Who Owns 'Pussy'? Thunderpussy Explains Their Fight to Trademark Their Name

[Miloch]

https://themuse.jezebel.com/who-owns-pussy-thunderpussy-explains-their-fight-to-tr-1837455083

In the age of streaming, musicians are limited in how they can capitalize on
their work. Selling t-shirts and other branded merchandise is one way, but
without a federally-recognized trademark, it’s even more difficult to crack down
on knockoffs that other sellers may offer at a cheaper price.

When Seattle rock band Thunderpussy applied for their trademark, they were
denied based on the grounds that their name was “scandalous” and “immoral.” The
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office cited a definition of “thunderpussy” from Urban
Dictionary, a website that anyone with internet access can edit, in its response
to argue that the vulgarity of the term “pussy” prohibited the band from being
able to claim ownership of their name.

And yet, a simple search of the USPTO database shows dozens of active trademarks
that include the word “pussy,” as well as several that include the words
“vagina,” “coochie,” “dick” Additionally, two separate appeals from applicants
challenging the same statue that the USPTO relied on in its Thunderpussy ruling
have gone all the way to the Supreme Court. Both were ultimately granted their
trademarks.



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[super70s]

Post by Miloch
https://themuse.jezebel.com/who-owns-pussy-thunderpussy-explains-
their-fight-to-tr-1837455083
In the age of streaming, musicians are limited in how they can capitalize on
their work. Selling t-shirts and other branded merchandise is one way, but
without a federally-recognized trademark, it's even more difficult to crack
down on knockoffs that other sellers may offer at a cheaper price.
When Seattle rock band Thunderpussy applied for their trademark, they were
denied based on the grounds that their name was "scandalous" and "immoral."
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office cited a definition of "thunderpussy"
from Urban Dictionary, a website that anyone with internet access can edit, in
its response to argue that the vulgarity of the term "pussy" prohibited the
band from being able to claim ownership of their name.
And yet, a simple search of the USPTO database shows dozens of active
trademarks that include the word "pussy," as well as several that include the
words "vagina," "coochie," "dick." Additionally, two separate appeals from
applicants challenging the same statue that the USPTO relied on in its
Thunderpussy ruling have gone all the way to the Supreme Court. Both were
ultimately granted their trademarks.

Those Patent Office people obviously aren't Trump appointees who fondly
remember the Access Hollywood tape.