Church Sends Letter to Bill Reel re Mormon Discussions

[moksha]

Since the term Mormon is one that is share throughout the various offshoots that have occurred as a result of Joseph Smith's faith tradition, I doubt the use of the word Mormon as an idea rather than a corporation could truly be enforced. While the Church might convince the judiciary in Utah and possibly the rest of the Jell-O Belt, it would be easily disputed elsewhere. Judges would be impressed with the mountain of quotations reminding members of the Brighamite branch that they belonged to the LDS Church, not the Mormon Church.

[Just This Guy]

I think I understand this.

According to the US Patent & Trademark Office, A trademark on the word "Mormon" It was officially abandoned after loosing an appeals process on Aug 8, 2007. Read through the Prosecution History section.

http://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=78161 ... atusSearch

So the church does not have a trademark on the work "Mormon" when used in any typeset or usage.

The church does have a trademark on the work "Mormon" with regard to specific typeset.
http://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=32399 ... atusSearch

So as long as Bill does not use the registered typeset, then there is nothing the church can do. Same with NOM. As long as we don't use the official Mormon logo as spelled out in Trademark 3,239,919, then they can gripe all they want, but have no legal standing. That's not even getting into the Fair-Use laws which may also provide a way around their trademark as well.

Sounds like it is typical church move of the legal department trying to bully people in submitting even when there is little to nothing they can really do. Maybe someone at K&M trying to justify their job.

[The Beast]

He just needs to call it So Called Mormon Discussions.

Reminds me of this awesome thing:

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

So...what is that called?

[moksha]

McDonald's filed a lawsuit against MacDonald's Family Restaurant, located in Grand Cayman. McDonald's lost the case, and in addition, was banned from ever opening a McDonald's location on Grand Cayman. This ruling still stands today.

[Hagoth]

I think I understand this.

According to the US Patent & Trademark Office, A trademark on the word "Mormon" It was officially abandoned after loosing an appeals process on Aug 8, 2007. Read through the Prosecution History section.

http://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=78161 ... atusSearch

So the church does not have a trademark on the work "Mormon" when used in any typeset or usage.

The church does have a trademark on the work "Mormon" with regard to specific typeset.
http://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=32399 ... atusSearch

So as long as Bill does not use the registered typeset, then there is nothing the church can do. Same with NOM. As long as we don't use the official Mormon logo as spelled out in Trademark 3,239,919, then they can gripe all they want, but have no legal standing. That's not even getting into the Fair-Use laws which may also provide a way around their trademark as well.

Sounds like it is typical church move of the legal department trying to bully people in submitting even when there is little to nothing they can really do. Maybe someone at K&M trying to justify their job.

Excellent research, Just This Guy. Now I'm really hoping I get a scary letter from the church so I can spit this back at 'em.

[2bizE]

I would thing the Book of Mormon Musical would have received similar letters, and that hasn’t seemed to stop it.

[Corsair]

I would thing the Book of Mormon Musical would have received similar letters, and that hasn’t seemed to stop it.

Parker and Stone would have used the letter in their further marketing of the show. It would have had the opposite effect that the church desired. The LDS church is simply not nearly in a position of either power or influence for their disdain to matter. John Larsen of the famous "Mormon Expression" podcast noted that his podcast never got any correspondence from the church despite a clear use of the common LDS moniker. John kept an office for Mormon Expression in downtown Salt Lake City and the LDS church never contacted him.

The reason is that John Larsen had no interest in maintaining his membership. But Bill Reel does want to remain LDS. I have the greatest of respect for Bill and I expect that he would be heartbroken to get hauled before his stake high council. John Larsen would have found it endlessly entertainig (as would I). The church prefers to only play hardball with individuals who still harbor affinity and respect for Mormonism.

[Just This Guy]

From what I can tell, the Church hold a copyright for "The Book of Mormon." "Book of Mormon Musical" is a completely different entity and up for grabs for them to use. As far as talking about the BOM itself, that would fall under the satire and critical commentary allowance under Fair Use laws.

The Church could fight, but they would be very unlikely to win and Stone and Parker would use it to get more publicity.

[moksha]

From what I can tell, the Church hold a copyright for "The Book of Mormon."

Do you think if the Utah church tried to press this claim against any of the other Mormon sects that they would have a snowball's chance in heck if the court was not located in the Jell-O Belt?

BTW, Doubleday purchased the rights to a commercial edition Book of Mormon publication. A “readers’ edition” of the 1928 Book of Mormon is also available from the University of Illinois Press.

[Random]

I fail to see how they can have a corner on the word Mormon. The Book of Mormon has the word in it, and there are many versions of those around, including public domain versions. Are they gonna go after the Churches who use a version of that book that is different from the Corp's version?

I can see how they can have a copyright on the logo, because they probably designed the font they use, but the word? Isn't that kind of like telling people they can't use the word "Catholic" or "Baptist" even if the discussion is about Catholicism or Baptists?

[blazerb]

Has Bill Reel found a good lawyer?

[Random]

Any updates on this?

[BlackMormon]

Someone sent me a link to a porno site that has the name Mormon in it and, forgive me Bishop, I did partake of the site and they are not only using the name Mormon in the URL but they are also using temple clothes, temple rooms look-alike in their marketing, photos, video scenes and actors attire.

I had the shocker of my life. An hour later, I finally closed the page. Just kidding. I looked quickly and left! The Devil must run parts of the Internet. The site is as blasphemous as it gets and the women were beautiful. Why do women sell their souls for money? Some things cannot be unseen. I will probably take the mental imprint with me to the next world. I must speedily repent.

The Church must have people or software watching the Internet to see how its trademarks and names are being used. I thought that they had lost the right to trademark the word Mormon. Did they? http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-echochambers-27708734

[Mad Jax]

I wonder if Parker and Stone got a similar brief.

[Random]

The Church must have people or software watching the Internet to see how its trademarks and names are being used. I thought that they had lost the right to trademark the word Mormon. Did they? http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-echochambers-27708734

I don't know the answer to that, but your post brings some questions to my mind. With how closely they patrol the internet, wouldn't they know about that site? If they are so quick to shout "copyright infringement" on other things, why aren't they doing it to that site?

[notforprophet]

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.

That's what I was thinking. There's a play named after a copyrighted book and all they did was buy ads in the program (a nod to their PR; very smart). It would seem this type of letter is as far as they'll ever go.

[notforprophet]

The Church must have people or software watching the Internet to see how its trademarks and names are being used. I thought that they had lost the right to trademark the word Mormon. Did they? http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-echochambers-27708734

I don't know the answer to that, but your post brings some questions to my mind. With how closely they patrol the internet, wouldn't they know about that site? If they are so quick to shout "copyright infringement" on other things, why aren't they doing it to that site?

Haha because then they'd have to admit that at least one of them visited a porn site! It's a self-inflicted catch 22!

[Random]

Haha because then they'd have to admit that at least one of them visited a porn site! It's a self-inflicted catch 22!

Good point.

[mooseman]

I've noticed Bill saying a lot more info his podcast things like "well see how much longer they let me stay" and being MUCH more vocal in critism of specfic leaders like DHO. It kind of reminds of Delighn at the end, almost challenging leaderships to take action. Is he in hot water, trying to appease the PTB, or does he see the writing on the wall?