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Activists May Use Their Targets' Trademarks

lee1 writes "Sometimes political activists use a company's trademark as part of a campaign to embarrass it or call attention to an issue. And sometimes the company sues, claiming that they own the mark and its satirical use is prohibited. Now a Utah court has ruled that such suits must fail because the parodic use of the mark is not commercial and is a form of protected speech."

2 of 203 comments (clear)

  1. Re:A big victory... by Cwix · · Score: 5, Informative

    The culture is extremely different. You could make a plausible case that the state was founded as a theocracy, and that those roots are still very much there.

    Just note the state's rules on alcohol.

    The state has no open-door saloons. Full liquor service is available only to dues-paying members of "private" social clubs or at the 470 restaurants with liquor stocks they cannot advertise, display or even mention unless a customer asks first.

    The state's 121 taverns can pour only "light" beer, or 3.2 percent alcohol, and no other alcoholic drinks. No membership is required at taverns. Grocery stores can sell only light beer, too.

    Wine, hard liquor and heavy beer can be purchased at 36 state-run liquor stores - if you can find them. Typically they are tucked away in warehouse districts and off major thoroughfares.

    A quota limits the number of private clubs to one per 7,000 Utah residents, or 295 clubs concentrated primarily in Salt Lake County and Park City. Minimum club dues by law are $12 a year, though visitors can buy a two-week membership for $5. Or visitors can ask the guy on the next barstool to sponsor them as guests.

    I grew up in the bible belt and WE weren't even that strict.

    --
    You are entitled to your own opinions, not your own facts.
  2. Re:A big victory... by LunaticTippy · · Score: 5, Informative

    My father grew up in a small mining town in Utah. His family was not Mormon, and it made life much harder than it needed to be. My grandpa, uncle, and father were passed over for promotion, harassed, excluded, refused service at businesses, charged extortionate prices for services such as funerals, contractors, automobile repair, etc.

    They were pressured to join the Mormon church. The relatives I have who stayed there all caved in and now toe the line. They gripe and mock in private, but they go to meetings and tithe.

    It is better in SLC (or as I've seen it humorously abbreviated SL,UT) - it is easy for tourists or short term visitors to forget they are in the beehive state. Things take a darker turn if you are perceived as wanting to become a permanent resident.

    --
    Man, you really need that seminar!