Miloch
2019-08-29 19:42:38 UTC
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, its 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.
*
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, its 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.
*