Free Republic

Harvard University's moves to seek U.S. trademarks for everyday phrases such as "Ask what you can do" are defensive measures, a school official says. The university has poured a lot of money into basing its promotional and advertising campaigns on such phrases as "Ask what you can do," which was famously uttered by President John F. Kennedy in his 1960 inaugural speech, as well as "Lessons learned" and "Managing yourself," The Boston Globe reported Saturday. So, Rick Calixto, director of the Harvard Trademark Program, says the university needs to move aggressively to trademark the phrases to protect the investments it...

The other day I sent an e-mail to Randall Terry through his organization, Operation Rescue. Well, at least I thought Operation Rescue was Mr. Terry's group and he is arguing it still is. However, my attempt to contact Terry lead to a response from one of Terry's former associates who now controls the trademark and domain name for the organization. There are times when an individual is inexorably linked to an organization. When one thinks of Operation Rescue, the name Randall Terry automatically comes to mind. I called Terry about this issue and he told me soon there would be...

A couple weeks back, ABCNews.com started a daily web series featuring its correspondents and anchors. They called it “The Fix.” Last week lawyers from The Washington Post said the newspaper owns the name “The Fix” and slapped a cease and desist order on the network. Turns out Post writer Chris Cillizza uses the title for his Twitter profile and it’s also the name of a blog he’s written for the Post several years. ....

I just created a new bumper sticker and put it up for sale at zazzle.com. However, it includes the Obama logo, and I don't know if it is legal for me to use it or not. Based on what was written on this blog at politico (http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0708/The_Obama_logo.html), it seems that I can use it, unless the Obama people object. Here is the link to my bumper sticker: http://www.zazzle.com/tulipforme ("I hope he fails!" with the Obama logo replacing the "o" in "hope".) What do you think? Do I need to change it and take out the Obama logo or leave it...

A Massachusetts-based company has sued to stop the state Department of Transportation and the Mid-Region Council of Governments from using the “Rail Runner” name, which it uses for the state-owned commuter train, and for damages related to "trademark infringement."

The artist formerly known as Mista Swissher Sweet needs a new stage name. Jontae Green, an Austell rapper, said this week that he will drop his old moniker after being sued by Swisher International, which bills itself as the world’s largest cigar maker. • Lawsuit Recent headlines: * Rapper to change name after cigar maker sues him * Cobb high schoolers plan shopping event for those in need * Hybrid organ to 'rattle and roll' Strand Theatre • Cobb County news Swisher says Swissher shouldn’t have used the brand’s name and logos on his Web site and in album art...

Alaska Consignment Store Will Honor AIDS Healthcare Foundation's Federally Registered 'Out of the Closet' Trademark for its Fundraising Non-profit Thrift Stores AHF Renews Call on RNC to Donate Governor's Campaign Wardrobe to AHF's Out of the Closet Chain; Since 1990, US' Largest AIDS Group Has Run Popular and Award Winning Fundraising Out of the Closet Thrift Stores to Benefit Fight Against HIV/AIDS AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) the largest AIDS organization in the US and operator of the popular and award winning fundraising ‘Out of the Closet’ thrift store chain in California and Florida, has reached agreement to resolve the issue...

NEW YORK – A New York man is being sued for trademark infringement after he towed a 25-foot-long fake missile around Manhattan with the words "Viva Viagra" printed in blue on its sides. An attorney for Viagra-maker Pfizer Inc. says that the man's use of the company's logo could confuse consumers into thinking the rocket was an actual advertisement for the drug used to treat male impotence. But 48-year-old Arye Sachs of West Babylon says no one would be deterred from buying the blue pills because of he what he did. He says he knows because he's a "customer."

Imagine if you had to get permission before you linked to the Web site of companies, people or organizations. If “permission-based” linking was a requirement - blogging and much other Internet activity as we know it (even mainstream media news sites) would cease to exist. Well, if the lawsuit of one major law firm against an Internet news publication succeeds, that “permission-based” linking may become the law…and effectively kill the Internet.

Jul 21st, 2008 The RNC agrees to remove the Republican Elephant from CafePress’ Endangered Species List - Grand Old Party Ensues! Some of you may have seen some of the media coverage (maybe here, here, or here) regarding the Republican National Committee’s recent complaints about our shopkeepers’ use of the terms “GOP,” “Grand Old Party,” “Republican National Committee,” “RNC,” and various elephant designs. To sum it up: back in February, the RNC demanded that CafePress “cease and desist from allowing vendors to utilize the federally registered trademarks of the RNC” and threatened legal action. While we’re open to working...

In a lawsuit similar to many others that preceded it, American Airlines is taking on Google's keyword-based AdWords business by alleging the practice is a blatant example of trademark infringement. The complaint, filed in U.S. District Court in Fort Worth, makes the same argument presented by a number of other companies that have sued the search giant during the past five years: Google has no right to sell company trademarks for use as keyword triggers that elicit paid advertisements. In addition to the assertions of trademark infringement and other claims, the lawsuit alleges Google engages in false advertising when it...

The House yesterday passed the most comprehensive patent reform in half a century, delivering a victory for computer technology and financial services companies and leaving drug companies, small inventors, and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office bracing for a bigger fight before the bill hits the Senate floor. The bill, which passed 225 to 175 with strong bipartisan support, is meant to reduce the mounting number of patent infringement cases by changing the ways patents are awarded and challenged. Because much of the bill is perceived to be favorable to targets of patent-infringement suits rather than patent holders, it has...

NEW YORK: Johnson & Johnson, the health-products giant that uses a red cross as its trademark, sued the American Red Cross on Wednesday, demanding that the charity halt the use of the red cross symbol on products it sells to the public. Johnson & Johnson said it has had exclusive rights to use the trademark on certain commercial products — including bandages and first-aid cream — for more than 100 years. It contends that the Red Cross is supposed to use the symbol only in connection with nonprofit relief services. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in New York,...

Rocker Jon Bon Jovi is threatening legal action against the makers of energy drink Mijovi -- because he thinks the beverage bears too much similarity to his own name. Marcos Carrington launched the coffee-based product in 2004 and claims he was inspired to name the drink Mijovi after his girlfriend Jovita. But the singer is demanding Carrington change the product label -- which is also marketed using the slogans "itsmijovi" and "itsmilife" -- or face a court battle. In a recent letter to Carrington, Bon Jovi's lawyer Peter Laird says, "As you should be aware, one of Bon Jovi's most...

The Real Deal takes viewers inside the world of Trademark Properties for an eye-opening and unapologetic look at the world of real estate. This fast-paced series takes viewers along for the ride, as it reveals the true reality of making money in real estate. With a stellar lineup headed by team captain and Trademark Properties founder, Richard Davis, the team brings a whole new meaning to real estate. Each week, Richard and Ginger, his sassy and highly savvy investment coordinator, along with the rest of the team, locate, renovate and profit from the most challenging projects they can find. Their...

An investigation into the ongoing trademark dispute between Cisco and Apple over the name "iPhone" appears to show that Cisco does not own the mark as claimed in their recent lawsuit. This is based on publicly available information from the US Patent and Trademark office, as well as public reviews of Cisco products over the past year. The trademark was apparently abandoned in late 2005/early 2006 because Cisco was not using it.

BREAKING NEWS: Cisco is suing Apple for trademark infringement over its use of the iPhone brand. Full article coming shortly.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala., Nov. 7 — In the solemn cathedral of college football devotion and instruction that is the Paul W. Bryant Museum here, a large painting dominates the main chamber. It is called “The Sack,” and it shows an encounter between a Notre Dame quarterback and a human locomotive in crimson and white. “I’ve never been hit like that before,” the quarterback, Steve Beuerlein, said after his near-lethal sack by Cornelius Bennett in 1986, in the University of Alabama’s first victory ever over his team. Daniel A. Moore, who painted “The Sack” and scores of other renditions of signal moments...

Judge Sides With Original Supernova In 'Rock Star' Suit Ruling requires Tommy Lee's band to change name following show's finale. David has defeated Goliath. According to a Tuesday (September 12) ruling by San Diego Judge John Houston, the producers of CBS' "Rock Star" are going to have to come up with an alternate name for Supernova, the band made up of Mötley Crüe's Tommy Lee, Voivod's Jason Newsted and former Guns N' Roses guitarist Gilby Clarke. Last month, the original Supernova — an Orange County, California, punk trio — filed for a preliminary injunction in San Diego's U.S. District Court...

A Chinese entrepreneur has registered an image of French captain Zinedine Zidane headbutting Italian defender Marco Materazzi in last month's World Cup final as a trademark for clothing, shoes, hats and beer products, according to reports. Zhao Xiaokai hopes to sell the mark for US$125,000, reports Chinese news site Xinhua Online. The image is a silhouette, apparently in an attempt to avoid infringing Zidane's image rights. Zidane has fought to protect his image rights before. Last year he and four other soccer stars – David Beckham, Luis Figo, Raul and Ronaldo – joined their club, Real Madrid, in filing infringement...