Another reason why I love trademark law
This, reported in the truly excellent blog Counterfeit Chic:
The Mongols [motorcycle gang] have a constitution and bylaws, wear matching insignia, and earn the equivalent of merit badges -- albeit for things like committing violent crimes or engaging in certain sex acts. They've even registered their name as a service mark. But the members of the notorious motorcycle gang are no Boy Scouts, and federal law enforcement officials have taken a novel approach to intellectual property law in an attempt to shut down the organization.
Essentially the Feds intend to take over the US Service Mark registration for the mark MONGOLS®, and anyone using the mark in connection with riding motorcycles would be guilty of trademark infringement. As the Counterfeit Chic blogger points out:
And after all, men who are allegedly willing to sell drugs, commit murder, and copulate with corpses will surely hesitate to engage in intellectual property infringement.
What I wonder is this: since goods sporting infringing marks can be seized, does this include tattoos?
The Mongols [motorcycle gang] have a constitution and bylaws, wear matching insignia, and earn the equivalent of merit badges -- albeit for things like committing violent crimes or engaging in certain sex acts. They've even registered their name as a service mark. But the members of the notorious motorcycle gang are no Boy Scouts, and federal law enforcement officials have taken a novel approach to intellectual property law in an attempt to shut down the organization.
Essentially the Feds intend to take over the US Service Mark registration for the mark MONGOLS®, and anyone using the mark in connection with riding motorcycles would be guilty of trademark infringement. As the Counterfeit Chic blogger points out:
And after all, men who are allegedly willing to sell drugs, commit murder, and copulate with corpses will surely hesitate to engage in intellectual property infringement.
What I wonder is this: since goods sporting infringing marks can be seized, does this include tattoos?