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How I Got Fired From the Job I Invented

Posted by Soulskill on from the i-had-this-happen-too-after-i-became-king-of-the-moon dept.

New submitter frost_knight writes "Travel blogger Turner Barr discovered that his entire brand, image, and web personality has been hijacked by a multi-billion dollar company for use in a marketing campaign. 'The video for their marketing campaign was particularly creepy for me, as even my age and personality didn’t escape the level of detail spent on creating this doppelganger (they used a paid actor of course). ... I’m no longer even the first thing that comes up when you Google my brand name. I’ve turned down work opportunities and put on hold any future travel job plans to deal with lawyers, long distance phone calls, corporate executives and other such nonsense — all along feeling misled and patronized. This situation has been extremely confusing for not only myself, but also for participants in company’s marketing campaign who message me thinking that I am am part of the company.'"

6 of 252 comments (clear)

  1. funny by stoolpigeon · · Score: 5, Informative

    This adecco page has twitter feed deal at the bottom and it's a riot to read right now. Apparently they haven't caught on that this story is getting a lot of attention yet.

    https://www.adeccowaytowork.com/en/career-center

    I'm gonna guess clicking through on the facebook deal next to it would lead to similar stuff.

    --
    It's hard to believe that's how Micronians are made. Why don't we see it right now by having you both kiss one another?
  2. TM, are you kidding me? by patrixmyth · · Score: 5, Informative

    I was so ready to side with Adecco on this. It's really not a very original twist on 'Around the world in 80 days', and it's really just a limited time use by them. Then I saw they've applied a TM to the term. They made his whole point for him.

    --
    "Don't you know you're going to shock the monkey?"- Peter Gabriel
    1. Re:TM, are you kidding me? by The+Cat · · Score: 5, Informative

      It is trademark infringement. Use in commerce is sufficient. It doesn't need to be registered.

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_trademark_law#TM_vs._.C2.AE

      On the other hand, fraudulent claim of a trademark is actionable under 15 U.S.C. Section 1120.

  3. The twitter feed has been turned off by howardd21 · · Score: 5, Informative

    They turned the display of the twitter feed off on their page; it was filled with comments saying they stole the work and they were unethical. But you can still enjoy the hate here: https://twitter.com/search?q=AdeccoUSA&src=typd

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    no comment
  4. Re: The IP is his trademark(s) that mark his busin by YodaDaCoda · · Score: 5, Informative

    Google the tort of passing off. It is not necessary for a trademark to be registered for it to be legally defendable.

  5. Re:who are intelectual property laws protecting ag by The+Cat · · Score: 5, Informative

    He is not required to register a trademark. The only requirement is that he use it in commerce. Registered trademarks have stronger protections, but an unregistered trademark is still protected.