Comments on: Independent Media Institute Challenges “Fair & Balanced” Trademark http://www.joegratz.net/2004/07/19/independent-media-institute-challenges-fair-balanced-trademark/ Joe Gratz's blog Sun, 10 Feb 2008 03:55:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Casey http://www.joegratz.net/2004/07/19/independent-media-institute-challenges-fair-balanced-trademark/comment-page-1/#comment-276 Casey Thu, 22 Jul 2004 19:33:25 +0000 http://www.joegratz.net/archives/2004/07/19/independent-media-institute-challenges-fair-balanced-trademark/#comment-276 <blockqoute>IMI is using the cancellation procedure to make a political point. I understand that, I just think this as a silly, weak outlet to make a political point. I prefer to see political fights take place (for the most part) in the political arena. OUTFOXED is a great example. It uses Fox's own material to make a persuasive argument that they have no credibility as a legitimate news organization. And persuasion is what its all about in politics; getting more people to agree with your perspective and act accordingly. The legal system is quite different. Winning a legal battle does not necessarily persuade anyone as to what is true. <i>See</i> OJ Simpson. You don't think the reg challenge is lame, fair enough. I'm just some random reader who disagrees.</blockqoute> IMI is using the cancellation procedure to make a political point.
I understand that, I just think this as a silly, weak outlet to make a political point. I prefer to see political fights take place (for the most part) in the political arena. OUTFOXED is a great example. It uses Fox’s own material to make a persuasive argument that they have no credibility as a legitimate news organization. And persuasion is what its all about in politics; getting more people to agree with your perspective and act accordingly. The legal system is quite different. Winning a legal battle does not necessarily persuade anyone as to what is true. See OJ Simpson. You don’t think the reg challenge is lame, fair enough. I’m just some random reader who disagrees.

]]> By: Joe Gratz http://www.joegratz.net/2004/07/19/independent-media-institute-challenges-fair-balanced-trademark/comment-page-1/#comment-275 Joe Gratz Thu, 22 Jul 2004 15:15:45 +0000 http://www.joegratz.net/archives/2004/07/19/independent-media-institute-challenges-fair-balanced-trademark/#comment-275 Casey -- I agree that the remedy here -- cancellation -- doesn't really have any bite at the moment. They're unlikely, after the Franken debacle, to be heavy-handed in their enforcement of the mark. IMI is using the cancellation procedure to make a political point. I don't see anything wrong with it. They really do think their claim has merit, so I don't think it's really lame. Joe Casey –

I agree that the remedy here — cancellation — doesn’t really have any bite at the moment. They’re unlikely, after the Franken debacle, to be heavy-handed in their enforcement of the mark.

IMI is using the cancellation procedure to make a political point. I don’t see anything wrong with it. They really do think their claim has merit, so I don’t think it’s really lame.

Joe

]]> By: Casey http://www.joegratz.net/2004/07/19/independent-media-institute-challenges-fair-balanced-trademark/comment-page-1/#comment-274 Casey Thu, 22 Jul 2004 02:16:24 +0000 http://www.joegratz.net/archives/2004/07/19/independent-media-institute-challenges-fair-balanced-trademark/#comment-274 As much as I detest Fox, this whole business is silly. Okay, so say many months from now the TM Board grants the petition, what then? Well, it doesn't prevent Fox from continuing to call itself Fair & Balanced, as the proceeding is only about cancelling the registration, it does not invalidate the mark itself. So big deal, the registration is gone so Fox can no longer threaten to sue any other users of the mark. Just goes to show that you are using the legal process not for a substantive end but just to tweek the nose of an entity you don't like. Sure you can do it, have fun. Its just so petty, self-congratulatory and lame. As much as I detest Fox, this whole business is silly. Okay, so say many months from now the TM Board grants the petition, what then? Well, it doesn’t prevent Fox from continuing to call itself Fair & Balanced, as the proceeding is only about cancelling the registration, it does not invalidate the mark itself. So big deal, the registration is gone so Fox can no longer threaten to sue any other users of the mark. Just goes to show that you are using the legal process not for a substantive end but just to tweek the nose of an entity you don’t like. Sure you can do it, have fun. Its just so petty, self-congratulatory and lame.

]]> By: Brian Ulrich http://www.joegratz.net/2004/07/19/independent-media-institute-challenges-fair-balanced-trademark/comment-page-1/#comment-273 Brian Ulrich Tue, 20 Jul 2004 16:46:26 +0000 http://www.joegratz.net/archives/2004/07/19/independent-media-institute-challenges-fair-balanced-trademark/#comment-273 Can you really sue someone over an advertising slogan? That's what Move-On is trying. Can you really sue someone over an advertising slogan? That’s what Move-On is trying.

]]> By: Joe Gratz http://www.joegratz.net/2004/07/19/independent-media-institute-challenges-fair-balanced-trademark/comment-page-1/#comment-272 Joe Gratz Tue, 20 Jul 2004 02:09:57 +0000 http://www.joegratz.net/archives/2004/07/19/independent-media-institute-challenges-fair-balanced-trademark/#comment-272 Yup. Except this has been pending since last year, more or less, I think, in secret. See www.alternet.org for details. Yup. Except this has been pending since last year, more or less, I think, in secret. See http://www.alternet.org for details.

]]> By: Eli http://www.joegratz.net/2004/07/19/independent-media-institute-challenges-fair-balanced-trademark/comment-page-1/#comment-271 Eli Tue, 20 Jul 2004 01:56:03 +0000 http://www.joegratz.net/archives/2004/07/19/independent-media-institute-challenges-fair-balanced-trademark/#comment-271 Wow, cool. Any idea if this was explicitly coordinated with MoveOn/Common Cause's petition to the FTC on the same issue? Wow, cool.

Any idea if this was explicitly coordinated with MoveOn/Common Cause’s petition to the FTC on the same issue?

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