Protecting My Business and Original Work

Protecting My Business and Original Work campaign photo, 1 of 3Protecting My Business and Original Work campaign photo, 1 of 3

This legal fund covers attorney and filing fees to defend original educational resources

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Protecting My Business and Original Work

Protecting My Business and Original Work

Be the first to donate
Inspire others and help Carolyn build momentum.
1st donor
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I started creating and selling educational resources on Teachers Pay Teachers in 2016 while I was still teaching. By 2018, my business had grown enough for me to leave the classroom and make this my full-time livelihood. Over the years, I have created over five thousand educational resources, original classroom products, and brands of my own.

Now I am facing several intellectual-property issues at the same time, including an active Copyright Claims Board case, issues involving my registered YUCK BUCKET® trademark and copyrighted artwork, and copying concerns involving original classroom products I designed. For months, I have been documenting evidence, filing takedown requests, responding to counter-notices, and trying to navigate these legal matters myself.

I have also experienced harassment, doxing, unwanted contacts, and retaliatory reviews using my face. The situation became serious enough that I filed a police report. These issues have taken significant time away from creating products, fulfilling orders, and earning income. I am struggling with normal expenses while also facing legal costs my small business cannot absorb alone.

How funds will help: The first funds raised will go toward retaining an experienced intellectual-property attorney to represent me in my YUCK BUCKET® matter. Additional funds will help cover attorney fees, filing costs, and other legal expenses related to protecting my original work and product designs.

I am continuing to work, create products, run my printers, and return to art and craft fairs to raise as much as I can myself. I am asking for help because protecting the business I have spent nearly ten years building now requires legal representation I cannot afford on my own. If you are able to donate or share this fundraiser, it would mean so much to me.

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Carolyn Hacker
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Lehigh Acres, FL

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