Post by DrPicasso on Apr 6, 2006 13:03:55 GMT -5
Recently more and more words are being trademarked by BIG companies. After a company gets a TM upon an English Language word, it then begins to send notices out to people to stop producing art and designs which feature or incorporate the word. Several cases in point include words like "Elvis," the first name of a rock star first popular during the late 1950's and 1960's, and "LOST," the name of a popular TV program on ABC about people on an island which may exist only as a delusion in the mind of one of the characters -- and which certainly exist only in the minds of the producers, viewers and fans.
I'd like to know if others have had their original art and designs censored by BIG companies or others who have gotten trademarks on English language words? What designs were censored and/or removed from such services as CafePress or Zazzel? Where you threatened with a law suit?
Do you believe this is a form of censorship or that word/phrase trademarks should take precedent over art and designs? Do you think it should be legal to censor art based on a word/phrase trademark? Do you think BIG companies should be allowed to get trademarks on words like "God," "Jesus," or "Elvis" and then use these word trademarks to monopolize the market and censor everyone else from using these words in art and designs upon products?
If you have had work censored because of a conflict with a word/phrase trademark, please post your concerns here. What design was censored? Did this cause you any hurt or harm?
Everyone is invited to reply and post their thoughts or opinions in regard to the issue of word/phrase trademarks and related censorship issues. Thanks!
I'd like to know if others have had their original art and designs censored by BIG companies or others who have gotten trademarks on English language words? What designs were censored and/or removed from such services as CafePress or Zazzel? Where you threatened with a law suit?
Do you believe this is a form of censorship or that word/phrase trademarks should take precedent over art and designs? Do you think it should be legal to censor art based on a word/phrase trademark? Do you think BIG companies should be allowed to get trademarks on words like "God," "Jesus," or "Elvis" and then use these word trademarks to monopolize the market and censor everyone else from using these words in art and designs upon products?
If you have had work censored because of a conflict with a word/phrase trademark, please post your concerns here. What design was censored? Did this cause you any hurt or harm?
Everyone is invited to reply and post their thoughts or opinions in regard to the issue of word/phrase trademarks and related censorship issues. Thanks!