on 2005-08-15 10:27:51
mmmmm glue
Posted by IBeta on 2005-08-17 12:42:38
Very creative. Heh sure beats the normal milk crates. LOL. He, has been on TV for this. If anything else this idea has probably advertise the sturdy frames of the boxes. LOL. Very creative.
hmm..
Posted by sexy bz on 2005-08-23 10:27:28
f*ck everyone else,the guy is f*cking creative!let the man do what he wants,a free country right?any ways,let the man live off of boxes till he get's the damn money alright!lolz....but everyone makes such a big deal out of it!
Sir
Posted by photoman cali on 2006-08-19 00:49:35
All I can say boout this furniture is GETTO!
HAY YOU
Posted by C R JONES on 2006-09-14 11:42:04
WHO GIVES A DAMM

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