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Navajo Nation sues Urban Outfitters
AP/Yahoo News ^ | 2/29/12 | FELICIA FONSECA

Posted on 02/29/2012 11:13:43 AM PST by Kartographer

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1 posted on 02/29/2012 11:13:46 AM PST by Kartographer
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To: Kartographer

Can I sue the White House, White Castle the makers of white lightning for using the term “White”? I’m white.


2 posted on 02/29/2012 11:17:08 AM PST by muir_redwoods (No wonder this administration favors abortion; everything they have done is an abortion)
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To: Kartographer

A reminder that Politically Correct Idiocy is alive and well.


3 posted on 02/29/2012 11:17:45 AM PST by Iron Munro ("Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight he'll just kill you." John Steinbeck)
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To: Kartographer

Urban outfitters should reply: “How! Me thinkum you have brain of bushy tailed tree rat! Me thinkum peace pipe burial kemosabe, but much wampum and squaw needed!”


4 posted on 02/29/2012 11:24:24 AM PST by DCBryan1 (Id rather have a man who wrecked his marriage as POTUS than a man who wrecked his country!)
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To: Kartographer

You can bet the US Government will back the Navajo nation to the hilt... right up until the moment that they allow some NCAA member university to use their name for a sports program. Then the government switches sides.


5 posted on 02/29/2012 11:25:03 AM PST by Tallguy (It's all 'Fun and Games' until somebody loses an eye!)
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To: muir_redwoods
"Can I sue the White House, White Castle the makers of white lightning for using the term “White”? I’m white."

No.

But Johnny and Edgar Winter probably can.
6 posted on 02/29/2012 11:25:03 AM PST by shibumi (Cover it with gas and set it on fire.)
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To: muir_redwoods

Can I sue the White House, White Castle the makers of white lightning for using the term “White”? I’m white.

Yes is you have copyrighted white.


7 posted on 02/29/2012 11:33:19 AM PST by mountainlion (I am voting for Sarah after getting screwed again by the DC Thugs.)
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To: Kartographer

Urban Outfitters has agreed to change the name to:

“Perpetually Offended Native Americans”


8 posted on 02/29/2012 11:34:51 AM PST by Iron Munro ("Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight he'll just kill you." John Steinbeck)
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To: Iron Munro

Trademarks are suppose to mean something. Usually name usage control, consent or not, and a share of the profits.

Sarah Palin would side with the Navaho Nation, for example, and in a hurry.


9 posted on 02/29/2012 11:35:56 AM PST by RitaOK (LET 'ER RIP, NEWT. Newt knows where all the bodies are buried, because he buried them.)
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To: Iron Munro

A few years ago I was in Sallisaw, Oklahoma and I stopped at a place called “The Indian Store”. They had a lot of neat indian merchandise. I spotted a 6 inch tall ceramic indian chief in full headress and I knew I just had to buy it for my son since he was into stuff like that. The store was really neat with a lot of leather goods and figurines galore. When I went to purchase the Indian Chief I ask the beautiful young Cherokee girl behind the counter if they really made that item and she assured me they did. I left the store with my $25.00 indian and I was very happy because I knew my son would be thrilled with it. After arriving back home I noticed that the chief had a sticker on the bottom that said “ made in China”. I should have looked closer when I bought it but if you can’t trust a pretty indian maiden who can you trust. Indians are hypocrites and half the junk they sell is made in China.


10 posted on 02/29/2012 11:38:21 AM PST by Quigley
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To: Kartographer

The great Navajo warriors and chiefs of 150 -200 years back would be really proud of these whiners.

NOT.


11 posted on 02/29/2012 11:39:38 AM PST by Iron Munro ("Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight he'll just kill you." John Steinbeck)
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To: Quigley
Well....all Indians aren't hypocrites.

I'm part Indian...and I'm pretty fair in my thoughts and beliefs.

So are my kids....and many of my relatives.

FWIW-

12 posted on 02/29/2012 11:43:18 AM PST by Osage Orange (E tan e epi tas)
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To: Kartographer

I’ll pay attention to their claims when they file their lawsuit in the native Navaho alphabet.

Oh. That’s right. There isn’t one. That’s why they are using OURS.


13 posted on 02/29/2012 11:43:53 AM PST by Fightin Whitey
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To: Kartographer

Guess I won’t be painting my walls in Navajo White.


14 posted on 02/29/2012 11:44:56 AM PST by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously, you won't live through it anyway)
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To: mountainlion

I believe “Navajo” was in common use long before anyone applied for a copyright. The law-maggots might not care and the Pharisees they work with will rule “no” but common use is fair use in any reasonable mind.


15 posted on 02/29/2012 11:48:41 AM PST by muir_redwoods (No wonder this administration favors abortion; everything they have done is an abortion)
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To: Kartographer
I'm going to go against the grain and side with the Navajo here.

For those who know just a little about American Indian crafts in general and the Navajo expertise in weaving in particular, Urban Outfitters is profiting off a quality brand without authorization or even an attempt to link to authenticity by the Navajo Tribe.

Product field means everything as far as legality goes. If Urban Outfitters were peddling a brand of maple syrup and syrup candies under the name Navajo, there would be no problem because the Navajo are not known for their confection making and maple syrup growing skills.

However, since a major part of Urban Outfitters core business is clothing and apparel, a product for which the Navajo craftsmanship and quality are known, you indeed have a case here.

Urban Outfitters could have avoided the whole problem by licensing some designs from Navajo craftsmen or even the tribe. I don't see a way they can win this even if they prevail in court.

FWIW, the Navajo Tribe are not a bunch of knee-jerk liberals like many other Native American tribes. It would be nice if some Freepers did a little actual research before they went off throwing slime and racist stereotypes.

16 posted on 02/29/2012 11:49:40 AM PST by Vigilanteman (Obama: Fake black man. Fake Messiah. Fake American. How many fakes can you fit in one Zer0?)
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To: Quigley

Nice to see that racism is alive and well on FR. My father was 1/4 Native American, my son’s girlfriend is 1/2 Chippewa and my best friend is 1/2 Chippewa as well. None of them are hypocrites.


17 posted on 02/29/2012 11:50:43 AM PST by chae (I was anti-Obama before it was cool)
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To: Osage Orange

You are a hypocrite if you own a Indian store and pass off merchandise as authentic. My grandmother was 100% Creek and I too try to be honest in all my dealings so I didn’t mean to insult all Indians...just store owners.lol


18 posted on 02/29/2012 11:54:13 AM PST by Quigley
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To: muir_redwoods; Kartographer
Can I sue the White House, White Castle the makers of white lightning for using the term “White”? I’m white.

All those things were around before you and you didn't invent the color white.

The Navajo invented the name Navajo and they have a right to protect the value of their brand, particularly as they have a law backing them up. I think they have a good case.

19 posted on 02/29/2012 11:55:04 AM PST by wideminded
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To: Quigley
It is possible and even probable that the 6” ceramic figurine which you bought was based on a Cherokee design. I've worked in manufacturing most of my life, more than half of it in Asia (Japan). Some things, such as leather goods, require a fairly low-tech type manufacturing operation. Others, such as ceramic figurines, require a more modest investment. It is not uncommon for tribes to provide the design work and outsource manufacturing to Asia. I helped them do this. The Cherokee are one of the more business savvy tribes in the United States and I've found most of them to be honest.
20 posted on 02/29/2012 11:57:24 AM PST by Vigilanteman (Obama: Fake black man. Fake Messiah. Fake American. How many fakes can you fit in one Zer0?)
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