Trademark Abuse
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WTF™ Citibank? - Marginal REVOLUTION
I had to verify this on several websites because it seemed like an April Fool’s joke but it checks out: Citigroup Inc sued AT&T Inc on Friday, saying the phone company’s use of “thanks” and “AT&T thanks” in a new customer loyalty program infringed its trademark rights to the phrase “thankyou.” Yes,...
Yes, Citi trademarked thankyou.
Wow. That link in the quote goes to a pdf showing various trademark documents.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-at-t-citigroup-lawsuit-idUSKCN0YW1K3
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Nice. Hooray trademarks?
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@boomzilla said in Trademark Abuse:
"thanks" and "AT&T thanks" in a new customer loyalty program infringed its trademark rights to the phrase "thankyou."
I'd like to announce my new loyalty program, "Fuck You Very Much"
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@Lorne-Kates I once invented the phrase "hi are you" which is an efficient combination of "hi" and "how are you?"
Probably my greatest invention.
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@blakeyrat said in Trademark Abuse:
I once invented the phrase "hi are you" which is an efficient combination of "hi" and "how are you?"
Probably my greatest invention.Quick! File for a trademark before it's taken!
Actually, is it possible to auto-file for anything? Someone has to have thought of this by now...
Filed under: Trademark all the things!
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@Tsaukpaetra said in Trademark Abuse:
@blakeyrat said in Trademark Abuse:
I once invented the phrase "hi are you" which is an efficient combination of "hi" and "how are you?"
Probably my greatest invention.Quick! File for a trademark before it's taken!
Actually, is it possible to auto-file for anything? Someone has to have thought of this by now...
Filed under: Trademark all the things!
Evil Ideas Thread:
Create an automated system that files a trademark for every word, then every word combination, in the English language. With printed (generated) proof of the term in use in a business environment
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@sloosecannon But trademarks only apply within a specific context. So for instance it would be perfectly possible for you to take out a trademark on Apple, as long as it was in some field other than computers or electronics (and not just a generic use of the name of the fruit). The same limitation makes it hard to use for evil, although you could focus on one particular industry that you wanted to be a pain to.
I expect trademark filings cost money, though, and you have to actively defend against infringements if you want the trademark to stand, so this could become a very expensive hobby.
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@boomzilla said in Trademark Abuse:
Citigroup Inc (C.N) sued AT&T Inc (T.N) on Friday, saying the phone company's use of "thanks" and "AT&T thanks" in a new customer loyalty program infringed its trademark rights to the phrase "thankyou."
I hope that Citigroup Inc. dies in a fire.
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@boomzilla said in Trademark Abuse:
WTF™ Citibank? - Marginal REVOLUTION
I had to verify this on several websites because it seemed like an April Fool’s joke but it checks out: Citigroup Inc sued AT&T Inc on Friday, saying the phone company’s use of “thanks” and “AT&T thanks” in a new customer loyalty program infringed its trademark rights to the phrase “thankyou.” Yes,...
Yes, Citi trademarked thankyou.
Wow. That link in the quote goes to a pdf showing various trademark documents.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-at-t-citigroup-lawsuit-idUSKCN0YW1K3
Has K-Mart weighed in on this at all? When I worked for them way back in the late '70s they were very proud of their slogan "Thank You For Shopping At K-Mart". Even had little stickers reading TYFSAK on the cash registers to remind the cashiers to say it to every customer.
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@boomzilla said in Trademark Abuse:
WTF™ Citibank? - Marginal REVOLUTION
I had to verify this on several websites because it seemed like an April Fool’s joke but it checks out: Citigroup Inc sued AT&T Inc on Friday, saying the phone company’s use of “thanks” and “AT&T thanks” in a new customer loyalty program infringed its trademark rights to the phrase “thankyou.” Yes,...
Yes, Citi trademarked thankyou.
Wow. That link in the quote goes to a pdf showing various trademark documents.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-at-t-citigroup-lawsuit-idUSKCN0YW1K3
I think with similar logic, the "Dairy Farm Group" in Hong Kong who holds the trademark of "Wellcome" of "Wellcome supermarket" can also sue them for every use of "Welcome" in their letters and the sort.
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@Lorne-Kates said in Trademark Abuse:
@boomzilla said in Trademark Abuse:
"thanks" and "AT&T thanks" in a new customer loyalty program infringed its trademark rights to the phrase "thankyou."
I'd like to announce my new loyalty program, "Fuck You Very Much"
I think you're in a very different industry.
Actually, on second thought...
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@Dragnslcr said in Trademark Abuse:
@Lorne-Kates said in Trademark Abuse:
@boomzilla said in Trademark Abuse:
"thanks" and "AT&T thanks" in a new customer loyalty program infringed its trademark rights to the phrase "thankyou."
I'd like to announce my new loyalty program, "Fuck You Very Much"
I think you're in a very different industry.
Actually, on second thought...
What are the loyalty rewards?
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@Scarlet_Manuka Get your
out of my 
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@blakeyrat said in Trademark Abuse:
@Lorne-Kates I once invented the phrase "hi are you" which is an efficient combination of "hi" and "how are you?"
Probably my greatest invention.
I think you demonstrated your greatest innovation yesterday, but sure, this one is pretty cool to.
+1
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@Scarlet_Manuka said in Trademark Abuse:
I expect trademark filings cost money
Last I checked, it was $350 per trademark per category of things you want to trademark to apply to, IIRC, just to file, not counting attorney fees. You can file, yourself, but USPTO strongly recommends using an experienced trademark attorney. It's fairly simple to search the USPTO database for existing trademarks similar to the one you want to register (at least if you want to trademark a word or words; the system of descriptions of graphical trademarks is a bit arcane), but there may also be protected trademarks under some state laws that would preclude the issuance of a Federal trademark, and it's not so simple to search the records of all the states.
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@bb36e said in Trademark Abuse:
What are the loyalty rewards?
The thread with the giant barrel of lube is that way
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Thank you for this topic, @boomzilla
@blakeyrat said in Trademark Abuse:
I once invented the phrase "hi are you"
The Irish got there centuries ago.
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@sloosecannon It's been done. From the inside cover of my Shorter Oxford English Dictionary:
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means without the prior permission in writing of Oxford University Press.
Also interesting: Oxford University Press have apparently trademarked the name "Oxford".
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@Mikael_Svahnberg "Oxford University Press have apparently trademarked the name "Oxford"
Yes, in the context of publishing houses. If I start a publishing house, I can't call it Oxford, because that's taken. Why is this supposed to be a problem. Similarly, if I start a electronics/software/ company (or record label) I can't call it Apple, even though Apple is a common English word.
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@gwowen said in Trademark Abuse:
If I start a publishing house, I can't call it Oxford, because that's taken.
Also, if you start a firm (in some other area) that uses “Oxford” as a trading name, you are strongly advised to make the logo visually distinct. The more visually distinct a trademark or other trade dress is, the easier it is to defend. Since they also have to be non-functional (that's what patents and copyright are more about) it's not usually a big deal.
May Citi get a legendary bitch-slapping from the court.
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Thank @Tsaukpaetra for asking for notification spam.
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Argh, there's really no one to root for here. I want them both to lose in court!
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@gwowen Of course not. Apple Music gets quite upset if anyone tries to start a company named Apple.
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@devjoe said in Trademark Abuse:
Thank @Tsaukpaetra for asking for notification spam.
Thanks, but this isn't my thread? So... C+ for effort?
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@Tsaukpaetra said in Trademark Abuse:
@devjoe said in Trademark Abuse:
Thank @Tsaukpaetra for asking for notification spam.
Thanks, but this isn't my thread? So... C+ for effort?
Thank @Obama for @Tsaukpaetra asking for notification spam.
Better?
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@Tsaukpaetra said in Trademark Abuse:
@devjoe said in Trademark Abuse:
Thank @Tsaukpaetra for asking for notification spam.
Thanks, but this isn't my thread? So... C+ for effort?
Why should that thread get all the fun? You wanted notifications. If everybody replies to that one thread you'll just see that @blakeyrat @Yamikuronue @Lorne-Kates @ben_lubar and 27 others replied to your post and some equally long list upvoted and downvoted things. This way you can actually get distinct notifications.
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@devjoe thanks for notifying me, but I think you meant to notify @Tsaukpaetra.
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@ben_lubar He did notify @Tsaukpaetra.
BTW, be careful with the thank yous people. Ref: OP
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@boomzilla Why are we notifying @Tsaukpaetra again?
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@Rhywden said in Trademark Abuse:
@boomzilla Why are we notifying @Tsaukpaetra again?
We should notify @blakeyrat too for good measure. He might be missing something good.
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@boomzilla @ThankYou for reminding me! Close dodge there!
Filed under: For fun, try
@Thankand see autocomplete. Holy bot extravaganza Batman!
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@kt_ just don't send notifications to @mikeTheLiar , he got enough of this
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@Onyx said in Trademark Abuse:
Filed under: For fun, try @Thank and see autocomplete. Holy bot extravaganza Batman!
Who are all this people?
@Thank_You_Wording_F1 @Thank_You_Wine_Gift_ @Thank_You_Wedding_Gi @Thank_You_Wedding_G1
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@fbmac JOINED 6 YEARS AGO LAST ONLINE 6 YEARS AGO
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@boomzilla said in Trademark Abuse:
Better?
Nope.
@devjoe said in Trademark Abuse:
This way you can actually get distinct notifications.
So I'm hearing that I need to post trademarks in all the threads and it might work?
@ben_lubar said in Trademark Abuse:
@devjoe thanks for notifying me, but I think you meant to notify @Tsaukpaetra.
Didn't work in any case...
@boomzilla said in Trademark Abuse:
@ben_lubar He did notify @Tsaukpaetra.
Lies?
@Rhywden said in Trademark Abuse:
@boomzilla Why are we notifying @Tsaukpaetra again?
I never receive @mentions. I feel like the new @unmentionable...
@NedFodder said in Trademark Abuse:
I happen to like spam in moderate quantities.
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@Jaloopa said in Trademark Abuse:
Thank you for this topic, @boomzilla
@blakeyrat said in Trademark Abuse:
I once invented the phrase"hi are you""Top o' the mornin' to ya"The Irish got there centuries ago.
STFY
Filed under: Stereotyped That For You
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@fbmac said in Trademark Abuse:
@kt_ just don't send notifications to @mikeTheLiar , he got enough of this
I don't get this, where did this meme come from?
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@kt_ said in Trademark Abuse:
I don't get this, where did this meme come from?
https://what.thedailywtf.com/topic/11849/another-attempt-at-social-engineering/143
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@powerlord said in Trademark Abuse:
@gwowen Of course not. Apple Music gets quite upset if anyone tries to start a company named Apple.
This is the best part: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Goma .
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@tharpa said in Trademark Abuse:
@powerlord said in Trademark Abuse:
@gwowen Of course not. Apple Music gets quite upset if anyone tries to start a company named Apple.
This is the best part: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Goma .
Actually, the best part was when they played nice and made up:
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@bb36e OK, I get that it's a Markov chain signature, but still...
fuck you pay me dwarf fortress
... saddest kickstarter ever?
we need a new disco horse
No, no we do not.
