Church Sends Letter to Bill Reel re Mormon Discussions

[consiglieri]

Bill Reel at Mormon Discussion Podcast has just received a letter from a paralegal named Megan McGrath with the "Correlation-Intellectual property" arm of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

It appears very much a form letter, and I am wondering if other webpages with the name "Mormon" in it have received similar letters.

Hello,

It has come to our attention that intellectual property managed by our office is being used in the on these websites. "Mormon" is a trademark owned by Intellectual Reserve, Inc., a non-profit corporation affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (the "Church").

We would like to have you add a disclaimer to your websites stating that you have no affiliation with the Church. Please add the disclaimer in a prominent location, in a legible size, font, and color. An example of disclaimer language is below.

"The products (services) offered by [name of User] are neither made, provided, approved nor endorsed by Intellectual Reserve, Inc., or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Any content or opinions expressed, implied or included in or with the goods (services) offered by [name of User] are solely those of [name of User] and not those of Intellectual Reserve, Inc., or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."

We offer licensing options for Church owned materials, including "Mormon" and images. Permission may be requested at https://permissions.lds.org. If you would like more information about licensing, you may call (800) 453-3860 x 3959 or email permissions@ldschurch.org.

Any future use of the Church's intellectual property will likewise require written permission from this office, which can be requested at the above website.

Please respond to this letter by November 29, 2017, confirming your compliance.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for your help protecting Church-owned intellectual property.

Sincerely yours,

Megan McGrath
Paralegal
Correlation-Intellectual Property
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
50 E. North Temple Street, COB 13
Salt Lake City, UT 84150-0013
Office: (801)240-2399

My understanding is that the LDS Church applied for a trademark at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on the name "Mormon" in 2002 but it was rejected as being too generic.

The LDS Church abandoned the attempt to trademark the name "Mormon" in 2007.

If that is so, I wonder why church legal is claiming to have such a trademark.

(I bolded the relevant language in the letter.)

[Red Ryder]

Silly Mormons think they own everything!

Mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon mormon

[consiglieri]

All work and no play makes Mormon a dull boy!

[Red Ryder]

Did Shades get the same notice for the mormondiscussions forum?

I wonder if we did for this forum?

[consiglieri]

I posted it there, as well.

We will have to wait and see.

I am aware the Church contested MormonMatch dating service's attempt to trademark the name in 2014, and that MormonMatch turned around and sued the Church.

I am not aware, however, if that case is resolved, or if so, what the result was.

[consiglieri]

I am now hearing that IRI has a "service Mark" on the word "Mormon."

A "service Mark" is a trademark that applies to services as opposed to products.

[wtfluff]

My understanding is that the LDS Church applied for a trademark at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on the name "Mormon" in 2002 but it was rejected as being too generic.

The LDS Church abandoned the attempt to trademark the name "Mormon" in 2007.

If that is so, I wonder why church legal is claiming to have such a trademark.

It seems the LDS Corporation DOES have a trademark for the word "Mormon".

http://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/u ... 6/23-1.pdf

EDIT: Or, it's a "Servicemark" as Consig has already found...

[Stig]

I would LOVE for the Church to make an attempt at showing "damages" from these uses of the term "Mormon" in the Internet-world. That would make for great theater.

[wtfluff]

Bill should just file for his own "Servicemark" or Trademark of "Mormon Discussions Podcast"

It seems that's a completely legal way to use the word "MORmON".

[dogbite]

Your can use trademarks it service marks in criticism, reviews and other fair use type ways. He could still be served with admca take down notice at the ISP. even when you're right, can you afford to be right in court? That's what it can come down to.

[Corsair]

I'll be disappointed if we don't also get a letter. However, it might end up with Hagoth because he registered the domain name.

[Reuben]

Gotta protect the brand!



I'll bet 3 Mormons doesn't get a letter.

[moksha]

Do you think they will ask FairMormon or the Mormon Historical Society to submit such a letter?

I imagine the lawyers at Kirton McConkie will take similar action on the use of ponderize.

[wtfluff]

Do you think they will ask FairMormon or the Mormon Historical Society to submit such a letter?

I imagine the lawyers at Kirton McConkie will take similar action on the use of ponderize.

How 'bout the "3 Mormons" YouTube geeks?

[Mormorrisey]

All these posts have given me an idea; why not go into the heart of the beast, use the REAL name of the church, and rename Bill and Consiglieri's podcasts The Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Discussions and/or Radio Free Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints? Just rolls off the tongue.

[alas]

He just needs to call it So Called Mormon Discussions.

Wonder how much of our tithing money went into paying for that ruling. They lost in court several times, so the only way I can see that they would win is greasing someone's palm.

[LostGirl]

The answer is yes, other letters have gone out to lds related websites, even ones that have nothing to do with burning the place down.

[Reuben]

He just needs to call it So Called Mormon Discussions.

Reminds me of this awesome thing:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qRGQ_MwhmK4

[Hagoth]

The LDS Church abandoned the attempt to trademark the name "Mormon" in 2007.

Hey, isn't that about the time they were telling people to stop using the word Mormon to describe the church and its members?

[Hagoth]

I'll be disappointed if we don't also get a letter. However, it might end up with Hagoth because he registered the domain name.

If so, I'll make sure you get a copy that's suitable for framing. Or throwing darts at, or whatever.