Red Hat Mamas "Seeing Red"

New York — There are currently two "red hat" organizations committed to women having fun after age 50. But the comedy of the situation has lately turned dark, with a brewing turf war between the two groups. The Red Hat Ladies and the Red Hat Society both lay claim to being inspired by British poet Jenny Joseph's ditty "Warning," in which she writes, "When I'm an old woman, I shall wear purple, with a red hat." In addition, both groups have websites with shopping pages loaded with SKUs of apparel and giftware.

Now, the Red Hat Society (RHS) is making a claim to merchandise bearing a "red hat," and is notifying manufacturers, vendors, and retailers that they must obtain an RHS license before using the image. Artist Linda Grayson received a letter demanding $50,000 for damaging RHS and its claim to the "red hat" mark — and this before Grayson's "Red Hot and High Heeled" collection had even reached the market. Later, there were reports of RHS representatives intimidating vendors at the Atlanta gift show, and the Red Hat Ladies also received a "cease and desist letter." But the Red Hat Ladies (RHL) claim that they are the original red hat organization, and that the RHS does not have "ownership of the trademark 'Red Hat' for apparel, jewelry, and gift merchandise."

So who are the true red hats? The RHL, based in Manchaca, TX, was founded in 1972, by Charlotte Wampler and five other women. On the other side, the RHS was founded in 1998, by Sue Ellen Cooper. That organization is based in Fullerton, CA.

Meanwhile, Grayson's lawyers say that the RHS has no basis for its trademark claims, and they are certain that the courts will agree.