Slashdot Mirror
Citigroup Sues AT&T For Saying 'Thanks' To Customers (techdirt.com)
An anonymous reader writes: Citigroup has a trademark on "THANKYOU" and is currently using it to sue ATT for using "Thanks." Ars Technica reports: "Who knew? Banking giant Citigroup has trademarked 'THANKYOU' and is now suing technology giant ATT for how it says thanks to its own loyal customers. This is 'unlawful conduct' amounting to wanton trademark infringement, Citigroup claims in its federal lawsuit." Citigroup doesn't appear to be gracious in its branding: Despite actual knowledge of Citigroup's substantial use of and exclusive rights in the THANKYOU Marks, Citigroup's use of the marks in connection with ATT co-branded credit cards, and Citigroup's concerns regarding ATT's proposed trademarks, ATT launched a customer loyalty program under the trademarks "thanks" and "ATT thanks" on or about June 2, 2016. ATT's use of the "thanks" and "ATT thanks" trademarks is likely to cause consumer confusion and constitutes trademark infringement, false designation of origin, and unfair competition in violation of Citigroup's rights. Citigroup therefore seeks to enjoin ATT's infringing conduct and to recover damages based on the injury ATT's conduct has caused to Citigroup as well as ATT's unjust enrichment. In April, ATT applied to trademark "ATT THANKS." Citigroup wants that trademark to be rejected because it thinks that proposed trademark is "confusingly similar to Citigroup's "THANKYOU Marks," according to its lawsuit.
Welcome to COSTCO, I Love You.
Idiocracy at its best!
The dumbest thing I've ever fucking seen. There are no words for the fact that we've gotten so low as to trademark appreciation. Not to mention the fact that these are two companies who, to the best of my knowledge, fuck their customers in the wallet in unconscionable ways with frequency.
Things like this are why people are against overuse of IP laws.
Best fucking CAPTCHA I've ever seen: truthful.
I think I am going to give a shot at saying "Citigroup" instead of thank-you. Them , when people look at me with a dumfounded expression, I can explain that Citigoup has established ownership over the words "Thank You" and "thanks."
Citigroup for reading my silly idea.
Citigroup are suing AT&T for marketing a rewards program based on the word "Thanks" because they have a registered trademark for a rewards program using "Thankyou" marks. This has nothing today with anyone 'saying thanks'.
No story here. Go about your business.
Comcast is just waiting for someone to infringe on their "Fuck You" to customers trademark.
Even the devil is having trouble picking sides on this one. Mainly because it would mean favoring one child over the other.
FUCKYOU
My ism, it's full of beliefs.
I can only think this has to be a joke. Trademarks don't work that way.
Someone tell me I've been on a huge practical joke TV show and this isn't real, we're not really choosing between a reality TV personality vs a felon for president, and Disney World doesn't really have alligators eating their guests.
Any government bureaucrat who had ANY involvement, however slight, in approving a trademark for "THANKYOU" should be fired.
This is par for the course in trademark land. Trademark rights might be lost when a trademark owner fails to police its mark against eroded distinctiveness. In this case, Citigroup think that AT&T's use could lessen the distinctiveness of their THANKYOU. On the face of it, it probably does. As a result, their trademark will become weaker, and may lose its distinctiveness entirely. If it does, they could actually lose the mark. To help avoid this, the trademark owner it pretty much obliged to police its mark through legal means, up to and including going to court. This is pretty much mandatory - you need to do this, it's not really an option. Some courts have determined you don't have to prosecute every infringing third-party use, but if you have the money and the mark is worth it to you, then it's a no brainer.
ATT's use of the "thanks" and "ATT thanks" trademarks is likely to cause consumer confusion
It's true, people are surprised and confused to hear the word "thanks" coming from either of those corporations.
I looked this up at the USPTO trademark site. It is registered trademark 3249982. Usually, a trademark examiner who is say...awake, would immediately reject the application on the basis that "THANKYOU" is "generic". Not here. The examiner just gave an initial "thumbs up" with no objection, and the rest is history. Amazing.
Umm, i dont know how to tell you this but BttF future is actually set in the PAST now, and we are 3 years away from Blade Runner being the past too.
Good-bye
And that from an anonymous cow-ard...
"Trump!!", the new Godwin.