Hektik 0 Report post Posted March 21, 2004 http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/TV/03/18/trump.fired.reut/ Trump seeks to trademark 'You're fired!' The real-estate mogul and reality TV star has filed a trademark application for the phrase, according to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's Web site.Known for his gaudy casinos and unusual mane of copper hair, Trump dismisses underlings on the hit TV show "The Apprentice" with a curt "You're fired." Trump said he intended to emblazon "You're Fired" on games and casino services, and "You're Fired! Donald J. Trump" on clothing.Other tyrannical bosses won't have to alter their vocabulary if the application wins approval, a U.S. Patent and Trademark Office official said, as it will only protect those specific uses. A trademark attorney listed on the application did not immediately return a call seeking comment. The patent office granted 185,000 trademark applications in the last fiscal year. Applications take about a year to process. Trump might have competition: A search of the PTO's database revealed that three other applications for "You're fired" have been filed. No applications appear to have been filed for "You're outsourced," however. The Apprentice runs on the NBC television network. It looks like Vince is going to need a new catch phrase. Maybe Trump will allow Vince to use it since they seem to be "good friends." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Man Of 1,004 Modes Report post Posted March 21, 2004 That is some of the dumbest shit I've ever heard. Someones been slipping something into his morning tea and crumpets. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ravenbomb 0 Report post Posted March 21, 2004 wasn't that Vince's 'catchphrase' type thing long before The Apprentice started? He should pull a WWF and sue him over it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpikeFayeJettEdBebop 0 Report post Posted March 21, 2004 Yes it was. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RavishingRickRudo 0 Report post Posted March 21, 2004 Unless Vince had it trademarked before Trump, then there's no way he could pull a "WWF". The Fund was well within their rights to sue the WWE for their blatent disregard for the contract signed. In other news: This is retarded. "You're fired" can't be properly trademarked because it is a common phrase. I can understand if another company (be it on T-shirts or whatever) used it and it was ripping from The Apprentice (thus using T.A.'s popularity for their own gain without paying T.A. any of the money they earn off the name), but I don't see that happening. Of course, I don't watch the show nor care about it, so I could be wrong about its appeal. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Man Of 1,004 Modes Report post Posted March 21, 2004 Unless Vince had it trademarked before Trump, then there's no way he could pull a "WWF". The Fund was well within their rights to sue the WWE for their blatent disregard for the contract signed. In other news: This is retarded. "You're fired" can't be properly trademarked because it is a common phrase. I can understand if another company (be it on T-shirts or whatever) used it and it was ripping from The Apprentice (thus using T.A.'s popularity for their own gain without paying T.A. any of the money they earn off the name), but I don't see that happening. Of course, I don't watch the show nor care about it, so I could be wrong about its appeal. This would be like WWE trying to copyright "You Suck". Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RavishingRickRudo 0 Report post Posted March 21, 2004 Copyright is different from Trademark. Lemme pull something from my law notes on the subject: TRADE-MARKS • Words, letters, numbers, symbols, shapes, designs, or combinations of these used to distinguish the goods or services of a person or organization from others in the marketplace. • A mark to be legally protected as a trade-mark must be distinctive and used in association with goods or services • Trade-marks can be unregistered or an application can be made to register them with the Trade-Marks Office (a branch of the CIPO) • In order for a trade-mark to be registered it must meet the following requirements: 1. It must be distinctive 2. It must be used (an application to register, however, can be made on the basis of proposed use which will give it priority over later applications but actual use must occur before it is registered) 3. It cannot be any of the following: •Confusing with existing registered trademarks •A generic term in any language for the goods or services to which it is to be associated •An obscene, scandalous or immoral word •An official mark associated with royalty, government or international agencies •The name or surname of living person or one who has died in the previous 30 years unless it has acquired distinctiveness through use •Anything (including a portrait or signature) falsely suggesting a connection with any living person or one who has died within the preceding 30 years without the consent of person or their estate •Clearly descriptive or deceptively misdescriptive of the quality, character or place of origin of the goods or services with which it is associated unless the descriptive words have acquired distinctiveness through use Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jobber of the Week 0 Report post Posted March 21, 2004 In other news: This is retarded. "You're fired" can't be properly trademarked because it is a common phrase. That one family trademarked "Let's Roll." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Only The Strong Survive 0 Report post Posted March 21, 2004 3. It cannot be any of the following: •Confusing with existing registered trademarks •A generic term in any language for the goods or services to which it is to be associated •An obscene, scandalous or immoral word •An official mark associated with royalty, government or international agencies •The name or surname of living person or one who has died in the previous 30 years unless it has acquired distinctiveness through use •Anything (including a portrait or signature) falsely suggesting a connection with any living person or one who has died within the preceding 30 years without the consent of person or their estate •Clearly descriptive or deceptively misdescriptive of the quality, character or place of origin of the goods or services with which it is associated unless the descriptive words have acquired distinctiveness through use Doesn't that fit in there somewhere? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted March 21, 2004 You know what would be funny? If people trademarked every word from the English vocabulary we'd have to come up with a new language (no way I'm re-learning Francais again)... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2GOLD 0 Report post Posted March 21, 2004 I'm going to go trademark "Please read back the minutes" Then I'll sue every meeting in the country! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dandy 0 Report post Posted March 22, 2004 Umm, it's not saying that no one can use the phrase in speaking. It would be that no one could use it for shirts, games, videos as a catchphrase or to promote that product. It's not like Trump can sue anyone that speaks those words. Read the article again. It specifically mentions this. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Youth N Asia 0 Report post Posted March 22, 2004 I've just trademarked "Game Over"...the video game companies are going to have to shell out mad dollars to use it Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted March 23, 2004 I just trademarked TSM -- Dames better get a second job... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nl5xsk1 0 Report post Posted March 23, 2004 Whether it comes to fruition or not, Trump is getting his name, and the name of the show, a bunch of extra press and publicity. Looks like mission accomplished, regardless of the end result of this stupid trademark attempt. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
